Aid for triggering someone to take a step (Gait aid)
The client needed a visual prompt in the form of a line on the ground to enable her to take a step with her rollator. Initially we thought of a laser, but the OT felt that a physical line in the form of an elastic tube might work. This was produced, and was so successful that we also fitted the same idea to her Zimmer frame for use upstairs in her house.
The Challenge
The client wished to be able to walk without hesitation, using her rollator and Zimmer frame. They needed a prompt in the form of a physical line to enable them to take a step. The commercial laser line we had, was for a walking stick – perhaps it could have been adapted, but it only triggered to display the line, when it felt sufficient vibration – we were not convinced that there would be enough vibration if we fitted it to the rollator.
The bands we fitted were SO flexible, that we thought they would not pose any difficulty to the client, even if they stepped ON them.
It had to be suitable for when the rollator was folded and not in use.
The solution
We had access to highly flexible, highly coloured rods of silicone – in the form of a children’s ‘toy’ (six ‘ropes’ for £2 from ‘The Works’ and other shops). The were virtually indestructable for our use and would easily stretch up to seven times their relaxed length.
The brackets were 3D printed to suit the toubes of the rollator.
Something similar was done for the Zimmer Frame.
The benefit
Now the client can walk with much less hesitation, both indoors, outdoors and upstairs.
The attached Zip file contains the Sketchup files for the two applications. Sketchup can generate the necessary STL files for 3D printing.
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