Development of a device for the aid in locomotion child with physical disabilities

Abstract

The inclusion of children with physical disabilities is difficult by the prejudice of society and the inability to move around on their own. For these locomotion is possible, it is necessary to use devices that assist in their autonomy. An alternative Assistive Technology that provides the march to the handicapped child is a walker. The walkers models found on the market are designed to meet most of the physical, generalizing them; This makes in some cases, unsuitable or little effect. The purpose of this study consists of a mechanical walker project to assist in the motor development of the lower limbs of a child with cerebral palsy diplegia type, providing her well-being and security. For this, the most important functions of some existing models on the market and related to key customer needs were surveyed through a case study. From this information and improvements identified during the development of this study, it was developed and tested functional device prototype that met the expected purpose, validated by a special child with the problem described.