Written by Mike Price, OT
Finding the right tool for a task is a satisfying feeling. It seems that often the best solutions are the simplest-- which also rings true for health and wellness products. Vive Health agrees. Vive Health is a company offering products and solutions for a multitude of different needs in the realm of healthcare. Whether you are in need of mobility aids, physical therapy equipment, home care items, or other general durable medical goods, odds are Vive Health has a product to help.
Vive Health is actually a composite brand made up of twelve other sub-brands that all have unique specialties. By developing these specialty brands, Vive can commit to providing the best available product options in each category. Vive Health stands behind its dedication to “beauty in simplicity” by offering you a one-stop shop for healthcare products that have stood the test of time.
Something that sets Vive Health and its subsidiaries apart is that they internally design and develop most of their own products. To that end, when browsing Vive’s website the other brands you will see mostly bear the Vive family name: Vive Mobility, Vive Sole, snd Vive Precision, to name a few. Having in-house brands like this allows Vive Health to have complete control over the design and manufacturing process for their products.
Part of that process is testing for overall quality, reliability, and durability. Vive Health can use information from these tests to ensure not only that their products are safe and effective, but also to determine how long these products will last over periods of use. With that information, Vive Health can pass valuable recommendations and warranties to the consumer.
In the United States, over 6.8 million people are using assistive devices to help get around their homes and the community. That figure includes everything from canes and walkers through state-of-the-art powered wheelchairs. While the majority of mobility aid users are elderly, the is a not-insignificant population of younger people living with disability or injury who also need some assistance getting around.
The best mobility aid is the one that you and your care team identify as appropriate for your specific condition. That said, there are some other key features that tend to be beneficial. Having a reliable and durable product is important, but it is also important for many types of mobility aid to be fairly lightweight. Additionally, ease of storage and transportation are both areas worth considering-- many mobility aids are collapsible or foldable for exactly these purposes.
 | Upright Rollator / Rollator Walker with Seat and Forearm Supports View Product |
Also known as an ‘upright rollator,’ a forearm rollator walker is sort of a hybrid in the world of mobility solutions. It has the height of a traditional walker but with the convenient touches that come standard on most rollators-- namely offering a seat whenever the user needs a rest.
Unlike a standard rollator, the forearm rollator walker allows the user to maintain an upright posture throughout use. This has the benefit of improving overall posture and relieving some of the tension that comes from bending to use a traditional model with lower brakes and handles.
The upright rollator featured here from Vive incorporates padded forearm supports and cable breaks. This type of device can greatly increase independence by providing a best-of-both-world solution between a walker and a rollator.
 | Folding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health View Product |
Depending on your specific situation, a power mobility device -- or PMD -- might be appropriate. Using a PMD has been shown to have a positive influence on common occupations, group participation, and overall quality of life for users. That being said, most PMDs are not exactly the most portable pieces of equipment. This is where a folding power wheelchair can help.
For users who are looking for the convenience and relatively lightweight of a manual wheelchair, but who need to added benefits that come with using a PMD, this is a fantastic option. The top of the line model from Vive featured here comes standard with a 360-degree joystick controller, USB-charging port, and of course a durable, collapsible frame.
 | All-Terrain Knee Walker Scooter by Vive Health View Product |
A knee walker, sometimes also referred to as a knee scooter, is a unique little mobility device in that it is intended to be a temporary solution. Typically, a knee walker can be considered an alternative to crutches. In fact, recent studies have determined that this type of device is a safe, well-tolerated mobility aid for anyone who requires a period of non-weight bearing during recovery. Compared to crutches, which can cause arm strain and pain, the smooth ride of a knee scooter is highly desirable.
The design is simple-- a knee walker will have four treaded wheels, a handlebar for support, and a ‘seat’ that is actually designed to support the user's knee. In this position, the walker can be propelled with the user’s non-injured leg. Key design features include rugged all-terrain wheels, a height-adjustable handlebar to accommodate all users, and a folding frame for storage.
 | 3-Wheel Rollator Walker by Vive Health in Black View Product |
Rolling walkers, or rollators, have become more and more popular as a sturdy, convenient class of mobility device. Although rollators come in many different styles, commonly they will feature four legs and four wheels. This can be seen in contrast to a two-wheeled walker which can provide extra stability, but doesn’t offer the same natural gait support.
Interestingly, there are also three-wheeled walkers on the market which, for some users, can be a major upgrade from either a two or four-wheeled design. This ‘tricycle’ style actually gives the rollator a very tight turning radius making it excellent for indoor or crowded spaces. In fact, studies have demonstrated that in geriatric patients, this three-wheeled design can increase stride length by up 1.4 inches over other designs -- this translates into a greater positive impact on overall mobility.
The folks at Vive understand that home health care means more than just being able to get around the house. This is one of the big advantages to Vive’s multi-brand setup: they get to be specialists in just about everything.
Sometimes you just need a little help-- whether that’s from physical therapy supplies, orthopedic socks, bandages, heating pads, cushions, or a reliable shoe-horn, Vive has you covered. These less specialized items come from across Vive’s brands-- but thanks to their in-house manufacturing and design process, you can be reassured of their overall quality.
 | Sequential Compression Pump with Leg Sleeves and Wireless Remote by Vive Health View Product |
Compression therapy is a technique that uses carefully administered air pressure to increase blood flow in the body. This can be especially useful to combat lymphedema or leg swelling. With lymphedema, there is often accompanying pain, which compression therapy can treat and reduce. Perhaps most importantly, compression therapy can be used to prevent blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. In adult trauma patients, sequential compression device therapy was found to reduce the incidence of DVT.
So how does it work? This unit from Vive is a system made up of two components: there is an electric-powered air pump and a pair of leg sleeves designed to be worn over the user’s legs. The pump pressurizes the sleeves to deliver adjustable pressure therapy. It even has a timed feature for a 10, 20, or 30 minute massage.
 | Memory Foam Bed Wedge Pillow by Vive Health View Product |
The humble bed wedge is a type of pillow that can actually offer many benefits. In following Vive’s dedication to “beauty in simplicity,” this assistive, foam pillow helps the user attain optimal position while lying down. Sometimes, being positioned at a slight incline can alleviate the discomfort that comes from gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux and heartburn. Additionally, a little postural adjustment from a wedge can help with snoring during the night-- a boon for partners or caretakers. Finally, sometimes recovery from injury requires elevation of certain limbs-- a bed wedge is a great solution there as well.
This simple wedge has multiple incline levels to always provide the desired lift. Additionally, Vive’s model has some key features that help it stand out: a built-in handle for portability and a washable removable cover.
 | Ice Therapy Machine with Special Cold Pads and Straps by Vive Health View Product |
Using a cold compress to treat a sore or strained muscle is not a new concept. Exposure to cold causes constriction of the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow and thereby reduces swelling. This works in the case of an injury or simply recovery from strenuous activity or exercise.
Cryotherapy machine therapy is a major step up from using a cold pack and applying pressure. By using a machine that can continuously pump cold water through a specialized cooling pad, there is no more need for melted ice and dripping wraps. The proprietary cooling pad contours to your body for ease of application to any area. As an added bonus, this unit from Vive comes with a digital dashboard and temperature sensor.
Home health solutions are not of the one-size-fits-all variety. Depending on your specific needs, or the needs of the person you are caring for, different devices and products will be applicable. Isn’t it nice, then, that there is a company that can offer a solution for whatever home health needs you encounter.
Vive’s many brands contribute to its overall strength as a provider of durable medical goods. If you are seeking help with a specific homecare need, take a look at some of the ‘beautifully simple’ Vive Health products for sale!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
