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eos
Female-Oriented Crutch
10xelerator International Entrepreneurship
Competition Finalist
Statistics show that 1 out of every 300 athletic events results in an injury for an active woman. Because many of these injuries are unpreventable, rehabilitation is key to getting back onto the field or into the next game. This is where EOS joins the picture with a crutch that is female-specific.
Background: Injury Evolution
In 1972 a Federal Education Law called Title IX opened the door to grant women equal participation rights in athletics.
Six years after the enactment of Title IX, the percentage of women involved in team sports increased six-fold from 4% to 25%.
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Since then, the rate has dramatically increased and become a new way of life for female athletes.
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Female Participation
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In athletics has risen from 4% to 40% since 1972
Injury Frequency
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Occur 1 out of every 300 athletic events
Injury Locations
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Knees 29%
Ankles 10%
Lower body 58%
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Of Total Bodily Injuries
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Why Injuries Occur
- Ligament Laxity
- Smaller Knee Notch
- Straight Leg Landing
- Core Instability
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Using SurveryMonkey, I developed a basic understanding of how users feel about using the crutches that are available today. After assembling data from 50 female survey-takers, it became evident that I needed to observe how users were maneuvering the crutches and the problems they frequently experienced. Thus, I created a course to observe how female users interacted with crutches in tight spaces, around obstacles, and while multitasking.
Observations: Surveys, Product Use, Discussion
7 Key Points: Based on Observations
Crutch designs focus on upper body strength, posing problems for women whose strength is primarily in the lower body
Crutches create pain through out the entire body
User is off-balanced; limited mobility in tight spaces; decreased endurance; inability to multitask
While moving, the user's hands are completely occupied, leaving them unable to talk on phone or hold objects while using crutches
Using crutches is a complete unnatural flow of movement.
Users often stop using their crutches early due to pain, which lengthens the rehabilitation process
The injured leg naturally rests at a 25-degree angle. Let’s take advantage of this.
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Refinement / Working Model
After sketching an armless crutch on paper, I created a working prototype. I built this prototype by molding conduit with a heat gun and strapping the leg in with an ACL brace that was connected to the structure.
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I was pleased with the effectiveness of the working prototype: I could walk up stairs, carry books and materials, and partake in other day-to-day activities while feeling stable and confident.
Ideation: Based on Observations
At the beginning of the ideation process, I placed a strong emphasis on designing a product that would give the user more fluidity while moving and interacting with his or her environment. Through research, I realized that designing a product that would free the upper body would eliminate upper body pain, pose fewer limitations to mobility, and provide more fluid and natural movement.
Foot Design: Walk Naturally
The foot design is based on how our natural feet move while walking: your heel contacts the ground first, then the middle of your foot forms a flat posture, before your toes flick the foot off into the next step.
Tight Spaces: Collapsible Leg
Crutches become difficult to use in tighter areas. In order to avoid solving one problem only to create another, my design allows the lower half of the crutch to fold toward the user after pushing in the button on the side of the crutch.
