Accidents, diseases, and other unfortunate occurrences that can affect people’s mobility can severely impact the hardship of an already burdened life. For those who struggle with the unfortunate effects of limited mobility, multiple assistive devices are available to allow them to move around including wheelchairs, canes, and walkers. While these devices are widely used for mobility, they have one common drawback: they come up very short in supporting a person’s balance.
For the elderly, the segment of the population who is most reliant on such devices, the fear of falling is one of the most debilitating factors. The assisting devices do help them move around, but much of the concentration becomes directed to keeping their balance. Many elderly who live alone or do not have the ability to immediately request assistance, live with the ever-present stress of falling and being unable to reach anyone for help. In fact, walkers have been linked to 87% of injuries resulting from falls, with canes holding the dubious distinction of causing 12% more.
It is a highly frustrating and embarrassing situation for many people with needs for assistive devices. They often fall into self-imposed solitude, avoiding social gatherings as they require constant assistance to get around.
To provide a balance-centric solution, LifeGlider offers a product that takes into account the need for vertical mobility while promoting balance, catching the user if they lose their balance in either direction. This allows for better balance and posture, with the user having the confidence that they will be able to spend part of their day on their feet without the severe concern of falling. Without a doubt, such a device is a certain quality of life improvement.
How does a LifeGlider work?
The key concept to the LifeGlider function is the focus on securing the center of gravity which is key to maintaining both balance and posture. Humans, by and large, have a center of gravity that resides roughly over the small of their back. Feet positioned on a surface provide the base of support, but when the center of gravity shifts outside of that base, balance tips, and is commonly lost, resulting in falls.
To that point, a user of a traditional walker leans forward to use the equipment which propels them to move forward, but it also shifts the person’s center of gravity outside of the normal range supported by the base. Additionally, walkers require manual intervention to move. Whether they are on wheels or not, they require the user to push them along in order to continue to provide support. By contrast, the LifeGlider doesn’t require human propulsion. Rather than working in tandem with the walking assisting device, the LifeGlider rolls with the user, who is attached to the device, with their center of gravity secured at four contact points (Sitz bones and hips).
The LifeGlider flips the traditional walker concept upside-down — or backward, to be exact. This device offers users a balance promoting “seat” that is positioned specifically in a place conducive to the idea of posture and center of gravity. The wheeled LifeGlider then glides along with a person whose center of gravity is now ideally preserved.
LifeGlider Advantages
Walkers and canes require a person to hold on to them. That means one’s balance is dependent on their ability to maintain a hold or grip on the device. LifeGlider eliminates this necessity, leaving the users hands-free to attend to their daily needs and activities.
LifeGlider is also a revolutionary therapeutic tool. Those who are bound to wheelchairs for the majority of their lives may still be able to walk upright but only with a few steps at a time. Of course, someone in that situation cannot simply begin walking with a LifeGlider, but it is certainly enough to allow for multiple steps to be taken, perhaps, more and more each day. In that regard, it can help a person in a therapeutic sense and can be leveraged at ADA-compliant therapy locations.
The LifeGlider also comes equipped with a brake that is designed for more control, such as when walking down a hill or a sloped surface. It gives users the ability to slow themselves down in particular situations, though its mere 20lb weight will give the user the ability to stop the LifeGlider with their bodily control alone.
For people who have been relegated to walking with assistive devices, LifeGlider provides the solution closest to the actual, natural way of walking. This cannot be achieved with either a cane or a walker as their use requires some degree of leaning.
People often wonder about the traveling accessibility of the LifeGlider. With traveling portability in mind, the LifeGlider is lightweight and easily foldable to a size that fits in any standard trunk. It can even fit behind seats in the rear seat’s footwells. The mechanics of its folding are simple and secure. That means that one is not confined to just their local surroundings to use it.
Purchasing the LifeGlider
The LifeGlider can be purchased at the LifeGlider shop. A brand new device costs $695, while a refurbished one can be purchased for $495. The device comes with accessory bags that mount to the sides in order to provide storage space. The bags can be purchased for an additional $59 or outfitted on the LifeGlider for $749. Additionally, a shoulder carrying bag, for easily transporting the device, can be purchased for an additional $49.
