Testimonials
Here are just a few comments we have received from our many
satisfied users.
We are absolutley delighted with this ......and your level of service - outstanding!
Truly, it has given my partner his independence and mobility back - crutches were exhausting!
Aileen Spence
I have been leant a K9 by the Eastbourne District Hospital for use during 3 months non weight bearing following an operation on my ankle.
I would like to thank everyone involved in the invention and production of K9 as it has been an invaluable aid to me. I am 73 years old and was dreading the inactivity and subsequent weakening of muscles which I associated with the difficult use of crutches. I have been able to whizz round my kitchen cooking and baking bread, and due to the stability of K9, found it easy to bend down to use the washing machine and pick up dropped objects from the floor.
Pat Hart
I bought the K9 9 days ago and have rarely been off it since.
Just to let you know for your database that I have walked more than 1 mile , half of it uphill. Tip for users is to use an arm crutch when outside as makes up and down hills very easy ( I know you do not recommend this!) and makes use a lot more stable.
Other comments. The handle is worth using most of the time in the house as if you hit a bump the law of the lever applies and you get ample warning of a tip and it is easy to correct.
So far I can:
 |
Prepare and clear up a meal |
|
Fill and empty dishwasher |
|
Fill and empty washing machine |
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Garden including pruning |
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Take the bins out |
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Clean windows |
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Sweep leaves |
I am doing everything in the house that I was doing before apart from dashing up and down stairs. Along the high street I am faster than most other pedestrians.
The fact that the K9 is a footstool that you carry with you all the time is of huge importance in terms of healing. As a GP I know the effects of venous congestion on the healing process and how much it can contribute to infection risk and progression.
The K9 is much safer than crutches on smooth floors as in a supermarket. Before I started using it I had had 2 falls after coming in from the rain outside onto such floors.
I went to the fracture clinic this week and was worried I would be lynched and the K9 stolen off me as the other patients struggled on crutches!
Dr. Graeme MacKenzie
The well-known BBC journalist who is currently hosting 'Sunday AM' ruptured his achilles tendon whilst running a marathon. After his repair operation, he was much helped by K9, this is what he said:
"I've never much liked the idea of hands-free phones, but hands-free walking is wonderful. Without the K9, a slow recuperation would have been much slower - and duller."
Andrew Marr
I returned from hospital yesterday and want to tell you that Rover (my K9) is MARVELLOUS. Absolutely fantastic!
I'm very sorry that Mr Reid had his mishap which caused him to need to invent K9 - but SO very grateful that he did invent it and make it available to others. Perhaps you could kindly pass my very heartfelt thanks on to him please?
I took my crutches and Rover with me to hosp for my op on Tuesday. The Physios had heard of K9 but not actually seen one and were most interested in him (as was everyone).
The likely time for me to be in plaster has been increased from 13 weeks to 5 MONTHS!! The thought of only having mobility by crutches for 5 months appals me!! But with Rover it is a COMPLETELY different picture.
It's marvellous. Thanks so much for making it available.
Donald Morton
I am the first person to use the K9
supplied to The Horder Centre For Arthritus at Crowborough. I have been
using it since last August, first for one leg and now the other as I have
had tendon operations on both feet. It has been a godsend to me and I do
not know what I would have done without it, my house is not suitable for
indoor wheelchair use and, because of the problems with my feet, I would
not have been able to use crutches either.
I am hoping to be able to walk again
within the next few weeks.
Whilst writing, may I say that I told
the Horder Centre how wonderful the K9 is and they have now ordered two
more! The inventor deserves a medal and sincere thanks because, without
it, I would have been bedridden for nine months! The whole process since
attending my doctor because of pains in my feet in April 2003, seeing
Specialists, having scans, waiting for operations and recovery will have
taken two years and your K9 has helped save my sanity - I cannot praise it
more!
Karen Tyrrell
I am an orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
in Birmingham and last week ruptured my Achilles Tendon whilst playing squash. Fortunately I had
to spend only one day on crutches and an unpleasant day it was too. After a morning on the wards
and an afternoon in the clinic I had blisters on my hands and chest wall and was exhausted.
Since then I have been using K9 and it has proved to be a
revelation. I have done ward rounds, clinics and a full day operating (including major spinal
surgery) with only the minimal discomfort and inconvenience.
P Roberts F.R.C.S.
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|
Hands free for shopping |
I
recently had major foot operation and have been loaned a K9 by the Warwickshire Nuffield
Hospital Physiotherapy Department. This has been invaluable to me in the house - particularly
the kitchen area as it enables me to have hands free to carry things.
Anyone who has seen me using this are amazed and impressed at
its versatility in all areas of the home. It has certainly made the last eight weeks in plaster
much less restricting and I was fortunate that one was available - it beats crutches and zimmers
hands down.
Mary S Jones
I can't begin to tell you the difference it made when I first
broke my leg. It seemed like a miracle to be able to move about with one hand free. When
stationary, preparing meals, washing and other daily tasks all became viable again.
From time to time I am unable to wear my artificial limb and
the K9 is invaluable during these periods. At night it allows me to 'scoot' to the
bathroom rather than putting the limb back on or having the indignity of a commode in my
bedroom.
Suzanne Frampton
When it arrived I had been using crutches for a week, my hands
were blistering, my shoulders ached and I had done relatively very little. I remember the
instant relief at off-loading half of my weight onto the scooter. I mastered simple movements
within minutes and later that day scooted half a mile along the road (and back) to see my
horses. Next day I emulsioned a large ceiling and have not looked back since....
Jill Web
Since returning home from Vancouver, where I had had the
misfortune to fracture my ankle in three places, K9 has been a wonderful aid, enabling me to be
completely mobile without the use of crutches. You may be surprised to know I am over 80 years
of age, but at all times had complete confidence with K9. I have been able to carry on with
household activities which at this time of year included the making of cakes and Christmas
puddings. God bless K9.
Mary Churchill
This is just to let you know about the use of your K9
Orthopaedic Scooter. I have used it with two cases of ruptured Achilles tendon, both with
completely satisfactory results. For this pathology I have been able to reduce the time in
plaster to only 6 weeks in a below knee plaster for one patient, during which time he used the
Orthopaedic Scooter, which he found very convenient and could return to work.
Angus Strover F.R.C.S., Droitwich Knee Clinic
I suffer from a diabetic ulcer on the ball of my foot by my
right big toe, which had become infected: K9 is the ideal method of motivation for me to keep my
right foot away from contact with the ground. I have used it and have had admiring and
interested comments from the Podiatry Department at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford,
and from the Diabetic Foot Clinic at King's College Hospital, London, to both of whom I have
supplied copies of your leaflets.
R B Moore
Ode to John Reid aka Hotspur
As I whizz up and down on my little K9,
I bless Mr Reid's name time after time,
O dear John Reid! O sweet K9!
My spirits are high & my heel will be fine!
Susannah York, Actress.
With the Royal Shakespeare company at the time of a heel injury, she was still able to rehearse.
Here's another delighted letter from another delighted
medic with a ruptured Achilles tendon, suddenly liberated after a week of cursing and hobbling
on axillary and elbow crutches. All the same, I was surprised how many new muscles I found after
a couple of days of scootering - probably because I ignored your advice not to go too fast. I
must say it fairly whizzes along hospital vinyl corridors.
Professor John McEwen, PhD, MBChB, FRCPEd,
FFPM
In common with other orthopaedic surgeons who have sustained
Achilles tendon rupture, I would like to commend your wonderful design of the orthopaedic
scooter. It is surprising that so few people are aware of such a device which makes mobility so
straightforward, compared with the Hell of using crutches as presumably you yourself
experienced. So many coworkers, patients, and members of the public have expressed their
admiration for the machine that there must surely be potential for a wide market.
Allan N. Stirrat, FRCS Ed.
Three weeks ago I suffered a stupid pavement accident in
London and severely fractured my right ankle. Indeed I fractured the lower end of the tibia and
the fibular bone with considerable rupture of ligaments. I was just about coping with crutches
and crawling around the house when a week ago my friend Robert Grant telephoned me to tell me
about the K9. For the last five days the K9 has utterly transformed my invalid life. Instead of
being thoroughly dependant on my longsuffering wife I now have a certain amount of independence.
For those who have not had to use crutches, they have no idea how impossible it is to carry
anything while using them.
The last thing you want to do is put the badly injured limb
down on the floor. There is also the point that the badly injured limb has considerable
disruption of the vein circulation. Therefore the more you keep the limb elevated the better. A
foot hanging down between the crutches is not going to help the circulation. The K9 completely
transforms the situation. True you have to keep resting but certainly you don't suffer as
much from the vein congestion as when using crutches. One has a much greater stability and can
even carry things.
Dr. Anthony Dunstan Fox, B.Sc, M.B.,B.S.,
D.C.H., D.R.C.O.G.,M.R.C.G.P. and Member of the Faculty of Homeopathy.
I
am
really
delighted
with
your
scooters
and
I
have
written
the
enclosed
article
for
the
Editor
of
"Practical
Diabetes"
which
is
a
journal
widely
circulated
amongst
diabetologists.
If
there
is
anything
that
should
be
amended
please
let
me
know.
I
am
sure
that
your
scooter
will
be
of
help
to
many
patients.
Good
results
from
an
orthopaedic
scooter
Sir.
Avoidance
of
weight
bearing
whenever
possible
is
the
most
certain
way
of
obtaining
rapid
healing
of
trophic
plantar
ulcers
in
patients
with
sensory
neuropathy.
This
is
a
lesson
that
was
first
learnt
in
the
treatment
of
leprosy
patients
and
equally
applies
to
diabetic
patients
with
similar
lesions.
Avoidance
of
weight
bearing
is
obtained
with
most
certainty
by
complete
bed
rest,
but
this
is
often
not
practicable.
As
an
alternative,
walking
with
crutches
to
avoid
weight
bearing
on
the
ulcer
area
is
often
a
poor
substitute
because
it
is
difficult
for
the
patient
not
to
occasionally
put
weight
on
the
affected
foot,
and
it
also
often
results
in
excessive
pressure
being
placed
upon
the
unaffected
foot.
We
have now
treated
five
patients
with
the
help
of
an
orthopaedic
scooter
with
remarkable
results
in
obtaining
healing.
The
scooter
enables
the
patient
to
carry
on
living
an
almost
normal
life
and
yet
to
avoid
weight
bearing
on
the
ulcer
area.
The
patient
can
wash,
shave,
do
household
jobs
and
often
continue
at
work
doing
tasks
which
require
standing.
In
addition,
it
also
does
not
result
in
extra
pressure
on
the
unaffected
foot.
When
negotiating
stairs
the
patient
can
avoid
weight
bearing
on
the
affected
foot,
either
by
sitting
when
at
home,
or
by
using
crutches
when
outside.
The
orthopaedic
scooter
also
has
the
added
advantage
that
is
can
be
used
as
a
foot
rest
to
support
the
foot
when
sitting,
and
it
is
possible
to
place
the
foot
in
such
a
way
as
to
avoid
heel
pressure
when
a
heel
ulcer
is
present.
Frank
I
Tovey
O.B.E.
Chm,
FRCS
I
went
to
The
Horder
Centre
in
Crowborough,
Sussex
to
have
an
Ankle
Arthrodesis
in
an
attempt
to
relieve
me
from
longstanding
pain
caused
by
arthritis.
On
the
day
following
the
operation,
which
left
me
with
a
knee
length
plaster,
I
was
presented
with
a
strange
looking
scooter
and
as
good
as
told
to
"get
on
with
it"!!!
It
seemed
like
some
sort
of
sick
joke
at
the
time
and
my
fellow
patients,
all
'Hips'
&
'Knees'
thought
it
most
intriguing
even
though
they
were
kind
enough
not
to
laugh
out
loud!
By
the
end
of
my
weeks
stay
I
was
getting
used
to
it
and
was
told
I
could
take
it
home...
all
very
well
in
a
hospital
ward
but
how
I
wondered
would
it
behave
where
there
were
rugs,
carpets
&
steps
to
deal
with..so
I
also
brought
crutches
and
a
zimmer
home
too...just
in
case...
I
had
to
go
back
in
10
days
to
have
the
plaster
changed
and
as
I
had
got
on
so
well
with
K9,
carpets
and
all,
I
took
great
pleasure
in
returning
the
crutches
etc.
To
me
that
scooter
is
definitely
The
Best
Thing
since
the
proverbial
sliced
bread!! Incidentally
K9
allowed
me
to
enjoy
my
75th
birthday
to
the
full
last
July.
Meg
Judd
Having
used
my
2
K9s
for
two
weeks
now
I
felt
I
must
write
to
you
to
tell
you how
truly
irreplaceable
they
have
become
to
me.
Little
ordinary
things
like
shaving
and
brushing
ones
teeth
have
become
simple
but
most
important
of
all
is
the
mobility
and
speed
which
your
invention
has
given
me.
I
spent
my
first
race
day
at
Redcar
last
week
and
managed
to
do
all
the
things
I
normally
do
-
albeit
a
little
slower
-
which
entails
visiting
all
bars,
toilets,
reception
rooms,
sponsors,
caterers,
etc.,
etc.
It
was
a
tiring
day
but
hugely
worthwhile
and
very
little
of
the
above
could
have
been
achieved
without
the
use
of
the
K9.
The
Marquess
of
Zetland
Christmas
proved
to
be
especially
memorable
this
year
because
of
an
operation
to
repair
a
ruptured
archilles
tendon
-
suffered
whilst
playing
in
a
squash
tournament.
Moving
from
regular
exercise
to
being
limited
to
using
crutches
posed
both
obvious
and
unexpected
difficulties
and
frustrations
at
work
and
at
home.
I
was
also
surprised
to
find
that,
even
for
someone
who
was
quite
fit,
that
the
effort
of
using
crutches
was
demanding
and
quite
debilitating.
I
am,
therefore,
writing
to
thank
you
for
drawing
my
attention
to
the
K9.
Its
use
immediately
gave
me
a
greater
freedom
to
get
around
and
back
to
a
more
normal
life
style
-
but
not
playing
squash!
Michael
Turvey
Very
simply,
if
I
had
not
have
the
use
of
K9,
I
would
have
cancelled
my
holiday
to
America.
It
really
would
have
been
completely
impractical
to
have
been
a
tourist
in
the
sweltering
summer in
New
York
on crutches.
However,
in
fact,
having
had
considerable
practice
in
England,
I
was
perfectly
able
to
scoot
around
the
streets
of
New
York
on
K9,
in
the
process
becoming
something
of
a
tourist
attraction
in
my
own
right.
Milton
C
Silverman
With
one
leg
in
plaster
and
on
two
crutches,
as
a
busy
contact
lens
practitioner
with
a
house
practice,
life
had
been
very
difficult
indeed
and
seeing
patients
a
purgatory.
Trying
to
work
on
someone's
eyes
fitting
contact
lenses
when
balanced
on
one
leg
and
two
crutches
was
rather
tricky
to
put
it
mildly.
Added
to
this
I
have
weak
writs
and
an
old
sacroaliac
strain
and
in
the
few
days
I
have
been
on
crutches
both
wrists
and
spine
had
become
extremely
painful.
My
upper
arms
were
bruised
from
the
arm
ring
of
the
crutches
so
I
was
feeling
rather
sorry
for
myself.
However, K9 has virtually restored my
life to normal.
Anne
C
Arnold
Silk
F.A.
DO.
(Hons)
F.F.D.O
I
suppose
everything
that
can
be
said
about
this
most
wonderful
of
devices
has
been
said
-
but
you
can't
imagine
the
sense
of
exhilaration
I
felt
as
soon
as
I
hopped
on
my
K9!
Gone
was
the
depression
-
all
I
could
think
of
here
in
my
hospital
room
was
the
confinement
I
would
be
facing
on
returning
home
-
living
alone,
that
meant
hopping
about
on
crutches
practically
unable
to
care
for
myself
and
then
along
came K9!
I
can
think
more
clearly
now
and
look
forward
to
a
most
productive
recuperative
2
months
whilst
my
injury
heals.
Thank
you
for
the
prompt
attention
to
my
order.
Caroline
Gionta
Many
thanks
for
the
swift
deliver
of
my
K9.
It,
or
should
I
say
"he"
(because
he
has
now
taken
the
place
of
my
two
cats
as
my
constant
companion),
has
made
a
tremendous
difference
to
my
lifestyle
while
my
ankle
is
in
plaster.
Cruising
around
the
kitchen
is
a
joy
and
speeding
between
the
supermarket
shelves exhilarating.
Mrs
J
E
Kramek
The
Scooter
is
proving
a
great
boon
both
for
mobility
and
as
a
leg
rest.
Having
broken
several
bones
in
my
ankle,
I
have
to
keep
my
foot
up
as
much
as
possible
and
will
not
be
allowed
to
put
my
weight
on
it
for
several
months.
I
find
I
am
able
to
cook
because
of
having
my
hands
free
and
do
many
other
things
which
I
would
not
manage
on
crutches,
including
getting
in
and
out
of
the
bath
and
also
being
able
to
wash
my
hair.
Veronica
James
I
received
the
K-9
scooter
at
the
best
time.
I
used
it
to
go
to
the
market
and
all
over
our
house.
When
I
was
at
the
grocery
market
or
at
a
benefit
dinner
many
people
came
to
me
and
asked
me
questions
about
the
scooter.
It
was
wonderful.
It
is
such
a
fantastic
device.
I
have
already
loaned
the
scooter
to
a
gentleman
who
had
an
achilles
tendon
operation.
He
was
very
grateful
for
the
use
of
the
scooter.
It
made
his
and
my
life
so
much
easier.
Helen
Gilbert
I
fractured
both
ankles
and
after
3
days
my
left
ankle
was
operated
on
with
a
pin
and
plaster,
one
week
after
the
accident
I
was
expected
to
walk
with
the
aid
of
a
frame,
but
it
was
impossible
to
put
my
right
foot
to
the
floor
long
enough
to
lift
the
frame
forward.
Several
days
and
several
types
of
frames
later
the
physio
gave
up.
Finally
one
afternoon
she
burst
into
the
ward
and
said
"I
have
got
just
the
thing
for
you"
and
there
was
K9
and
right
away
I
was mobile.
M
J
Helman
My
wife
and
I
were
involved
in
a
serious
road accident.
We
were
both
admitted
to Hospital,
my
wife
with
chest
injuries
and
in
my
case
a
fractured
right
elbow,
fractured
right
ankle
and
facial
injuries.
We
are
both
making
good
recoveries
and
my
progress
and
quality
of
life
has
greatly
been
enhanced
by
the
K9
Orthopaedic Scooter
which
I
have
used
for
the
last
10
weeks.
What
a
marvellous
invention!
After
a
shaky
start
I
soon
managed
to
acquire
the
scooter
skills
and
then
I
was
mobile
in
the
ward
and
eventually
at
home.
Cyril
Drewry
I
have
now
returned
to
work
three
months
after
the
original
operation
on
my
left
ankle.
I
have
to
tell
you
that
the
scooter
was
the
most
tremendous
boon
in
my
recovery
and
right
from
the
start
the
use
of
the
apparatus
enable
me
to
mobilise
so
much
more
quickly
and
happily.
I
have
used
it
for
many
weeks
following
my
return
home
and
it
enabled
me
to
get
out
and
about,
not
only
within
the
house
and
garden
environment
but
also
elsewhere
in
the
town.
Without
it
I
have
no
doubt
that
my
recovery
would
have
been
much
slower
and
certainly
would
have
been
far
more
inconvenient
and
also
I
would
have
been
far
less
independent
in
attending
to
my
own
affairs.
Malcolm
Tuddenham
I
am
just
writing
to
thank
you
very
much
for
sending
up
a
K9.
As
with
all
of
the
previous
users,
I
found
this
invaluable
in
that
it
enabled
me
to
work
whilst
wearing
a
non-weight
bearing
plaster
for
my
ruptured
Achilles
tendon.
As
well
as
operating
and
doing
out-patients,
I
was
able
to
do
home
decorating
and
even
attended
a
dance,
during
which
I
achieved
a
Gay
Gordons
with
the
trolley,
which
raised
a
few
eyebrows!
I
am
looking
forward
to
being
able
to
use
if
for
one
of
my
patients
and
congratulate
you
on
inventing
what
is
an
ingenious
and
invaluable
piece
of
equipment.
J.G.B.
MacLEAN,
F.R.C.S.
(Orth.)
Consultant
Orthopaedic
Surgeon
Queen
Elizabeth
Hospital
Kidney
Patients
Association
3
weeks
ago
I
had
my
right
leg
put
in
plaster as
I had
ruptured
my
Achilles
tendon.
Due
to a
Heart
attack
I
suffered I
was
unable
to
have
an
operation,
incidentally
I also had
a
kidney
transplant.
You
are
probably
wondering
why
I
am
telling
you
all
this,
the
reason
being
that I was loaned
a
K9
Scooter.
I
have
found
this
to
be
my
right
leg
and
cannot
imagine
how
I
would
get
about
without
it.
Crutches
I have
been
unable
to
cope
with
them.
Look
forward
to
hearing
from
you.
Baron
Beaumont
(Chairman)
I
had
to
be
on
crutches
a
couple
of
years
ago
after
an
operation
and
I
found
it
very
tiring
and
difficult.
As
we
war
amputees
grow
older,
an
easy-to-manage
substitute
for
crutches
might
be
of
great
interest.
I
have
tried
the
scooter
both
ways,
i.e.
kneeling
on
my
tin
leg
(or
without
it)
and
propelling
myself
with
my
good
leg;
or
kneeling
on
my
good
leg
and
propelling
myself
with
my
tin
leg.
It
is
out
of
this
world!
N
R
Wolff-Vorbeck
News of
Miss
Vera
Morris
with
her
Orthopaedic
Scooter.
It
is
proving
a
great
success
and
she
is
on
the
verge
of
going
home
mobilising
with
the
K9. It
is
now
a
year
since
her
amputation,
with
many
ups
and
downs
since
then
-
so
she
is
very
happy.
I
have
doubts
as
to
whether
she
will
ever
master
her
prosthesis
-
though
we
shall
persevere
with
this
-
so
the
K9
may
prove
to
be
her
only
means
of
mobility,
apart
from
her
wheelchair.
Alison
Francis
Superintendent
Physiotherapist
Wareham
Hospital
Many
thanks
for
the
delivery
of
the
scooter,
we
are
most
impressed.
I
wonder
if
it
would
be
possible
to
receive
a
second
scooter?
This
would
be
most
helpful.
Ian
McColl
Professor
of
Surgery
Guy's Hospital
Thank you so much for sending the K9 so promptly - I had my foot operation 8 days ago and am able to cope on my own at home so much more easily than had I just had the use of crutches - in fact the crutches came home with me but have not been used. Its a fantastic invention which will be well used as I am now in plaster for 12 weeks - well worth the money.
Wendy Hammond
Available to HIRE or BUY K9 the orthopaedic leg trolley.
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