Page 58 of Design for our future selves 2001 Awards by Helen Hamlyn Research Centre - Royal College of Art

56 Crutches are designed to support independent mobility but their traditional design can cause joint, shoulder, nerve and lower back problems to long term users. The aesthetic styling of this radical redesign of the standard crutch places it firmly within contemporary sports culture and removes its stigma as a medical prosthesis. Current sports technology has been incorporated to improve usability the handle is designed to shift pressure from the centre of the hand; elastometric suspension at the tip reduces shock loading while the curved stem and suspended woven mesh interface along the forearm redistributes pressure and avoids damage to the ulna nerve. Guy Robinson/Industrial Design Engineering life supports

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