Dear List members: The recent thread on the List about falls has given me the impetus to write to you regarding falls. Since falls are one of the main reasons for nursing home placement - and obviously prevention is so important for quality of life, this is a big issue. Certainly for Bob, they are an issue and whilst he has suffered no major damage, I watch with increasing "horror" as he often catapults close to disaster--backwards off a chair, forwards carrying something heavy.... Last year I heard about a USA product called the U-Step Walking Stabilizer - which was made especially for people who have balance and falling problems. I did a bit of research (it was written up in the Parkinson's Update Magazine) and (thanks to a visiting neurologist) managed to bring one into Perth, Australia to "show" at the Fourth Australian Multidisciplinary Conference on Parkinson's Disease, last Sept. It received enthusiastic support from the health professionals and after much soul searching, Bob and I decided to import a few of these to sell in Australia. We have just bought in five (only) and are selling them ONLY TO COVER OUR COSTS, so because we do not intend to make a profit on these, I do not feel guilty about telling the list about our "venture." Believe me, after filling in a manual customs entry, dealing with shipping agents & customs and finally picking them up - I can tell you this is not a for profit OR pleasure experience; it is certainly not a business! We would genuinely like to help people who need a state of the art walker which will give them back their freedom. If any one in Australia is interested, please contact me by my email or by Ph/Fax on 08 94304730. List members in the USA can contact the manufacturer in the USA at In-Step Mobility Products at Skokie Ilinois (800) 558 7837. Following is a review which I wrote for our local PAWA Newsletter. U-STEP WALKER ARRIVES The U-STEP WALKING STABILISER, which was shown for the first time in Australia at the 1997 Fourth Australian Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Parkinson's Disease, is now available for purchase in Perth. The U-Step Walker is ideally suited for people with Parkinson's (PWP), stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, cerebellar ataxia, muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie Tooth, ALS and balance disorders. The U-Step is proving to be very popular for use by individuals in their own homes and for people in rehabilitation. The U-Step's unique features include five swivel wheels attached to a U-shaped base. The centre front wheel has a spring mechanism that acts as a shock absorber, allowing patients to walk uninterrupted across door thresholds, pavement cracks and other uneven surfaces. Users conserve their energy (and balance) by not having to pick up the U-Step. Its fluid motion enables easy walking on carpets and outdoors (but not grass). Since the U-Step's unique U-shaped base (56 cm/22 inches wide) keeps it from tipping forward or backward, the system helps prevent falls. Users report increased confidence, safety, improvement in walking endurance and gait initiation. The Parkinson's Disease Update newsletter (Issue 74, 1997) reported favourably on the U-Step and quoted Susan Reece of the APDA who described the walker as "particularly good for those who fall backwards or have forward speed-up (retropulsion) problems, or turning problems." Amongst its other features, the U-Step has a specially positioned middle wheel that turns in a small arc, so people can make a 360-degree turn in confined spaces. A control adjustment at the hand grip provides adjustable wheel speed, to match and maintain an individual's walking pace and gait pattern. A single bicycle style grip (adjustable to either side) with cable slows or brakes the walker. The walker comes with a sturdy padded seat that does not restrict the ambulation area and has a carry basket underneath. Secured, it can be used as a seat; it can be useful for episodes of "freezing" allowing the PWP to either sit and wait out the freeze, or if a carer is in attendance, to actually sit and be wheeled if necessary. The walker weighs 9.7 kg (with seat and basket), folds flat and in half for easy carrying in the back seat or boot of a car. It can be adjusted for adults of varying height. Childrens sizes are available by special order. It is recommended (but not essential) that those interested should be assessed for suitability by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. A sample U-Step can be seen (by appointment) at the Independent Living Centre in Shenton Park, Perth. For details, phone (08) 9382 2011, Fax (08) 9382 2896. Or phone 08 9430 4730 to talk to the distributor.