Three-year-old Sydney Parker, of Aiken, spotted her mother, Monica, across the room and made her way into her arms as physical therapist Barbie Heath followed closely behind.

Sydney deserved a hug after her workout on the LiteGait system, a new piece of equipment at Hitchcock Healthcare that assists children with mobility issues.

Sydney suffered a head injury in an automobile accident at age 2, and the LiteGait system - the only one of its kind in Aiken County - is helping improve her walking. She has been a patient at Hitchcock since May.

She started using LiteGait when the facility received the system in November.

"She seems to love it. She loves coming here. She bounds in each day," Mrs. Parker said.

The physical therapist said Sydney had no trouble adapting to the equipment.

The LiteGait system is a suspended harness on a lift that allows patients to move with varying levels of assistance, depending on the amount of body weight that is suspended or supported by the system. The equipment can be used with or without a treadmill.

"You can use it for a variety of different patients. You can use it for cerebral palsy. You can use it for head injuries," said Kathy Cothran, another physical therapist who works with Sydney.

The equipment can be adjusted to accommodate the needs of each child. Ms. Heath said five or six children currently use the system.

Sydney also relaxed in the LiteGait system to eat a snack as a reward for her hard work.

While the physical therapists do not encourage their patients to hang in the harness, Ms. Heath said it is not necessarily a bad thing."That's their way of saying, 'Hey, this is a safe piece of equipment.' "

Hitchcock received donations totaling $4,500 from the Rotary Club of Aiken, Aiken Sertoma, Fluor Daniel and Aiken Pest Control to purchase the equipment.

"It's been nice to have this equipment available for our children here in Aiken County," said Heather Raynack, the director of Children's Therapy Services.

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.