Walker adaptation for Christian

About Christian

Christian, 73 years old, has been struggling for a long time with the aftereffects of a minor stroke and a car accident, which have gradually worsened.

Before being confined to a wheelchair, he used a walker to stay safe, but his arms and upper body have become stiff. Walking no longer feels natural; his shoulders do not swing in opposition to his hips, and he has lost the habit of coordinating the movement of his arms and legs. According to him, he "moves like a slug."

Challenge

His challenge is to continue physical exercise despite balance loss, supporting both body and brain through aging (senescence) rather than decline (senility).

In the last edition, Christian adapted his walker by integrating a swinging arm motion to promote better overall coordination (legs, arms, pelvis). This year’s goal is to refine the prototype by making the swinging module removable to preserve the seating function of the walker and additionally adding resistance to the arm mechanism to enhance movement effectiveness.