Before 'Posterior Walkers' there was and is the Kaye Posture Control Walker. And posture is what it is all about. The frame geometry and the frame strength of the Kaye Posture Control Walker is key to its success in assisting walking training. If you want to find out more about the clinical and gait implications of using the Kaye Walker compared with other pediatric walkers then please download our fact sheet with clinical references.
Used as both a walking training device and a community walking aid, the Kaye WalkerTM, over the last 30 years, has redefined assisted walking across the world, with its ability to improve posture and walking pattern.
In today's busy world, therapists need versatile equipment that meets therapeutic objectives and also helps children become mobile and integrate more fully into society.
The Kaye Walker offers a good foundation on which to add additional accessories to enhance its offering to suit a wider group of potential users. Accessories include Forearm Gutters, Partial Weight Bearing accessory, Vertical and horizontal Handles, and support harnesses - as well as customised bespoke accessories.
To assist with daily living, Quest also offers a range of lifestyle accessories such as bags, water bottle holders, seats and gadget attachments.=
Why this design?
The Kaye WalkerTM (Posture Control Walker) is designed to make walking less energy consuming whilst improving postural alignment. It has an open front end and this barrier-free design helps to improve the user's social development and interaction with others. It also enables the user to get closer to tables and play surfaces. The rear bar is also a key feature of the Kaye Walker™ as it acts as a stimulus on the user's hip extensors, prompting the user to take the next step.
As a child grows and the walker is adjusted in height, the "footprint" of the walker increases, therefore ensuring that the walker remains stable throughout its useful life. This has an important advantage over other walkers where the height is changed by extending the handle height and thereby moving the user forward in the walker creating more vulnerability.
Sizing
The Kaye WalkerTM is available in eight sizes, covering toddlers through to adults. Each size of the Kaye WalkerTM overlaps and is colour coded for ease of identification. The reason there are eight sizes is that it is important that walkers for children are proportionate and applicable to each stage in development. Having a proportionate size in terms of the weight of the equipment, the spatial implications when negotiating environments, and just the daily 'living with the equipment' is so important.
Size Chart - Standard Width Walkers
| Size/ref/code | W1/2 | W1 | W2 | W3 | W4L | W4H | W5 |
| Colour |
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
| Height of Walker w/ STD Wheels (cm) | 37-46 | 41-55 | 48-64 | 59-78 | 72-92 | 81-100 | 90-105 |
| Height of Walker w/ Activity Wheels (cm) | 41-50 | 45-60 | 52-68 | 63-82 | 76-96 | 85-104 | 94-109 |
| Hand-grip Width (cm) | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 47 |
| Frame Width (cm) | 58-60 | 58-60 | 60-62 | 62-64 | 65-67 | 67-69 | 65-67 |
| Frame Length (cm) | 52-59 | 56-62 | 69-83 | 77-89 | 84-97 | 90-102 | 102-108 |
| User Height (cm) | up to 95 | 91-122 | 107-137 | 129-152 | 150-179 | 150-185 | 175-192 |
| Max User Weight (kg) | 27 | 27 | 39 | 60 | 82 | 95 | 113 |
| Frame Weight (kg) | 3 | 3.3 | 3.85 | 4.85 | 5.5 | 7 | 9.75 |
Size Chart - New wide walker
| Size/ref/code | W1 | W2 | W3 | W4L | W4H |
| Colour |
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
color
|
| Height of Walker w/ STD Wheels (cm) | 41-55 | 48-64 | 59-78 | 72-92 | 81-100 |
| Height of Walker w/ Activity Wheels (cm) | 45-60 | 52-68 | 63-82 | 76-96 | 85-104 |
| Hand-grip Width (cm) | 34 | 34 | 38 | 40 | 40 |
| Frame Width (cm) | 58-60 | 60-62 | 62-64 | 65-67 | 67-69 |
| Frame Length (cm) | 56-62 | 69-83 | 77-89 | 84-97 | 90-102 |
| User Height (cm) | 91-122 | 107-137 | 129-152 | 150-179 | 150-185 |
| Max User Weight (kg) | 27 | 39 | 60 | 82 | 95 |
| Frame Weight (kg) | 3.3 | 3.85 | 4.85 | 5.5 | 7 |
Occasionally specifications and colours may change. To avoid disappointment, please contact our sales team for the most recent product information. Quest 88 Limited reserves the right to change product specifications without prior notice.
Extra-wide frames are available on request, as are weighted frame inserts to increase the weight of the walker.
Kaye Walker Accessories
A choice of wheels
Depending on the users' abilities and their environment you can choose from a selection of wheels - ranging from fixed front wheels and directional locking wheels to oversize activity wheels for use on slightly less even grass and paths.
Getting the right combination of accessories is really important and is a very personal thing. Our product specialists are trained to identify the right combination of additional modules to get the best solution. This works best through assessment and by observing the user in the Kaye Walker, we can determine the right accessories to suit both the user's abilities and the environment in which the walker is to be used.
Kaye Walker wheel/leg options are:
Front-wheel
- Bidirectional wheels - fixed (non-swivel) wheels which only allow for forward movement.
- Directional Locking swivel wheels - castor style wheels that combine swivel and fixed functions in one design.
- Activity Bidirectional wheels & Directional Locking swivel wheels - over-sized activity wheels are ideal for family walks and country paths.
Rear-wheel / leg
- Unidirectional Silent Wheels - the built-in braking mechanism prevents the walker from rolling backward.
- Conversion legs (ferrules) - these rear legs do not have wheels but have rubber ferrules instead.
- Activity Unidirectional silent wheels - over-sized activity wheels are ideal for family walks and country paths.
These wheel/leg options are available for all the walker sizes.
Positional accessories available include; hip location pads (with or without a pelvic belt); and a range of forearm supports with alternative handholds / grips - are available for those who are unable to extend, or weight-bear, through their forearms.
As well as positional accessories, Quest also supplies a range of lifestyle accessories to make things easier for you and/or your child. These include 'Oarsome' grips which spread any upper loading more efficiently through your hands, the 'Q' bag school satchel, and Activity Wheels for rougher terrain.
The availability of NHS funding for lifestyle accessories, such as activity wheels, may vary according to where you live in the UK. However, these items are available direct from Quest. They do not necessarily alter the therapeutic or geometric aspects of Kaye WalkersTM but may enhance the user and family experience. It is worthwhile checking with your therapist for suitability before you order.
Your therapist may or may not be aware of the availability of some accessories and some accessories may be overlooked where walkers are recycled and reissued to new families and users. If your child tends to migrate into the corners of the frame whilst walking or stationary, it may be that hip location pads are the solution. They may or may not have been supplied to you with a loan equipment walker from an equipment pool. Please ask your therapist whether this accessory is suitable as it could make a world of difference!
For more information or an assessment please contact our Head Office.
New colours for Autumn 2020