Problem Areas

Based on initial research, the team identified the following problem areas and sorted them into categories:

Use:

  • People don’t use brakes (rollator)
  • People don’t like walking close to walker
  • Stand lifts take a lot of shoulder strength
  • Sometimes takes two people to roll someone over to change Depends, etc.
  • People don’t lock wheelchairs/rollators before getting up/sitting down
  • Walkers with all pegs difficult to use
  • Walker is not portable and prevents other actions once user is seated
  • Gait belt design can be dangerous

Ease of Motion:

  • Walkers too light weight
  • Tennis balls better than none (walker)
  • Walkers with wheels are better than pegs

Independence:

  • Devices are there to help people move on their own, but some people rely on them too much
  • Patients furniture walk – want to be independent, but devices can be clunky
  • Can’t stand without walker (mental crutch)
  • Parallel Bars require a lot of body strength
  • Must pay close attention to vitals when moving (sitting up after laying down for long time)
  • Patients lose balance when standing

Stability:

  • Use pillow case on slide board to help them get out of bed
  • Rollators less safe
  • Walker not portable with wheelchair
  • Rollators hard to stop downhill

Use and Ease of Motion:

  • One-handed hemi-walker for stroke patients
  • Quad cane for more stability
  • Platform walkers better than hemi-walkers – stability on both sides

Use and Independence:

  • Some people scoot with feet in wheelchairs

Use, Ease of Motion, Stability, Independence:

  • Patients have anxiety when using products
  • Certain products can’t be used due to legal issues