Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness of Utilizing a Hydraulically Adjustable Walker in the Treatment of Hip Fracture

Assistive walking devices are well known and come in various forms, such as canes, crutches, and walkers. Their primary purpose has been to allow someone to be more functional, safe, and independent after a sudden or gradual decline in some aspect of their health. Even with vast changes in all areas of human development the standard walking devices still have their limitations especially when it comes to stairs. The HAW takes one of the most common and dependable devices, a conventional walker, and upgrades its functionality to handle stairs and uneven ground.

A walker consists primarily of a metal frame with four legs which are stabilized by crossbars. These walker frames come in a variety of shapes and sizes; many consist primarily of two inverted U-shaped leg modules connected by crossbars. Regardless of the shape or form of the leg modules, each walker frame forms a 3-sided box with an opening in which the user may stand (See Figure 1).

The frame often includes two handles located on each side of the user at the upper region of each inverted U-shaped member. The height is matched to each individual's height by keeping the handles at the height of their inner wrist (See Figure 1).

Most basic walkers include mechanical means to allow the length of the legs to be increased or decreased. Push button locking pins that fit into pre-drilled holes in the legs are used to secure the walkers height to match the person [HO10] using it. The adjustment is also a time-consuming process requiring significant dexterity, and if a patient is trying to do it themselves, this can lead to falls or injury.

The US spends over $30 billion on health care-related to falls each year. 1 There are over 1,000,000 hip and knee surgeries performed each year. 1 In the US, the National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that there are 6.9 million assistive device users (crutches, canes, or walker) in the US patient that are over the age of 65. 1 Currently there is an estimated 2 million walker users. It is estimated that of those 2 million, 62% of them have to use a walker to navigate stairs on a daily basis.1 This means that conservatively 1.24 million elderly people would benefit from a walker that negotiates stairs optimally. This number of elderly people will undoubtedly be increasing as the elderly population is estimated to more than double by the year 2050, reaching an astounding 89,000,000. 1 The HAW is the only known device that would allow its user the safety of a standard walker as well as protection on stairs while maintaining or improving their muscle strength, balance and endurance. 1 The HAW is a based on a conventional walker but has innovative telescoping legs with a leg adjustment assembly that includes at least one valve and at least one tube that delivers hydraulic fluid into the legs and allows a user to control the length of each leg. The legs of the walker are hydraulically adjustable, so that the front legs may be shortened and the back legs extended, or two side legs shortened and the two opposing side legs extended, so as to allow the walker to be securely placed on two different steps. This allows the user to be able to stand on a stair without worrying about sharing the same stair with the device. It also ensures that the height of the walker continues to be the right height for the user to minimize loss of balance.