Strada Walker

What it does

Strada is a walker that provides increased stability, improves posture, and reduces back pain and wrist strain for elderly people. These benefits are the result of Strada’s upright design, forearm supports, and centered position of the user.

Your inspiration

Our team observed that walkers in general were not user-friendly. When we started testing the most popular walkers, we found we were hunching our backs and straining our wrists. We knew the problems we were having with current walkers as young and healthy people would be compounded on elderly users. We began observing people using walkers in public and conducted interviews. Our research showed there was a lack of diversity in walker ergonomics and a need for improvement.

How it works

Strada has height-adjustable forearm supports which encourage better posture and provide more support and stability to users. Traditional walker handgrips are placed at non-ergonomic angles requiring users to strain their wrists, which can cause pain as elderly people commonly have arthritis. Users stand centered inside of Strada which, in conjunction with the forearm supports, reduces the need to hunch over and encourages better posture. The forearm supports make it comfortable to transfer weight onto the walker since it doesn’t strain one’s wrist. Strada’s handgrips are placed at a natural angle and are only used for steering the walker, not for supporting the user. We developed low-impact tires that conform to obstacles allowing Strada to smoothly traverse various surfaces. We’ve presented Strada to doctors and physical therapists who all believe it would provide significant benefits to seniors.

Design process

We’ve created over a dozen prototypes of varying complexity. After sketching rough ideas, we mocked up multiple cardboard models of walkers that would solve our issue in various ways ranging from a ‘reverse walker’ with nothing in front of the user to a more traditional walker with a wider range of handgrips. Next, we used PVC pipe to get a better idea of how each prototype would function. To create a weight bearing prototype we hacksawed traditional walkers apart and used scrap metal to put together a rough ‘works-like’ prototype. We tested and made numerous changes to this prototype, which took on the name Frankenwalker. Eventually, that rough prototype confirmed our idea would function well. We obtained a university grant to have an aluminum frame welded as a ‘test-rig’ that was adjustable and allowed us to further develop the ergonomics of our walker. After that, we focused on the aesthetics and manufacturability of our walker. We created multiple ‘visual models’ of our walker. Upright walkers are naturally larger than traditional walkers, so it was important we create an aesthetic product that didn’t feel large. We currently have a visual model and proof-of-concept prototype.

How it is different

Strada is unique because it is the first walker that centers the user inside of itself. Being centered in the walker offers unparalleled stability in all directions, making it much harder for the user to fall over. While a few walkers offer armrests, each of those still requires the user to hunch forward to place their weight onto the walker for stability. Strada allows the user to stand upright, with proper posture, while transferring weight through their forearms onto the walker. Strada is the first walker to offer an accessory track that allows users to mount a range of purposefully designed accessories on their walker. Accessories range from cup holders to oxygen tanks to smart phone mounts. No other walker offers low impact tires that conform to obstacles and easily traverse a wide range of surfaces like Starda’s hexagonal membrane wheels do. These wheels were entered into the Dyson Award independently, named The Hex Wheels.

Future plans

Almost everyone we have shown Strada to knows someone that would benefit from Strada or wants to use Strada themselves. We’ve even had a number of people tell us they want to ‘pre-order’ Strada. Manufacturing Strada will require a large upfront capital investment so our goal is to license our intellectual property to an existing company that uses similar manufacturing techniques to Strada. We believe that baby-stroller manufacturers would be the optimal company to bring Strada to life since many stroller companies are actively innovating, use similar manufacturing techniques, and value the importance of good design. Strada is patent pending.

Awards

RedDot Winner category: Concept IDEA Finalist category: Health / Transportation 
Spark Finalist category: Health