A walking aid accessory that is an aesthetic glider for a walker and a method of manufacturing.

Hands-free walking devices and methods of constructing the same are described herein. The devices can include a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee and one or more hinges connected to the receiving member. One or more vertical members can be each connected to one of the hinges. A ground-contact member can be connected to the vertical members. The receiving member can transfer at least a portion of the patient's weight through the vertical members to the ground-contact member. The hinges can rotate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates while walking to support a natural gait.

A single incapacitated leg crutch for use by a person with a single incapacitated leg is provided with features for user friendly attachment and release of the crutch. The single incapacitated leg crutch includes features for controlled limitation of lateral and forward gait movement and gait walking stabilization that occurs in natural lateral and forward walking gait motion without a crutch.

Smart walking devices, assemblies, and methods of using the same. Improved partial weight bearing requirements while using a walking aid may be provided. An example smart foot assembly may include a tubular sheath with a spring assembly connected to a foot with a force sensor coupled to the spring assembly wherein during a load phase as the distal end of the foot contacts the ground, the foot moves proximally as load is increased.

A reclined forearm crutch includes a leg; and a cradle attached to the leg for supporting the forearm and elbow of a use. The cradle has a bounding surface area corresponding to at least 20 in.sup.2. The cradle is angled about 5 to about 50 degrees relative to vertical.

A spring-loaded tip attachment for a walking aid features a compression spring having axially opposing proximal and distal ends, a mount connected to the proximal end of said compression spring and configured for attachment to a shaft of said walking aid at or proximate a bottom end thereof, and a shoe connected to the distal end of said compression spring for spring-loaded contact of said shoe with a ground or floor surface during use of said walking aid. A plurality of attachments are respectively configured with different spring rates intended for users within different body weight categories. Attachments with greater spring rates are given to users in higher-weight categories, and attachments with lesser spring rates are given to users in lower-weight categories.

A walking assist device includes a vertical support with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to a seat for supporting a user's hip with the user's thigh in a generally horizontal position and a seat attachment member to secure the user's thigh to the seat. The distal end of the vertical support comprises a foot for transferring weight from the user's hip to the ground with the user's thigh in a generally horizontal position. An optional horizontal support extends from the vertical support between the proximal end and the distal end of the vertical support and includes a calf support member.

A mobility aid in the form of a cuff crutch can be used in various configurations. The cuff crutch includes an arm cuff positioned at a distal end of a tube that is adjustably positioned into a main tube of the crutch. The main tube may be bent at an angle in a position below a mid-point thereof, that is, the bend is closer to the foot end of the main tube as opposed to the cuff end thereof. A foot tube may be adjustably positioned into the foot end of the main tube and a foot may be disposed on a distal end of the foot tube. By providing the various adjustments, the cuff crutch may be used as a cuff cane, a cuff crutch or a walking stick, as discussed herein. The cuff, grip, and foot may include designs that offer various improvements over conventional mobility aids.

A shock absorbing ferrule for a shaft of a crutch, an elbow/forearm crutch, a walker and other devices used during assisted ambulation, wherein the shock absorbing ferrule mitigates impact, potentially reducing injury during their use. The shock absorbing ferrule includes a ferrule having a viscoelastic walled cylindrical socket, which is an annular longitudinal cavity fitted with a shock absorbing assembly. The shock absorbing assembly includes at least one compression spring and a push plate. The compression spring has an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the socket and is seated on the metal distribution washer and under the push plate. The push plate is a metal disk with a smooth perimeter edge having an upper side that is in abutment with an end of the shaft and a lower side that is in abutment with the compression spring.

Two-in-one walking supports and methods of using the walking support. The walking supports include first and second shaft portions and a handle assembly that has first and second handles. A latching mechanism is incorporated into the first and second handles and is configured to releasably couple the first and second handles to form the handle assembly and a single walking support configuration with the first and second shaft portions abutting one another and being configured to decouple the first and second handles and separate the first and second shaft portions to form a two-piece walking support configuration.