From Fort Collins, Colorado, 76-year-old George Williams is a retired delivery driver and driver’s education instructor. He enjoys staying active by going to the gym, attending musicals, and taking road trips.

George began experiencing weakness in his right leg along with foot drop, which made it difficult to lift the front part of his foot while walking. His neurologist diagnosed him with Primary Lateral Sclerosis, a rare neurological condition that affects the upper motor neurons and can lead to muscle stiffness and weakness over time. As his symptoms began to progress, George looked for a way to maintain his mobility and independence.

George saw a news feature about Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital (NCRH) and Rise&Walk®, an advanced rehabilitation system that uses robotic-assisted support to help retrain standing and walking. It provides adjustable support and guided movement that allows the body to practice walking patterns and helps the brain relearn movement.

“When I saw that Rise&Walk® was available at NCRH, I made sure to get an appointment to see if it could help me walk more steadily without a walker,” George says.

During physical therapy, George uses both the seated and standing modes of Rise&Walk® to safely build strength, improve posture, and increase time spent practicing walking.

“I love the Rise&Walk® because it works all my muscles and it feels great to stand up straight,” he says. “Raven, my physical therapist, is amazing, and Connie, the outpatient coordinator, is great to work with.”

George is continuing outpatient physical therapy with more sessions ahead. His goal is to become more independent and reduce his reliance on a walker so he can return to activities outside his home and continue doing the things he enjoys.