OUR MISSION
Helping People
Walk Again.
Walk Again.
WalkPort was invented by Alan Tholkes, the inventor of the EasyStand. It is made by WalkThera, Inc. Our mission is to help people restore their ability to walk, whether in a clinic, a rehab facility or at home.
25+ Years of Experience in Mobility Innovation
FDA Registered and Listed Medical Device
Made in the USA Patents Issued and Pending
HOW IT ALL STARTED
The Moment That
Changed Everything
Changed Everything
Alan Tholkes, the inventor of WalkPort, created the EasyStand and founded Altimate Medical. He is also a long time quadriplegic wheelchair user who had a simple goal. He wanted to walk again.
A few weeks later he found himself suspended in a harness over a treadmill, supported by a team of therapists guiding his legs through the motion of walking. For the first time in years, he could feel the rhythm and sensation of walking again. Even if only for 20 minutes.
That feeling stayed with him. He wanted it again the next day, but frequent visits to a rehab facility were impractical and financially out of reach for consistent, long term use.
What if people who cannot walk had access to a solution that allowed them to do so safely, independently, and from their own home?
Driven by that vision, he assembled a team of experienced rehabilitation product designers. Together, they began developing what would become our flagship product: WalkPort.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Problem
We Set Out to Solve
We Set Out to Solve
Most patients leave rehab before they are ready. WalkPort exists to close that gap.
Americans currently living with spinal cord injury
new SCI cases every year
average inpatient rehab stay before patients go home without a solution
SUPPORTED WALK STATION
From One Moment
to a Mission
to a Mission
That experience didn’t just inspire a product. It defined our mission.
We believe walking is fundamental to long-term health. It supports circulation, preserves muscle function, and improves overall well-being. Yet for many individuals, access to consistent walking therapy is limited by cost, logistics, and availability.
We set out to change that.
Our goal is simple. Make the benefits of walking accessible to every patient, in every setting, every day.
FUTURE OF SUPPORTED WALKING
A Better Way to
Restore Movement
Restore Movement
WalkPort was designed to bring the benefits of walking out of the clinic and into everyday life.
Traditional rehabilitation is effective but often limited by time, cost, and access. WalkPort makes it possible to experience safe, supported walking more consistently, without relying on frequent clinical visits.
By combining thoughtful design with deep clinical insight, WalkPort enables users to:
- Safely stand and experience supported walking at their own pace
- Incorporate movement into daily routines at home or in a facility
- Improve circulation, muscle engagement, and overall well-being
- Take a more active role in their own health and independence
Backed by decades of experience in medical device development and rehabilitation, every WalkPort is built with safety, compliance, and real-world usability in mind.
We are not just building equipment. We are creating a more accessible path to movement and quality of life.
SPINAL CORD INJURY
“I guess even the last time I actually walked was 26 years ago. I am actually kicking my legs like this. This is awesome. I mean, they said the legs would move, but I didn’t think it was going to be anything like that. This is exactly like walking.”
Oyuna Uranchimeg
26 Years. First Time Walking Again.
WalkPort User · Paralympic athlete
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Get to know the people behind WalkPort
Alan Tholkes
Inventor
Inventor of WalkPort, bringing decades of experience in the DME industry. Founded Altimate Medical, leading strategy, product development, marketing, and global sales for the EasyStand line, building in-house manufacturing and expanding distribution to over 30 countries and 2,500 U.S. suppliers. Holder of multiple patents in DME and ergonomic design, continuing to develop innovative solutions that enhance mobility and quality of life.
Dale Willenbring
Chief Executive Officer
Leads Medthera as CEO, bringing decades of experience in finance, development, and strategic leadership. Co-founder of Tamarack Land Development, supplying homesites to major builders, and former senior portfolio manager at Whitebox Advisors. Holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and leverages expertise in risk analysis, problem solving, and operational strategy to drive growth and innovation.
Gavin Potts
Chief Operating Officer
Oversees operations as COO at Medthera, directing supply chain, product development, and operational strategy. Extensive experience leading high-performing teams, scaling global logistics, and driving strategic initiatives across the medical device and life sciences industries, including senior roles at Abbott, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., and Ascential Medical & Life Sciences. Combines technical expertise with strategic leadership to optimize operations and support organizational growth.
WE BELIEVE
The human body can heal itself if given the opportunity.
Investing in improving health is less costly than caring for illness.
Lack of mobility is killing people and “walking is man’s best medicine.”
WE VALUE
Treating every customer with care, respect, and a commitment to improving their daily lives.
Strive to make complicated things easier for our customer.
Doing the “right thing” for our customer.
THE STORY BEHIND WALKPORT
Built by Someone
Who Needed It.
Who Needed It.
Alan Tholkes has spent 50 years in a wheelchair. He did not build WalkPort as a business idea. He built it because he wanted to walk again and nothing existed that could help him do it safely at home. Watch his story.