Basketball Assist Device

A device was designed for a 16-year-old male with Cerebral Palsy, to allow him to stand upright and play basketball, particularly for shooting. Currently the student uses a Reverse Kaye Walker for mobility and shoots basketballs while seated in a chair in the gym. He cannot completely support himself to stand on his own, but has very good mobility and use of his arms and legs. He primarily needs support to prevent tipping and falling due to poor balance control. A hands-free walker device was designed to solve the problem as it provides independent mobility, safety and a durable, effective apparatus. The design developed is shown at left. It avoids any heavy fastenings in the abdominal area, and utilizes a padded harness rather than a bike seat for comfort. The adjustable walker supports his weight, does not hamper his gait, and allows him to comfortably stand shooting baskets with adequate arm clearances.

Impact

This design positively impacts the quality of life of the student by allowing him to participate in sports and gym class. Other types of everyday activities can also be maintained, such as walking, doing the dishes, and refereeing sporting events. These activities were not possible with existing devices. This student, in particular, also has a tremendous fear of falling or being off balance. He was extremely comfortable and at ease the first time he used the walker which indicates that the design was successful. The walker allows him to have use of his hands in an upright position and will allow him to be involved with more activities and learn to use more muscles for a healthier life.

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0079969 and/or a Research Experience for Undergraduate supplement. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.