It took a lot of calls and a long drive to a major teaching hospital’s rehab department to try out the Walkasins, but I did not find them helpful at all. I could feel the electric “zapping”, but it didn’t make any difference in my gait or balance. BUT the PT recommended I have a “gait analysis” done at another practice- a flat piece went into each shoe which “talked to the computer”, which showed on the screen the pattern of my gait. You could clearly see I was getting very little push-off in the step-through of my right leg. I googled “Dicks Sporting Goods near me”, went and bought two pairs of Brooks, brought them back to the practice, they redid them- a metal rocker plate in the right shoe to give a mechanical push-off and a higher sole in the left so I would be “even”. It has made a world of difference.
The PT also recommended an AFO (ankle foot orthosis- the white plastic lower leg brace) to steady my ankle and pop up the toes while walking. I balked at that, but finally did it, and wear the brace for my daily walk. It has made a positive difference too.
There are reasons the Walkasins are hard to access. I called their Minnesota office, was told there are only two clinics in the entire state of PA that have a PT certified in their use and models to try, made the appointment two and a half hours drive away, and didn’t find them helpful at all. Plus you can’t take them with you to keep trying them at home. To buy them privately is several thousand dollars.
Hope my experience is helpful, don’t feel you’re missing out if you can’t get to try them.