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Enhancing Performance of Crutches in Challenging Environments: Proposing an Alternative Design and Assessing the Expected Impact

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that a small enhancement in a low-tech assistive device can potentially have a significant impact in low-income countries. The motivation for addressing this problem is the atrocious state of the disabled population in low and middle-income countries. Assistive devices can help ease the burden for many. However, currently, the assistive technology industry is extremely specialized and limited, typically designed for high-income settings. Moreover, available designs of assistive devices are seldom appropriate for all settings and are not suitable for the physical, social, and cultural environment of users. As a consequence, it has been found that up to 75% of assistive devices in low-resource settings are abandoned by users. This paper first identifies and analyses the scope and dimensions of this social problem, through reviewing the literature. It then suggests a technical solution for enhancing the performance of one low-tech assistive device, the crutch, by improving the design of the crutch shoe. An alternative design for a crutch shoe with improved performance on unpaved and non-cohesive surfaces is developed. The proposed design is compatible with existing canes and crutches as well as affordable to the low-income population. The suggested design was evaluated for its stability on uneven terrain by comparing its levels of ground displacement to conventional designs. Furthermore, this study calculates expect economic impact and market characteristics of the enhanced design.