Will I hurt my knee if I use iWALKFREE ?
Answer: No.  There is a common misconception that you are kneel on your knee (maybe that’s why the word is “knee-l”) when using iWALKFree, but you don’t.  When you use the iWALKFree, only your shin comes in contact with the knee platform (perhaps we should have called it the shin platform?)  When the knee is bent 90 degrees, the patellar region is not in contact with the platform and thus does not bear any direct weight when using the iWALKFree.

Will iWALKFREE  work for me?  What are the physical limitations?
Answer: If you’re like most people with lower leg injuries that need to be non-weight bearing, then the answer is most likely YES!  But the iWALKFree doesn’t work for 100% of cases out there, so before you order yours, please review the “Can I Use it?” section of this website.

Will my health insurance cover the cost of my iWALKFREE ? 
Answer:  The answer is….maybe.  We wish we could give you a better answer, however, with the constantly changing climate of health insurance, there is no simple answer.  Coverage depends on your insurance carrier, your physician, and other factors over which we have no control.  Much also depends on where you live.  For example, in some countries with socialized medical care, such as Canada, insurance reimbursement is almost always 100%.  In others, including the USA, reimbursement is highly variable.  You can always check with your physician and insurance company to find out if the device is covered and what percentage or amount they will pay, however, many of our users have chosen a more proactive approach.  Administering your own claim isn’t as difficult as you might think.  To make things easier, we’ve provided  step by step instructions which you can find by clicking here  (link to the new insurance page).  Typically iWALKFree will be classified under the DME (Durable Medical Equipment) portion of your insurance policy, however, there are many exceptions.  When making inquiries to your physician or insurance company, you will want to provide them with our product code, which is HCPCS E0118.

For more information, please visit the Insurance page of our website, or check with your local retailer or distributor.

Why didn’t I know about the iWALKFREE ? 
Answer:  Most people’s first impression when encountering iWALKFree is “Why haven’t I seen that before?”.   They assume that it’s a new product, when in fact, it’s not. iWALKFree was first introduced to the Canadian market in 2000 and has since helped thousands of users achieve hands free mobility.

Our beginnings were quite modest – changing a good idea into a viable company takes time.  Our organic growth has allowed us to keep our focus on product quality and customer service, which remain our first priorities.
Look for new and exciting things coming from iWALKFree in the future as we expand our company and our products.  For more about our beginnings, go to our History page.

How come my physician hasn’t heard of the iWALKFREE ?
Answer:  Most people’s first impression when encountering iWALKFree is “Why haven’t I seen that before?”.   They assume that it’s a new product, when in fact, it’s not. iWALKFree was first introduced to the Canadian market in 2000 and has since helped thousands of users achieve hands free mobility.

Our beginnings were quite modest – changing a good idea into a viable company takes time.  Our organic growth has allowed us to keep our focus on product quality and customer service, which remain our first priorities.
Look for new and exciting things coming from iWALKFree in the future as we expand our company and our products.  For more about our beginnings, go to our History page.

My physician doesn’t think that iWALKFree will work for me, but I think it will.  Why does my physician disagree?
Answer: Your physician may very well be correct.  iWALKFree isn’t for everyone, and maybe you are not an ideal candidate.  But we can quickly figure that our – simply visit our Can I use it? Page and see for yourself.  If, after reviewing the guidelines, you still think iWALKFree will work for you, then you should bring this information to the attention of your physician. 
Here’s the curious thing about physicians and the iWALKFree.  Our experience with most physicians that are not familiar with iWALKFree puts them into two distinct groups.  The first group immediately recognizes the benefits of the device and get excited about being able to offer their patients a hands-free alternative to crutches.  The other camp is a bit more skeptical and we’re often greeted by a blanket dismissal as to the viability of our product.  While we heartily disagree with this assessment, we do understand that medical professionals are exceedingly busy, and can be bombarded with new devices – many of which are not fully developed, clinically proven or medically indicated.  We do not envy their position; “new” products require careful consideration and your health and safety is their first responsibility.  Crutches are conservative, time proven solution to non-weight bearing injuries.   It’s likely that your physician may not realize that we have been providing hand-free mobility to thousands of  grateful, enthusiastic users for years.  They also may not realize that iWALKFree is clinically proven.

Where do I get my iWALKFREE ?
iWALKFree is available through many retail outlets referred to as DME (Durable Medical Equipment) or HME (Home Medical Equipment) outlets.  We’re in the process of building our dealer network listing (by the way, if you’re a dealer, please contact us so we can include you on our listing) so you can more quickly find your iWALKFree.  If a local retailer near you isn’t familiar with iWALKFree, please have them call us and we can arrange your purchase through them.  There are also numerous online retailers of the iWALKFree.
Our first priority is to make sure that you have a fast, convenient way to get the iWALKFree.  We understand that many of our customers have an unexpected injury, and getting their iWALKFree immediately is essential.  If the standard retail or online outlets are not convenient for you, we offer USA and Canadian residents the ability to purchase the device directly from us – simply visit our shopping cart page (link to cart) or call us (link to contact page – phone number section) to place an order.  Shipment is generally same day and can ship from our warehouses in Toronto, Canada or Los Angeles, California.  
For customers outside of the USA and Canada, please contact your country’s distributor to arrange your purchase.   You can find them in the Buy section (link to Buy page) of our website.

Why are the straps on the iWALKFree so long?
Answer:  We’ve intentionally made the straps extra long to accommodate our larger users.  Smaller users can either ignore the extra length, or you can cut off the excess.  If you choose to do this, make sure you leave a few extra inches so that you can tightly hold onto the strap end when installing and tightening the iWALKFree.
The calf strap was made intentionally longer because some users that are wearing a cast will need a longer strap to get around their cast (if the cast extends into the area that kneels onto the knee platform). 

I’m wearing a cast.  Can I still use the iWALKFREE ?
Answer: Yes!  In fact, we made the calf stap extra long just for this purpose.  But there’s few things you should know. 
First and foremost, check with your physician.  That done, the most obvious limitation is that the cast has to be restricted to the lower leg, below the knee (you have to be able to bend your knee 90 degrees to use the iWALKFree). 
Ideally, your cast will not contact the knee platform (but it’s ok if it does…we’ll cover that in a minute).  So here’s a hint – sometimes your physician will make your cast a little shorter if they know you intend to use the iWALKFree.  The knee platform is 12 inches long, so if your cast can be more than 12” from the front of your thigh (with your leg bent at 90 degrees), you’re home free.  To find this spot, kneel on a chair or stool so that your leg is bent 90 degrees.  Measure back 12 inches from the front of your thigh, going back towards your foot.  If the cast is below this point, then you can wear iWALKFree without any accommodations.
If any part of the cast is going to rest on the knee platform, you’ll want to measure the diameter of your casted calf at the location where the calf strap will go around your calf.  To find this spot, kneel on a chair or stool so that your leg is bent 90 degrees.  Measure back 10 inches from the front of your thigh, going back towards your foot.  If the casted circumference at that point is greater than 22 ½”, then you may still be able to use iWALKFree, but you’ll need to contact us before you place your order so we can determine if iWALKFree will work for you.

You’re also going to want to add an additional pad or spacer to level your leg on the knee platform.  This is necessary because the cast will slightly elevate the back of your leg, plus there will be a “step” where the cast ends and the uncasted part of your leg begins.  To take up this space, we can supply additional padding (call us), but we’ve found that a folded hand towel makes an ideal spacer.  Try it first and see how it works for you.  Put the spacer directly onto the knee platform so that it contacts the uncasted part of your leg and voila…you’ve customized your iWALKFree for your casted leg.

Will I hurt my knee if I use iWALK
Answer: No.  There is a common misconception that you are kneel on your knee (maybe that’s why the word is “knee-l”) when using iWALKFree, but you don’t.  When you use the iWALKFree, only your shin comes in contact with the knee platform (perhaps we should have called it the shin platform?)  When the knee is bent 90 degrees, the patellar region is not in contact with the platform and thus does not bear any direct weight when using the iWALKFree.

I just started using my iWALKFree and I’m scared of it.
Answer:  That’s ok…nothing feels as normal as our own limbs, so for some, balancing on a prosthetic leg can be quite a challenge.  But then again, so can walking with crutches.  So remember, as we pointed out in the preceding FAQ, the first thirty seconds are the worst thirty seconds.  Stick with it, follow instructions, and you’ll adapt..and be free of crutches.

What if I buy iWALKFree and I can’t use it?
Answer:  Almost everyone can use the iWALKFree (see preceding FAQ) but if you’ve tried your best and it doesn’t work for you, we offer a 15 day satisfaction warranty.(link to Warranty Information – 15 day satisfaction warranty section)  So while we want you to be free of crutches, if it doesn’t work for you, we’ll take it back.  Just remember that you’ll need to contact us for a return authorization number.

Can I go up and down stairs with iWALK
Answer: Yes.  Which is one thing that you can do with your iWALKFree that you can’t do with a knee scooter.  Take a look at our to see how.

How long will my iWALKFree last?
Answer:  Nothing lasts forever, but your iWALKFree will last a long, long time…probably much longer than the time you will need to recover.  The most common things to wear out are the knee platform pad, the thigh saddle pads or the rubber foot tread.  But fear not.  Replacements for all of the parts of the iWALKFree are available from us.

Can I wear different shoes with iWALKFREE?
Answer: Yes!  But if the height difference is more than ½ inch, you’ll want to adjust the height of the knee platform and the thigh straps.  Luckily we’ve thought of this, so it’s quick and easy to make height adjustments.  See our Fitting instructions

Can I wear short pants with IWALKFree?
Answer:  Yes.  The special padding used on your iWALKFree is hypoallergenic and FDA and CE approved to come in contact with your skin.

Can I sit down wearing the iWALKFREE?
Answer: Yes, but you’ll need ample space in front of your chair for the beam below your knee to extend.  If this is an issue, we’ve designed iWALKFree to be easy and quick to put on and take off. What’s the difference between the iwalkfreee and a knee scooter?

I have a broken bone in my lower leg.  Can I use iWALKFREE?
Answer:  Most often the answer is yes.  If the broken bone is in your foot or ankle, almost certainly you can use iWALKFree.  If in your fibula, then it’s  also very likely.  If you have a broken tibia, then you probably cannot use iWALKFree but we’ve seen many instances where this was still possible.  In all cases where there are fractures, you need to check with your physician before using iWALKFree.