A new piece of equipment, funded through the Phoenix Appeal Stroke Fund of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, is transforming stroke rehabilitation for patients across Cornwall.
The LiteGait system, now installed at the Community Rehab Gym at Barncoose (Camborne and Redruth Hospital), is a supported gait therapy device that helps patients safely relearn how to stand and walk after a stroke or neurological injury.
Costing £35,600, the LiteGait offers postural control and partial weight-bearing support, enabling patients to practise standing, walking, and balance activities with less risk of falls. It also allows physiotherapists to work more effectively by freeing up their hands for therapeutic support.
Jenny Greet, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist for Stroke and Neurology working in West Cornwall, explained how the equipment came to be part of the service:
“We had representatives demonstrate the LiteGait system and compared it with other available options. After careful consideration around safety, usability, and clinical guidelines, we decided this was the most effective solution for our needs. The funding through the Phoenix Appeal Stroke Fund made it possible.”
The equipment is already making a difference.
“The LiteGait is essentially a body-weight-supported treadmill system with an overhead hoist,” Jenny said. “Patients wear a sling that connects them to the system, which helps reduce the weight on their legs. That means we can focus more on guiding limb movement and promoting safe, repetitive walking practice.”
As well as providing physical support, the LiteGait also brings in technology. “It comes with iPads that give us objective data about gait, balance, and how much support is being applied. That’s hugely helpful for tailoring treatment and tracking progress,” she added.
Though primarily used for stroke patients, the equipment is also benefiting individuals with other neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, and functional neurological disorders.
The rollout and use of the LiteGait has led to greater collaboration between multiple services, including the Community Rehabilitation Team, the Integrated Community Stroke Service, and the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at Camborne and Redruth Hospital.
“The process to secure the equipment was quite lengthy, but it’s been worth it,” said Jenny. “It’s helping us move towards more evidence-based, collaborative rehabilitation. Staff are learning from each other, sharing experiences, and exploring how to make the most of this new tool. It’s a learning curve—but a really exciting one.”