Keep Playing with the Sports Walker
For Toronto native Brian Light, volleyball is a sport that he loves and has played for most of his life. Although the way he played changed in 2005 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) while in his early fifties. Over time his strength and balance began to decrease which caused more frequent falls. He developed body padding and wrist braces but eventually his MS progressed to a point where something more was needed. Working with his brother, they developed a device that allowed Brian keep playing. Their result was the award winning Sports Walker.
The Sports Walker functions similar to baby walkers with hip supports and wheeled motion. Spider-like legs with castors encircle the body and come together at the hip region. A brace system then supports the body in an upright position. Legs are free to move and propel the user in any direction. The Sports Walker allows the user to move quickly and nimbly without having to worry about balance and falling over.
Last year Brian submitted his Sports Walker idea to the RealMS Your Innovation competition. A design contest for products that can improve life with MS. Brian’s Sports Walker ended up winning and as a result he gets to work with IDEO to further develop the design.
The latest prototype designs are of a Sports Walker that’s portable, and can be used for non-sport activity. The legs are now slimmer and can telescope into a compact size. A small back rest was also added for additional support. When in use for sports, the legs are kept straight out for maximum anti-tipping support. For non-sport activities, the legs can bend slightly to move about better in tighter spaces. Of course the Sports Walker would work best on smooth hard surfaces. Outdoor courts might be alright depending on the texture.
The Sports Walker allowed Brian to play volleyball for an additional four years. His MS has progressed to where he now plays as a wheelchair user with modified game rules. But if not for the Sports Walker, he would not have had those four additional years of playing volleyball the way he wanted. So his invention has great potential to help others continue being active and upright. Not only for people with MS, but other disabilities and rehab purposes. Look forward to seeing the prototypes and finished product.
