Project 2: Mobility Device

DES 232: Industrial Design 2

Parker Matel
 Problem Statement
Design a mobility assistance device to support the recovery of
a lower extremity injury, specifically an ankle sprain, by helping
support the users weight comfortably, assisting through a stride,
and limiting or eliminating the need to use the injured body part.
The device must also have an aesthetic that empowers the user
rather than psychologically putting them down.
 Insights from Usability Study
The sturdier the better
More contact with the ground is sturdier
Taking up a ton of space feels uncomfortable
Colors and material changes make product uses more intuitive
Larger devices are a hassle and sometimes don’t fit in areas such as bathrooms
 Demographics of Ankle Sprain
All Ankle Injuries
Other
Gender
17% 15 to 24 30+
71.7%
Fracture
y/o y/o
Sprains

Age
Most Common Age for Ankle Sprains/Strains

Men are more likely Women are more

to suffer than women likely to suffer than
at ages 15 - 24 men at age 30 and
up

15 - 19 years old
According to NCBI
 Psychographics of Ankle Sprain
Athletic Lifestyle
49.3% of ankle injuries
occur during athletic
activities
Athletics Other
Other Risk Factors

Low top shoes

Specifics Excess pressure on joint

41% basketball

Other Prior or repetitive ankle injury

9.3% Football
7.9% Soccer

According to NCBI According to Veritas Health

 Persona
Highschool Senior
Moderately athletic but very active
Plays soccer for school
Plays basketball in low tops at the park
Has bad ankles
Repetitive injuries occur frequently
Photo by Daniel Capelani
Needs speedy recoveries
Name: Kenan Findlay
Sex: Male
Age: 17 Other Stakeholders
From: Cleveland, Ohio Healthcare Providers
Social: Middle Class Manufacturers
Patients
Patient Families
Insurance Companies
 Journey of an Injured Person
Plan Prep Doing/Active Restore Reflect
Wake up early Get dressed Balance Get home What didn’t work
Get ready to leave Pack your food Walk Nap Revise the plan
Shower Pack your medicine Move forward Adjust What hurts
Eat breakfast Manage any stairs Chill while sitting Eat dinner Embarrassments
Get dressed Avoid obstacles Get on bus Play videogames Post pictures
Ask for assistance Brush teeth Listen to music Elevate injury Social Media
Who will I need? Take shower Deal with stairs Ice What was good
Plan route Protect cast or other Terrain Compression Bad?
How to travel Pack school supplies People traffic Relax Call people
What is for lunch Finish homework Bubblers Unpack bags Journal
Injury treatment Do chores Bathrooms Clean device Medical record
Stretch/recovery Call for assistance Teachers notes Thank people Don’t get hurt again
Health supplies Practice your story Explain injury Do homework Evaluate social life
Medicine Charge everything People sign the cast Examine injury
Nutrition Do hair/makeup Take off coat Cry more
How do I stay in Tend to plants Answer phone Revise story
shape Feed pets Adjust crutch Missing practice
Where are restrooms Gas in the car Store the device Medicine good?
Other responsibilities Lock the door Get in and out of desk How people respond
Weather? Put device in car Tie shoe Miss the homies
Carrying other stuff Get mail Drop device
Backpack Take out trash Retrieve device
Care for pets Cry Blow you nose
Flirt
Fix hair
Journey Map Hug the homies
Inspiration
Board

All Images Free to Use

Lateral Ankle Sprain Occurs
(Foot Rolls Inward)
-anterior talofibular ligament
-calcaneofibular ligament
-posterior talofibular ligament
These connect to the bones
around the ankle and can be
torn or ruptured due to this
movement.
Stretching/Mobility Strength Training
Standing stretched and
strength workouts can
begin It is important to
regain strength in the
surrounding muscles
especially in the calf.
Calf raises both stretch
and strengthen.

Point of Injury 48 to 72 hours 3 to 4 weeks

24 to 48 hours 1 to 2 weeks

R.I.C.E Stability Training

Rest, Ice, Compression, and Ankle exercises such as
Elevation. making circles and more
stretching. Standing exercises
Pressure on the joint should can begin such as walking or
be minimized until swelling assisted walking.
goes down.

Injury Timeline According to Harvard Medical School

Sketches Round 1
Sketches Round 1
Sketches Round 1
Sketches Round 2
Sketches Round 2
Sketches Round 2
Final Marker Render
Final Photoshop Render
Solidworks Renders
Blue Foam Model
“Ankle Sprain and Strain Risk Factors” Veritas Health.
https://www.sports-health.com/sports-injuries/an-
kle-and-foot-injuries/ankle-sprain-and-strain-risk-factors

Capelani. “Daniel Capelani” Unsplash.

https://unsplash.com/photos/gRslJX1S4h0

Lambers BSc. Ootes MD. Ring MD PhD. “Incidence of Patients

with Lower Extremity Injuries” National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3237997/

“Recovery from an Ankle Sprain” Harvard Medical School.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/recovering_from_an_an-
kle_sprain

Waterman. Owens. Davey. Zacchilli. Belmont Jr. “The epidemi-

ology of ankle sprains in the United States.” National Institutes of
Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20926721

Sources