Strongarm - A New Twist In Mobility

After demonstrating the cane at the APTA conference, I was eager to put this cane into the hands of our therapists and have them work with our patients using the Strongarm cane. One of the patients had been on a quad cane for years and was not open for changing to a new cane. After some practice with the Strongarm cane, she quickly came to realize how much more safe her gait was with this new cane. She has now gone from walking household distances to walking over a mile outdoors. She won't leave home without now. We are having the same results with other patients, but the key is to get them to "feel" the difference with regards to safety and function.

Great design with even better function and safety for our patients. Every therapist needs to put these canes into the hands of their patients.

Eric C. Dekle, PT
Safe Strides Director
Gentiva Health Service

I was asked about my thoughts on the StrongArm cane that I have used with my patients. Let me say without reservation that I LOVE the StrongArm cane! I have had wonderful results with it. I have used it with patients that I could not get to even try a cane. I have also used it with a patient recovering from stroke and have had a great outcome. I try it with many patients and they like it very much as well. I can't thank you enough for giving me one at the conference. I have used it many, many times and plan on getting many more in the future for my patients. Thanks!

Karen McCain, PT, DPT, NCS
University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas

From our first glimpse of the initial prototype of the STRONGARM Mobility Device, we knew that the concept and design fulfilled an unmet consumer need. We've had a tremendous positive consumer and therapist response when we've demonstrated the STRONGARM at conferences. Comments from people using the STRONGARM have been extremely favorable and request for more information and how to purchase the product have been continuous.

James Leahy
Co-PI, Project Administrative Officer, RERC on Technology Transfer University at Buffalo SUNY/Department of Rehabilitation Science

My problem comes from a motorcycle accident, in December 1988. I lost the head of the femur near the hip, was a very serious accident and suffered several surgeries. Nine years ago the head of the femur was withdrawn due to wear, and was rebuilt with a new medical technique a new femur in a long and complicated surgery. There was great success, to assure me good mobility and new normal life. The walking stick, is very important for my security and stability to walk, because it can stabilize the balance of the body due to a small difference in size of a leg, protecting the cervical column and possible accidents. I am 44 years and will be riding a walking stick for the rest of my life. I'm always looking for new technologies, but in this particular area only a few companies want to invest to change what is already done. In my case the STRONGARM Crutch is very good, light and a new concept. I feel agility and strength in the walk, that is exactly what I feel.

Marcelo Moriondo Alves
Brazil

Vietnam veteran and right leg amputee Jerry August, shareholder, distributor and Tube Bending "Sounding Board" in the early days, proudly demonstrates the outstanding lateral stability offered by the STRONGARM's solid tubular Cradle.

I can't thank you enough for helping me order one of your crutches. I was so excited to find out that someone had designed exactly what I needed: a light, cushioned, forearm crutch I could feel comfortable with and would still give me that forearm support I need.

Some 35+ years ago I was hit with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and since then I've tried several different styles of crutches. I always ended back with what my generation calls the "polio" crutch, but I was always so unhappy with them, they are so heavy and unwieldy and the forearm device kept flapping around and was painful. Over the years I've had several joint replacements and my arms and wrists have been severely damaged, just to give you an idea of my physical condition and why I continue to use 1 or 2 crutches for support and balance.

I previously worked for a medical office which was co-located in a hospital and the therapy department was always trying to find some way to modify my crutches, but nothing really worked well and they design definitely contributed to some of the damage in my wrists and elbows. I was always on the lookout for the "better mousetrap" and am so gratefUl your company saw the flaws in the old crutch design and fixed them. I suspect whoever designed these had had to deal with the old design in the past ;-)

Again, thank you so much for this awesome product, I'll be ordering a second crutch before I have my right hip re-replaced next summer.

Sincerely,
Sandrae Jaynes
Denver, CO

All of my patients say that the STRONGARM Mobility Device is by far the most stable and comfortable ambulatory aid they have ever tried. I enthusiastically recommend STRONGARM Mobility Devices to all my clients and colleagues.

Jerry Prus
Licensed Physical Therapist
Chicago, IL

I am a polio victim and I have been using a quad cane for years. What I like about the StrongArm Mobility device is that it gives me the stability at my forearm, as well as holding the crutch in its regular position as it takes pressure off my wrist, which makes it much more comfortable. Besides providing the support, the cradle also gives enough room for a coat or a jacket, but it's not bulky. I also like the foot. It has a very good cushion even though it's not a quad cane. It serves almost the same function! Being a polio victim and not having use of my left arm, I can appreciate the comfort and stability that I get in my right arm with the StrongArm crutch. I have not seen any changes in mobility aids in a long time, and I am very excited about this product.

Jim Miller, of U Can Do Central
Lewes, DE
ucandocentral.com

- Interview with Jim Miller, of U Can Do Central -

At this point I only have occasional need of using a walking aid. I have spent much of the last year getting back on my feet and wish I would have known about STRONGARM this time last year when I was severely limited in my mobility. My past experience with other ambulatory aids has not always been good because I have a small hand and with a normal cane or crutch in the non-neutral position I fatigue quickly. My profession as a teacher requires me to be mobile as well as stable in the standing still position and the regular canes do not provide that. In the short time I had the opportunity to test run one of your devices at the conference I could tell that your product not only offered more stability but would also limit arm fatigue. You have a great product and there are lots of people out there that need to know about it. For those of us that know about it how can we get it?!

Sincerely,
Donna Donat
Philadelphia, PA

At the WCD Expo this past fall, I tried out a new walking aid from StrongArm Mobility. Essentially, it serves the function of an ambulatory device, but relying on forearm support rather than just the wrist. It's kind of a cane/forearm crutch hybrid, without the clumsiness of a forearm crutch. I preferred it to any cane I've used in the past - it's just as light as a cane, but feels far more stable, and the handle felt like a comfortable extension of my arm. I wondered if the rather attractive curve of the cradle would feel bulky or awkward, but I hardly noticed it, and the device seemed to move organically with me as I walked. The rubber tip is larger than typical ones, and has a natural grip and spring rather like on the soles of my favorite walking shoes. Foam sleeves on the grip and arm are a big plus for ease of use and comfort. An unexpected bonus is that the foam keeps the device from sliding off of tables, chairs and walls it's set against.

Marty at GearAbility
www.gearability.com

As a geriatric nurse/consultant for years I have watched my elderly residents struggle with using "regular" canes. Most people with arthritic conditions find it very painful to apply pressure to their wrist and thumb joints while grasping a cane handle to ambulate or maintain their balance. Unfortunately I have been witness to several arthritic residents falling due to their wrists giving out causing them harmful injuries. I have often wondered why the mobility/home health companies did not create a cane or crutch that would alleviate problems such as these.

I never thought that I would need to actively seek out a solution to these problems. However, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/EDS (a rare connective tissue disease) and subsequently, Multiple Sclerosis. Since I have joint dislocations due to the EDS, and balance problems due to the MS, finding a suitable ambulatory aid proved to be a difficult task.

I exhausted the resources of several physical therapy departments and tried using any and all varieties of platform/forearm crutches that they gave me. I even tried out a pair of walking/hiking sticks that they suggested without success. I finally resolved myself to using a regular cane.

After having my wrist give out one night while using my cane I decided it was time to get a bit more serious in my quest to find a safer product. One day while "Googling" I came upon the STRONGARM Mobility site. As soon as I saw the photos of the STRONGARM I knew that I had to have one and contacted the inventor/designer, Mike Adams. In short order Mike provided me with a STRONGARM Standard model.

This forearm crutch is absolutely great and gives me the lateral stability I need for safer mobility. The added stability based at the forearm cradle lends strength to my torso area and provides me with an ergonomic/natural walking posture, minimizing my need to apply pressure on my painful wrist and thumb joints.

I am amazed at how comfortable and lightweight this device is to use and the length adjustments are as easy as pushing a button and turning a ring. The wider rubber tipped base has the unique ability to splay-out upon pressure, giving added stability and maneuverability. The tip and rubber grips are latex free which is an added plus for those of us with latex allergies.

The rubber handle rests securely on countertops and table edges and I found that the extra forearm angle comes in quite handy as an added grip when rising from a sitting position.

One BIG thank-you to Mike Adams for this great, innovative product. The STRONGARM Standard would be a proud addition to any mobility supply company. You MUST get this product into the hands of all folks out there looking for just such a product.......including ALL physical therapy departments!!

Wendy Simon
Wind Lake, WI