Revolutionary Improvement in Stability for All Walking Devices

August 9, 2010

Of course when I say all walking devices I am excluding legs, but this British invention is a great boon to everything else you might use to help you from zimmer frames to shower stoolls and Nordic Walking Poles. Flexyfoot promises to do for them, and crutches and walking sticks, what Dyson has done for the vacuum cleaner, but sadly without the eliminating of the dust bunnies.

If you have ever used any of these devices you will know that they can have two disadvantages: impact as they strike the floor and a tendency slip on some surfaces. Flexyfoot is designed to replace the old fashioned ferrule (or rubber tip) on these aids as it claims to give 50 per cent more grip on floors and ground surfaces than ferrules, particularly on wet areas, and eases the significant aches and pains associated with constant stress and impact on joints.

If you like to know how it works then Flexyfoot uses suspension technology to provide improved grip and shock absorbency. When the user leans on their aid, small bellows pivot to maximise the surface area of the foot with the ground. This dramatically improves friction and reduces slippage. At the same time the air in the bellows is progressively pressurised to absorb impact and shock that would otherwise be transferred to the user.

Another important feature is its patented air-sprung technology, which means that it bends and can rotate 360 degrees independently, enabling the user to twist and turn to reduce the stress applied to arm and shoulder joints.

The designer, David Goodwin, was motivated to create this because he has a sister with MS, and his 95 year old mother complained to him about the difficulties and discomfort of using their walking sticks, particularly that the rubber feet wore down much too quickly and were difficult to change. Developed over three years, it has been trialled via a pioneering orthopaedic surgery unit and tested to destruction and is designed to perform perfectly at temperatures of -25 degrees Celsius should you happen to live north of the border, or in Scandinavia.

It is simple to fit, even for weaker hands, and has a non-marking, easy-to-clean tread designed to eliminate stones and mud, meaning less mess inside. And when they do finally wear down, replacement feet are screwed on in seconds.

If this sounds like something that would help you, or someone you know, Flexyfoot is available from www.flexyfoot.com, freefone 0800 0285 888 and selected retailers, chemists and mobility shops. It’s not expensive either as the recommended retail price is £12.99, which is a small price to pay such a big improvement in safety and comfort.

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