Walking Rehabilitation Equipment: The Alinker

This will be a review of the Alinker. Claire found the Alinker through social media and figured it could mean an end to the wheelchair. Of course, the wheelchair comes with plenty of social stigma, but, more than that, it encourages laziness. There are people who need a wheelchair, but for everyone else who can use their legs, the Alinker might be the answer. It struck me as pretty gloomy that the default, for people hoping to, one day, walk and run again, was this comfortable chair on wheels that, in my case at least, relied on the kindness of others, to move forward.

I have many impairments that are combining to make walking a nightmare for me. Chiefs in this are my coordination and balance. The Alinker, almost entirely, removes balance from the equation with the saddle and by providing a sturdy frame to hold on to. Where balance, in my case, comes back into the mix is when, from a seated position, I try to propel myself forward, My ass-on-the-saddle coupled with my ridiculous coordination, is leaving me feeling unsafe and means that I go nowhere fast. I, prompted by Claire, have devised a temporary solution for this: I simply rest my badly affected left foot & leg on the frame, while I use my right foot for propulsion. This has really made a difference for me. So much so, that I'm back on Strava but, as you'll see, there wont be any course records for a while. I was worried about maybe having to use my left hand, for the brakes, which would have been a bummer, but the Alinker comes with one brake lever, left or right, conveniently configurable and, by default, on the right.

I am happy to endorse the Alinker, for TBI sufferers. If you have received damage around your cerebellum in particular, affecting coordination and balance, the Alinker can help you to move and remain close to completely upright. I need more practice but I can see no reason why I won't, over the next few months, become very proficient on my (walking) bike. I also feel that the Alinker could revolutionise rehabilitation by encouraging more patients to move which can prevent, and even reverse, some of the harm caused by being pushed around for months.