IMPROVED HARNESS CRUTCH TO REDUCE UPPER-LIMB EFFORT IN SWING-THROUGH GAIT

A novel crutch, the harness crutch, is described which reduces loading on the arms during the swing phase of swing-through gait. The device was fabricated by attaching a modified mountaineering harness by two s ide straps, to modified axillary crutches. The harness crutch was comp ared with the saddle crutch, described by Taylor in 1883. The saddle c rutch produced pressures in excess of 500 mmHg in the perineal area; n o pressures were produced in this area with the harness crutch. Ischia l pressures produced by both systems were similar. In six out of eight non-impaired subjects, significantly more force was transmitted to th e harness crutch (an average 47% of body weight) than to the saddle cr utch (an average 40% of body weight). A comparison of the oxygen cost of swing-through gait was made between the harness crutch and unmodifi ed axillary crutches; with the harness crutch oxygen cost was signific antly lower (p< 0.01) and there were no significant differences in spe ed and stride length.