Trendelenburg gait is an abnormal gait that causes the pelvis to tilt downward during walking. The pelvis tilts downward above the unsupported leg, which is in the swing phase. Untreated, abnormal walking patterns can create the users to learn compensational movements and behavio
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Trendelenburg gait is an abnormal gait that causes the pelvis to tilt downward during walking. The pelvis tilts downward above the unsupported leg, which is in the swing phase. Untreated, abnormal walking patterns can create the users to learn compensational movements and behaviours. As well as causing balancing issues when walking, it can also cause pathologies in the back, knees, and ankles or even the inability to walk. As a result, you walk inefficiently and with much effort. Wheelchairs and crutches are two of the most common assistance products today. Being time-conscious, we want to accomplish everything as quickly and efficiently as possible. Therefore, taking a wheelchair is a much faster solution than using crutches. Eventually, this behavior leads to an unhealthy lifestyle that negatively impacts the quality of life for the patients. In order to motivate patients to walk, a product is needed that is more efficient than the wheelchair and provides noticeable improvement over time, so that they feel as though they are making progress. Instead of crutches and wheelchairs, the patient should use a hip-brace. The goal of this project is to create a wearable product that will improve walking gait in the personal environment, taking into account the interaction and the user’s needs, focussing on the attachment to the body. As the user is central in this thesis, insights from user research are translated into the design. By starting with a mechanical principle that creates an abduction moment and translating it to requirements for the user and requirements regarding application to the human body, an integrated design was created that handled many aspects. The hip brace is designed to provide support, ease of use, and comfort. The ease of use is provided by the intuitive and simple process of attaching, a process that has been validated through extensive user research. The shape offers support to the right parts of the body, providing comfort. It provides the necessary support to prevent the hip from dropping while still allowing for some flexibility when walking.