Adapt | 2 in 1 Crutch Concept

Crutches, canes, and walkers. They are all assistive equipment designed to help make walking easier. Each is designed to meet certain needs and has their own advantages and disadvantages. But what if a person has needs that change while they are out and about. Carrying two or three pieces of equipment would be unreasonable. So how about a piece of equipment that can transform and meet different needs. That’s what University of Houston Industrial Design student Juan Restrepo designed with his Adapt 2 in 1 crutch concept.

End User Input
To make sure his design would work well with end users, he worked with one during the design process. Justin Farley of Unlimiters helped Restrepo with feedback and  ideas. The finished design is a crutch that can morph into a kind of three wheeled walker.

Static to Wheeled
Adapt starts out basically as a forearm crutch with a built in shock absorber at the top. The body is shaped like the eye of a needle where the wheels are stored. When transformation is needed, two rear wheels swing down while a front wheel rotates down into position. This three wheel system gives a stable base with the smoothness of rolling.The majority of Adapt is made of aluminum to be lightweight.

Conclusion
While not for everyone, Adapt still has some nice features that could be useful for many. Adding features and flexibility to existing equipment without compromising function is always a good thing. One thing I would add to the design is a hand brake when in wheeled mode. This would increase safety and add another way to use Adapt when moving. To see more of Juan Restrepo’s portfolio visit this link and this link.