Prototype of a Spring-Loaded Module for Axillary Crutches.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Assistive Device Design

Background:

• Axillary crutches are common mobility aids for lower limb injuries.
• Prolonged use of standard crutches can cause upper limb strain.
• Spring-loaded crutches present a potential alternative but lack clinical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate spring-loaded crutches with integrated force measurement.
• To analyze gait dynamics using spring-loaded versus standard crutches.
• To assess the impact of spring constant adjustment on gait parameters.

Main Methods:

• Development of three spring-loaded crutch prototypes with varying spring constants (k).
• Integration of a force-measuring system to quantify ground reaction force (GRF).
• Gait analysis of two participants with different weights using both spring-loaded and standard crutches over a 15-m course.

Main Results:

• Spring-loaded crutches demonstrated increased mean GRF and impulse compared to standard crutches.
• The prototype's performance was optimized when its spring constant was matched to the user's weight.
• Significant improvements in gait dynamics were observed with appropriately adjusted spring-loaded crutches.

Conclusions:

• Spring-loaded crutches, when properly calibrated to user weight, can enhance gait parameters.
• This technology holds promise for improving the design of mobility assistive devices.
• Further clinical studies are warranted to validate these findings in diverse populations.