I have tried the Autostep with my pediatric patients. I don't know if the theraband used to pull the feet forward would be enough to move heavy adult legs. It did not work well with larger kids with high tone. We could not get nice steps.
While we are both waiting for the experts to address your question, I am going to give you my take. The translation of the treadmill movement to a timing cue via the rotating arms allow for force development in the theratubes and its transfer to the preswing leg. Start with the correct step length module (there are three of them). then allow the terminal stance leg to have weight on it until it is extended (to your staisfaction) then weight shift and a knee bending will release the forces in the tube to help bring the leg forward.
You can angle the straps for a little dorsiflex assist. We also have some DorsiFlexors that can help there. I think the key is the facilitation at hip for timely weight shift and a possible knee bend for AUtoSte to be very useful with otherwise low functioning patients.
Wondering if anyone out there has experience using the AutoStep. Our clinic is looking into this as a way of helping our therapists advance an often very heavy lower extremity. The design looks promising, providing both LE advance + DF assist.
