Lift walker into car and add foot lever
Due to reduced strength, balance and dexterity caused by a spinal injury, the client needs assistance to lift her walker onto the backseat of her car. A system of elastic bungee cords attached to the roof inside the car reduced the weight sufficiently to allow the client to manoeuvrer the walker inside.
A foot lever was also added near the back wheels to allow the front wheels to be lifted when mounting a curb.
The Challenge
Due to reduced strength, balance and dexterity caused by a spinal injury, the client needs assistance to lift her walker onto the backseat of her car. She is able to slide it out unassisted under gravity. The usual powered hoist in the boot of the car is unsuitable because she is unable to walk from there to the driver’s door without the walker.
The solution
A particularly light walker was acquired. It was found that a bungee cord attached to the interior roof handle and clipped to the walker would reduce its weight sufficiently to allow it to be lifted onto the back seat. However, a cord strong enough to lift the weight of the walker was too strong for the client to pull down and clip to the walker. Five weaker cords were used that the client is strong enough to pull down individually but were cumulatively strong enough to lift the walker.
Unfortunately, this model of walker did not have a foot lever near the back wheels to allow the front wheels to be lifted when mounting a curb, so one was added.
Video of the lift in operation:
The benefit
The client is now able to go out driving on her own.
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