The Quadstep Combination Walking Stick and Low Step Helps with Climbing Stairs

Quadstep Combination Walking Stick and Low Step in use

The Quadstep Combined Walking Stick and Low Step

Background
People like to remain in their own home for as long as they can. However the onset of old age, disease, and injuries can hamper their ability to remain there. The most common problems encountered relate to difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs and getting over steps. This is particularly true for old British houses with their preponderance of odd shapes, awkward steps and steep stairs.

The Effect of Aging
One common reason why people have difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs is infirmity from old age. Elderly people can have poorer balance, less muscle strength, and more fragile bones than younger people. This means they are more likely to fall and more likely to injure themselves in a fall. This leads to less confidence, poorer mobility, and this in turn leads to loss of muscle strength. Ultimately the person loses their ability to maintain their independent lifestyle. Difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs is a big issue for people because of the narrow space, high steps, and depth of fall should they lose their balance. Even the fear of falling, either because of the results of a previous fall, or because they are less stable on their feet, on its own can be a big deterrent for somebody with difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs.

Medical Conditions
Many medical conditions can lead to difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs and getting over steps. climbing stairs and descending stairs requires that the knee and hip especially are bent much more than for walking on the level. The hip, for example, moves to an angle of 78° when climbing stairs and descending stairs. If somebody has difficulty moving their knee or hip, they may not have the mobility to move their hip to this extent or it may be extremely painful to do so. This pain and lack of movement leads to difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs. The same is true of the movement of the knee, and to a lesser extent, the ankle.

Other people are born with issues which can lead to difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs. Those of smaller stature, for example, or with awkward gait can have difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs.

Many other health issues can lead to difficulty climbing and descending stairs. These include obesity, fatigue (including ME syndrome), shortness of breath such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD, damaged muscles, ligaments, and bones, fused bones, and hip and knee transplants.

The Alternatives
Various solutions exist on the market for those with difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs, including various support bar arrangements, and stair lifts, but these can be very expensive and can only be used in fixed places. Ther support bars also do not overcome the problem of the high lift of the foot. This is fine for the main staircase in a house, but do not help with other places such as a front door step, the high step into a walk-in bath, or when out of the house. A simple, practical effective and portable solution is required to help somebody with difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs and this is the Quadstep.

The Quadstep
The Quadstep consists of a robust blue plastic step with a non-slip surface. This is attached to a conventional walking stick with an ergonomically-designed handle. The height of the walking stick is adjustable using pop-up buttons and a screw tightener. The handle is reversible at the push of a button so it can be used on either side. The handle has a foam cushion and the base has four rubber feet which absorb shocks and provide a degree of cushioning.

The plastic base is approximately half the height of a stair or step and so, by first stepping on the plastic base and then onto the step, the height of lift of the foot is halved. The process is as follows:

Stand at the bottom of the stairs and place the Quadstep beside you on the floor.	Place your weak foot on the Low Step of the Quadstep.	Place your good foot onto the first step of the staircase.
Lift your weaker foot from the Low Step of the Quadstep and place it on the first step of the staircase.	Lift the Quadstep up and place it on the first step beside you, ready to repeat the process.

Stairs are descended by repeating this process in reverse. This reduces the difficulty climbing stairs and descending stairs by reducing both the angle to which the knee and hip have to bend and also reduces the energy consumed in the process- see the Test Results Section for details.

The walking stick handle is used as a support and also to move the Quadstep up and down stairs. The Quadstep is very light and so it is portable. It can act as a Quad Walking Stick- a walking stick with a wide base for stability and so it can even be used where there are no stairs.

The Quadstep is light, weighing only 820g or 1.8lb. This means it can be used anywhere in the house or outside where you have to step up. Examples include:

Most British houses have a front step which can pose difficulties for people with walking difficulties. The Quadstep can help them to get in and out of their house more easily.

Many people use a walk-in bath which avoids the need to climb in and out of a conventional one. However these still have a big step and so the Quadstep helps them to use this vital piece of equipment.