My professor and I with few other students are trying to develop wearable walking aid device (a leg brace) which helps patients with orthopedic illness reduce pain in knee and ankle joints. I've learned that many elderly suffer from knee pain, and I thought that it would be great if elderly could benefit from the device.
Do you think it would be helpful?
I've also read that many parents refuse to use a walker. Do they also refuse to wear a leg brace or knee brace as well? What are other things that you would consider when deciding to use a walking aid device for your elderly loved ones?
Any suggestions would be very helpful for our research.
Thank you very much.
Now for the brace - the thing with braces is they work wonders for short period of time. My understanding is that, it is difficult to keep them on for a longer period (by long I mean longer than 30 mins). The reasons - irritation caused by perspiration, skin contact, constant nerve pressing (that can lead to other complications) etc.
Arthritis is the most predominant cause of knee pain in elderly (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis). Knee replacement surgery is recommended (after other solutions don't bear results) for patients. Although the success rate is high, it is still an invasive surgery, patients take time to recover (almost an year) and it costs a lot (uninsured hospitalization cost can be upwards of $40,000 in US).
If you can develop a solution (wearable, medication, permanently installed device etc) that can return patients to normal active life style within weeks and cost significantly less... then you have hit a gold mine. As the population comes of age, arthritis is going to be a significant problem.
Just remember, nothing is impossible! good luck.
Could a senior get the brace on alone, or would this be something for those in a care facility or with a in-home caregiver? (Mom had a hard time putting socks on.)
There is a huge difference, I think, between the motivation level of a 57-year-old working man and a 79-year-old retired person. If what you mainly want to do is sit in a recliner and read or croquet or watch television, why would you want to bother with a brace? But for those who are more active and motivated, reducing pain would be an awesome reward!
Often the elderly experience some incontinence. How hard would it be to change pants/undies? Would the brace need to come off?
I think there may be some factors that impact a senior's decision to use a device like this that would be different for a younger person.
There are many different available on Amazon, 100's, but I agree with the others, you would need to have one specifically fitted, just for you to be affective.
I have been trying to talk to as many patients as possible to understand more about their pain and how I should develop the device.
I also contacted Orthopedics surgeons and physical therapists.
I have met some and I will keep trying to talk to more experts.
I would really appreciate if you could share your knowledge!
Keep those ideas coming though. Wishing success in your future ventures!
I think its great that you are working on a product that might be able to assist the elderly. But sometimes putting on a leg brace might be too much work for an elderly patient. And as GardenArtist suggested this is something that would need to be modified for each patient.
Personally I think the braces would have to be fit to each individual, but I really doubt that many elders would wear them. It's often hard just to get them to use a walker or rollator, let alone something more confining as a brace.
You might also want to discuss the issue with the VA, which from what I've read is an innovator in prosthetic devices.