A walker capable of providing vertical lift support can improve independence and increase mobility of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Using a novel lifting mechanism, a walker has been designed to provide sit-to-stand assistance to individuals with partially paralyzed lower extremity muscles. The design was verified through experiments with one individual with SCI. The results show the walker is capable of reducing the force demands on the upper and lower extremity muscles during sit-to-stand transition compared to standard walkers. The walker does not require electrical power and no grip force or harness is necessary during sit-to-stand operation, enabling its use by individuals with limited hand function. The design concept can be extended to aid other populations with lower extremity weakness.
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March 2012
Technical Briefs
Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Vertical Lift Walker for Sit-to-Stand Transition Assistance
Thomas C. Bulea,
Thomas C. Bulea
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
tcb9@case.edu
Case Western Reserve University
, 319 Wickenden Building., 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106
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Ronald J. Triolo
Ronald J. Triolo
Department of Orthopaedics,
ronald.triolo@case.edu
Case Western Reserve University
, Cleveland, OH, 44106; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Thomas C. Bulea
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Case Western Reserve University
, 319 Wickenden Building., 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106tcb9@case.edu
Ronald J. Triolo
Department of Orthopaedics,
Case Western Reserve University
, Cleveland, OH, 44106; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
ronald.triolo@case.edu
J. Med. Devices. Mar 2012, 6(1): 014504 (5 pages)
Published Online: March 13, 2012
Article history
Received:
June 9, 2011
Revised:
December 15, 2011
Published:
March 12, 2012
Online:
March 13, 2012
Citation
Bulea, T. C., and Triolo, R. J. (March 13, 2012). "Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Vertical Lift Walker for Sit-to-Stand Transition Assistance." ASME. J. Med. Devices. March 2012; 6(1): 014504. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4005786
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