The design of stools has hardly changed since the 1980s. An American startup has now given the stool a redesign that its makers say gives much more comfort. Will this be the new stool walking?
Traditional crutches put quite a lot of pressure on hands, wrists and armpits. The so-called M+D crutches from young US company Mobility Designed has done something about that.
These stools shift the weight to the elbows which provides much more support. In addition, there are handles attached to the crutches that patients can grip to have more control while walking. These handles can also be turned downwards to free up your hands to make phone calls, for example.
More arm reach
The supportive lying pads for the forearm are attached with hinges. This makes it possible to tilt that part upwards to have more reach with your arms. The 'feet' of the crutches are made to absorb shocks and not slip. The length of the crutches can be adjusted, making them suitable for people between 1.20 metres and over 2 metres.
The company behind it, Mobility Designed, is currently working on producing the first model, which can already be ordered on their website. Whether the stools will ever be marketed internationally is not yet clear to us.
Hands-free stool
Another US orthopaedic company, iWALKFree, has also launched a new kind of stool. The so-called iWALK 2.0 actually leaves your arms and hands completely free. It includes a host of features, including a lateral component on the foot, so that this 'wooden leg' works on the same principles as a real foot. "Everything we've learned about hands-free crutches (and we're the market leader) has been incorporated into this breakthrough revolution," says the company.
The stool received rave reviews from the medical community and has already won several major awards.
Source + photo: Tech Insider/Mobility Designed/iWALKFree
