MyWay by Leckey: Supporting Children to Explore, Move and Participate
For many children, being upright and able to move through their environment can open up new opportunities to explore, interact and participate.
The Leckey MyWay is an upright mobility device designed for children who are unable to stand or walk independently. It provides supportive positioning while allowing children to use their lower limbs to propel themselves, helping create opportunities to develop stepping, walking and weight-bearing abilities.
More importantly, MyWay gives children the opportunity to experience their surroundings from an upright position, whether they are taking part in an activity, exploring somewhere new, playing with friends or simply enjoying the freedom to move.
Supporting movement while keeping the world within reach
One of the features we particularly like about MyWay is its open frame.
Rather than placing equipment between the child and their surroundings, the MyWay frame is designed to give children space to reach, touch, play and interact.
This can make it easier to include movement within everyday activities. A child can move towards a favourite toy, join their peers at an activity or explore their surroundings while receiving the support they need.
The open back of the frame also gives therapists close access to the child's lower limbs. This can be particularly useful during therapy sessions, allowing therapists to facilitate movement while the child is supported in an upright position.
Support where it matters
At the centre of the MyWay system is its supportive harness.
The harness is designed to provide core stability and postural support while still allowing movement through the child's limbs. Its corset style design creates a comfortable, supportive fit around the trunk and pelvis.
This support can help create a stable foundation for head control and limb movement, giving children the opportunity to focus on stepping and exploring their environment.
MyWay can also be adjusted to suit the individual child. Overall height, fine height, shoulder height and prone angle adjustments allow the system to be carefully configured to support an appropriate position for mobility.
Castor settings that can change as skills develop
Every child's mobility journey is different, which is why the MyWay castors include several adjustable features.
The castors offer braking, directional lock, anti roll back and resistance settings.
For example, directional locking can be used when a child benefits from assistance travelling in a straighter direction. Resistance can be introduced to help manage speed and control, while the anti roll back function can help prevent backwards movement.
These settings mean MyWay can be configured around the child's current abilities and adjusted as their mobility skills develop.
Optional accessories for individual needs
MyWay can be configured with a range of optional accessories depending on the child's needs and the recommendations of their therapist.
These include:
Saddle: Provides additional support and can be particularly helpful when positioning a child before attaching the harness.
User Handles: Give children a dedicated place to hold while using MyWay.
Ankle Guides: Can help guide lower limb movement and may be useful for children who experience scissoring or an asymmetrical stepping pattern.
Headrest: Provides additional head support for children who require it.
Hoisting Straps: Allow children who cannot complete a standing transfer to be hoisted directly into or out of the MyWay frame while wearing their harness.
Adult Handles: Give parents, carers and therapists another way to safely guide and steer the MyWay.
Adult Connection Belt: Used together with the Adult Handles, the Adult Connection Belt allows an adult to connect to the frame and help control its movement. This can leave their hands free to interact with the child or facilitate therapy activities.
Designed to grow with children
MyWay is available in three frame sizes, supporting children across a broad range of ages and sizes.
Size 1 supports a maximum user weight of 25 kg, Size 2 supports up to 50 kg, and Size 3 supports up to 80 kg. Harnesses are available separately in six sizes.
Choosing the correct combination of frame, harness and accessories is important. The maximum user weight is determined by both the selected frame and harness, with the lower weight limit applying.
Our Allied Medical team can help therapists and families determine the most appropriate configuration for an individual child.
Making movement part of everyday life
Therapy is important, but movement does not always have to feel like a therapy session.
One of the strengths of MyWay is the opportunity it creates for movement to become part of everyday experiences.
That could mean exploring a new environment, playing a game with friends, moving towards something interesting or participating alongside other children.
The aim is not simply to support a child in an upright position. It is to give them more opportunities to interact with the people and world around them.
As Leckey puts it, "I'm ready to go, MyWay!"
Is MyWay suitable for your child?
Every child has different physical, postural and mobility needs. MyWay should therefore be considered and configured with guidance from the therapist or healthcare professional managing the child's mobility programme.
The MyWay user manual also outlines specific precautions and contraindications that should be considered when determining whether supported walking is appropriate for an individual child.
If you would like to learn more about MyWay, talk with the Allied Medical team. We can help you explore the available sizes, accessories and configuration options.