Patent ID: 7955230

Claim:
A method for guiding and assisting the steps of a patient with impaired walking ability implemented by a foot slider device, the method comprising: providing a foot slider device configured to receive the patient's foot, said device having a toe section configured to receive and support the toe section of the patient in a manner that inhibits rotation of the patient's leg and a first loop that is disposed above the toe section and extends outwardly from the toe section in a sideways configuration, wherein the first loop is dimensioned to allow insertion of a therapist's foot such that the therapist's foot can be positioned substantially orthogonally relative to the patient's foot, wherein the toe section provides a relative slidable surface that guides the patient's step from the front of the patient's foot by sliding the front portion of the patient's foot, the configuration of the toe section reduce the patient's tendency of rotating the leg and dragging the foot sideways; inserting the therapist's foot into the loop; and moving the patient's foot in a manner such that the loop boosts the upward motion of the patient's foot as the patient takes a step.