[TheForge] on death and dying.OT
Bruce Freeman
FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com
Wed Jan 12 08:38:00 EST 2005
Who said anything about "unconditionally stable"? An un-wheeled walker
is not unconditionally stable. Both my parents have used one, and both
have had falls while doing so. Make the target too high, you'll never
hit it.
I would not anticipate a single device to be suitable for all disabled
people. But if we never start down that road, we'll never get anything
developed.
My father had polio as an infant. He had partial loss of the use of
his left leg. He had an operation to fuse his ankle so he could walk at
all. His thighs were about as muscular as an ordinary man's (NOT a
blacksmith's) upper arm.
He walked without aid till about the age of 80. After that he started
using a walker. He fell down a lot. He got back up and forgot about
it, unless he fractured his wrist or some such thing, as occassionally
happened later in life. Then it took him a year or two to forget he'd
fallen!
My take on how to get a paraplegic walking is largely based upon my
observation of my father. With his left leg largely useless, he would
rock sideways a bit while walking. This put the weight on one leg so
the other leg was free to move with little effort. As I've mentioned,
there's a wind-up toy that walks like this.
Had my father become wheelchair bound I would have made up this device
for him: Basically, elaborate leg braces that have a mechanism forcing
the legs into a standing or walking motion. Maybe it would have some
sort of hand control to choose "walking" or "standing" mode. It would
actually be MORE complicated to have a mode for "working at an anvil,"
as this requires moving in various directions.
If a person has legs, they can probably be constrained to take his
weight. I'm thinking that a mechanism could be made that basically
takes over the function of where to put the foot as the body leans. It
would have to be intellegently driven, however. Falls would be
possible. The only design that precludes falls is a wheelchair.
The classic "3rd leg" is a cane, and a paraplegic could use one to
supplement this device. Probably even while forging. I can attest from
watching my father and from a bum knee episode (result of a fall while
skiing) that a person soon learns how to keep his balance afoot when his
legs are weak or partially useless.
Bruce
NJ
>>> grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu 1/11/2005 5:14:13 PM >>>
If it was easy, or cheap, someone would already have on one the
market<G>.
Anything ADA related is hideously expensive. The govt funds bunches of
it,
there are the liability aspects, and of course, each and every unit
must be
tailored to the specific specifications of the individual, so each one
is a
custom fit.
In order for it to be unconditionally stable, it should have either a
large
footprint, or 3 legs<G>. Look at the walking robots they have today.
As far as standing in a rig without leg support, have you ever hung in
a
parachute?? If you have no muscular support, this is similar to
hanging in
a parachute, very constrictive to blood flow I would suspect (Hey
jarheads
out there, am I wrong???, tar heel here<G>). And seriously
uncomfortable<G>.
Still, brainstorming is good. It's much simpler to figure out how
things
will go wrong, than to try them and have to cut them up into scrap<G>.
Woof
-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 4:25 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [TheForge] on death and dying.OT
Ah ah! Never nay-say while I'm brainstorming. It's against the
rules.
If you sat down all your life, you'd feel awkward and unbalanced
standing
up. I've had knee problems and know whereof I speak.
The key here it to come up with a walking apparatus than makes a person
feel
stable. I do not believe this would cost a fortune. Maybe about as
much as
a powered wheelchair for a paraplegic.
Bruce
NJ
>>> grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu 1/11/2005 3:55:37 PM >>>
Balancing is a delicate thing. You can be top heavy. And things like
that
are extremely expensive.
-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 2:47 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [TheForge] on death and dying.OT
I think it would be damned dangerous, especially for paraplegics with
little
feeling below the waste. "Where'd that cut-off go? Hmmm, I think I
smell
meat cooking..."
What I don't comprehend is why "the handicapped" have to be kept in a
seated
position. Why not a stand-up ambulatory apparatus? I'm thinking of
those
little walking toys that lean back and forth while they move the legs
forward, alternately. Adapt that to human-size. "Seat" the patient in
a
breeches-bouy-like contrivance.
Bruce
NJ
>>> osan at netlabs.net 1/11/2005 9:40:56 AM >>>
I have no expeorience with this, but thinking on it, on ething that
seems to stand out immediately would the advantage of having an anvil
that would sit near or even over the lap.\. or in some orientation
that
would not force the chairbound smith to have to bend forward or to the
side in any excessive fashion in order to hammer. What do you all
think
of this?
Jim Pigott wrote:
> The Mississippi Forge Council has a new member, wheel chair
confined,
that got
> into the fire for the first time this past weekend. The way he kept
looking at
> his new fire poker made the effort to make this happen totally worth
it. Our
> group is designing a forge, anvil and vise combination for him. Does
anyone
> have any experience with this type of situation? Care to share
suggestions,
> ideas.
> Thanks, when I learn how to post a picture of him, his smile and
poker I will.
>
> Jim Pigott
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of magichammer
> Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 2:26 PM
> To: terry l. ridder; Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] on death and dying.
>
> I suggest that you set it up with your local blacksmiths group /
abana
> chapter.
> dave m
>
> terry l. ridder wrote:
>
>
>>hello;
>>
>>this is related to blacksmithing in that i am attempting to draw up
a
>>specific clause for a codicil. i want to make it clear that any and
all
>>of my blacksmithing tools, the miller 185 mig welder, the
oxy-acetylene
>>torch and tanks, the propane tanks, and the propane forge. be given
to a
>>person with one or more physical challenges and is just starting out
in
>>blacksmithing.
>>
>>my question is how do i specify the following:
>>
>>0) the person or persons who make the decision as to who should
receive
>> the above items?
>>
>>1) provide for an announcement that persons who meet the my criteria
>> should make the appropriate application to the person/persons
>>determined
>> in item 0 above?
>>
>>it is obvious that neither the lawyers or the family have the
knowledge
>>or the ability to determine who would benefit the most from
receiving
>>the above mentioned tools.
>>
>>suggestions and comments welcomed.
>>
>
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