7 Healthcast: WalkAide

But she didn't give up and eventually got back on her feet.

Unfortunately that meant the constant use of a cumbersome brace.

Julia Fox Garrison, stroke survivor
"When I wore a brace I wasn't allowed to use my muscle movement."

But all that changed when Julia found out about WalkAide.

It's an electronic device worn just below the knee.

Sarah Rotondo, rehabilitation specialist
"Someone who has foot drop if you see them walk they tend to drag their foot behind them, which sets them up for falls and makes a very inefficient gait pattern. What the WalkAide does is it stimulates a muscle in the front of your leg to turn on so that the foot no longer drags behind them."

The walk-aide allows Julia to have feeling in her leg.

Julia Fox Garrison, stroke survivor
"I can feel where my leg is when it's hitting the pavement, because I didn't even know when I'd hit the pavement."

She says, the device has not only helps her walk- it helps her feel better about herself.

Julia Fox Garrison, stroke survivor
"I stared at other people's shoes all the time because with the braces I was wearing I always had to wear men's sneakers that would fit the brace and they were deep enough. And it just didn't ever make you feel attractive or dressed up, and now I can go barefoot."

The WalkAide can also help people with brain or spinal cord injuries and those with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. But remember to always talk to your doctor before you start using any new treatment or device.

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