Adult Posterior Walker
Format
SOECS Senior Project Demonstration
Abstract/Artist Statement
Widely used for pediatric patients with similar or greater impairments to Spinocerebellar Ataxia and neurological injury. Posterior walkers have shown drastic improvements in ambulation and loss of balance occurrences in children. Adult patients predominantly use anterior walkers to aid in ambulation, but the benefits are minimal. The availability of adult posterior walkers is extremely limited, with only one version being available in the United States. A posterior walker with increased functionality and decreased complexity is in great need. University of the Pacific Physical Therapy Department is currently researching the benefits to adult patients using posterior walkers and would like to see a more optimal design with light weight materials, easier maneuverability, more stability, and ease with transportation. The involvement of the Mechanical Engineering Department was to design and fabricate an adult posterior walker. In the design process a panel of pediatric posterior walkers was analyzed based on all key features and the Hoover Posterior Walker was developed based on simplicity of attributes while ensuring attention to impairment needs. Experiments have shown that the ambulation speed with posterior walkers will double in comparison to speeds with anterior walkers; results of experimentation with the Hoover Posterior Walker have confirmed these hypotheses.
Location
School of Engineering and Computer Sciences
Start Date
5-5-2007 2:00 PM
End Date
5-5-2007 3:30 PM
Adult Posterior Walker
School of Engineering and Computer Sciences
Widely used for pediatric patients with similar or greater impairments to Spinocerebellar Ataxia and neurological injury. Posterior walkers have shown drastic improvements in ambulation and loss of balance occurrences in children. Adult patients predominantly use anterior walkers to aid in ambulation, but the benefits are minimal. The availability of adult posterior walkers is extremely limited, with only one version being available in the United States. A posterior walker with increased functionality and decreased complexity is in great need. University of the Pacific Physical Therapy Department is currently researching the benefits to adult patients using posterior walkers and would like to see a more optimal design with light weight materials, easier maneuverability, more stability, and ease with transportation. The involvement of the Mechanical Engineering Department was to design and fabricate an adult posterior walker. In the design process a panel of pediatric posterior walkers was analyzed based on all key features and the Hoover Posterior Walker was developed based on simplicity of attributes while ensuring attention to impairment needs. Experiments have shown that the ambulation speed with posterior walkers will double in comparison to speeds with anterior walkers; results of experimentation with the Hoover Posterior Walker have confirmed these hypotheses.