Otitis

Stair walkers for the disabled - an overview of the different types. How to lower a stroller down the stairs and lift the stroller up the steps. Climb the stairs for a disabled person in a wheelchair.

Having the ability to move along steps called a “step walker” “Gradi-standard”. This wheelchair, an invention of Russian engineers, was first presented in Sokolniki in 2010 at the International Medical Forum.

Description

The "step-walker" wheelchair ("Gradi-standard") has the ability to overcome various barriers encountered on the way. Also, its distinctive ability is that the "step-walker" wheelchair can go up and down the steps. Movement along the steps is carried out due to a special mechanism. But due to the installation of this mechanism, the stroller lost some operational capabilities, for example, an increase in weight, an increase in the dimensions of the stroller, and others. These disadvantages pale in comparison to the main advantage of the “stair walker” stroller: walking on steps.

Wheelchair "step-walker" called "Gradi-standard"

There are no competitive wheelchair analogs in the world. The revolutionary decision of Russian scientists led to the creation of an exclusive wheelchair.

Technical characteristics of a wheelchair called “Gradi-standard”: stroller length 1050 mm, length with step mechanism 1260 mm, stroller width 620 mm, stroller height 910 mm, seat depth 410 mm, seat width 400 mm, stroller weight 25 kg , maximum load on the stroller is 110 kg.

Recently, we were contacted by the developer of a step-walking wheelchair. The stroller did not go into mass production due to lack of funding, as the developer said. But you can order a stair walker for the disabled without any problems. The stroller was significant, improved since 2013. An electric version of this stroller is also available for sale.

Price and cost

As a rule, when descending and ascending stairs for a wheelchair user, the assistance of volunteer assistants (volunteers) is required.
Volunteer goal: Carefully lift or lower a person along the floors of the building. At the same time, do not injure him or get injured yourself.
1st requirement: Before a disabled person goes outside, personally check the inflation of the tires on the wheelchair (check with your hands, as on a bicycle). Check the integrity of the spokes on the rear wheels. Check whether the nuts on the shafts securing the large (rear) wheels are tightened.
2nd requirement: Bring the stroller to an obstacle (steps, curb) only perpendicularly, so that both wheels simultaneously begin to descend and ascend.
3rd requirement: When descending and ascending, move the stroller slowly, following the command “one-two”, “and one”. A participant who is not ready to move gives the command “Stop”, “Stand”, after which everyone stops moving until the cause of the delay is eliminated.
4th requirement: When lowering and lifting the stroller, no jokes like “I’m going to fall and turn the stroller over.” Also, no laughter when moving. When a person bursts into laughter, he loses concentration and momentarily loses control over the situation. And when someone laughs from the outside, a disabled person may begin to get nervous and panic. Volunteers, through their words and actions, should instill in the disabled person confidence in a safe descent and ascent.
LOWERING A STROLLER WITH A DISABLED PERSON
The stroller is facing downwards. One person holds the stroller by the handles, two (on both sides) hold the stroller by the footrests from above. A disabled person (if he can, helps fix the stroller on each step by holding the brake rim on the wheel with his hands). Rest on the site between floors is necessary not only for volunteers, but also for the disabled person himself, since he experiences a fair amount of stress when going up and down. The person being descended must be supported with simple words: “Everything is fine, there’s not much left, you’re doing well.”
When descending the stairs, one person, a direct participant in the descent, gives commands to everyone: “Next step”, “Fixed”. Commands are given in a low voice, in a confident tone. Under no circumstances should you shout at other participants in the descent or ascent. Screaming and uncertainty can provoke panic in a disabled person or in inexperienced volunteers helping a disabled person get down. The wheels of the stroller should not jump from step to step; the wheels should glide along the steps. The stroller must be held with bent arms. Under no circumstances should you take the stroller on its belly; this will lift the large wheels and then the stroller will become uncontrollable.
The bottom volunteer(s) is facing the stroller, with their back to the descent. It holds the stroller on the large wheels and prevents the stroller from tipping over and starting to move down spontaneously.
The upper volunteers are facing the descent, and holding the stroller by the footrests, they do not allow the stroller to roll down spontaneously.
LIFTING A STROLLER WITH A DISABLED PERSON UP THE STEPS
The stroller is positioned with its back facing the steps. One volunteer also stands with his back to the steps, grabs the handles of the stroller, tilts the stroller towards himself, the stroller ends up only on large wheels. And in this position the stroller climbs the steps. Two people stand at the footrests of the stroller, they (volunteers) push the stroller to the top and fix it on each step only on large wheels. These two prevent the stroller from tipping over and going down. At the “one-two” command, the top volunteer pulls the stroller up one step, the two bottom volunteers also push the stroller up one step, and they also fix and hold the stroller with the disabled person on the same step. And so, one step at a time, slowly up.
The upper volunteer(s) pulls the stroller up one step and keeps the stroller from tipping over. .
The lower volunteers push the stroller up one step and keep the wheelchair with the disabled person from tipping over and moving down.

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Overcoming flights of stairs is a whole test for wheelchair users, the passage of which should be facilitated by a special lift for the disabled: it helps to move along an inclined stepped surface, or to bypass it completely. However, how to understand all the varieties presented in stores, and how serious will the costs be?

What is a wheelchair lift

The designs inherent in such an aid have several types, but the essence remains the same: the lift is aimed at wheelchair users and people temporarily experiencing mobility problems. It moves a person with or without a chair along steps, indoors or outdoors. Self-driving models do not require external assistance.

Types of lifting mechanisms

Experts divide all existing devices of this type according to the type of drive on which they operate. Afterwards, they can be divided into groups by area of application (in public buildings, transport, etc.). A wheelchair lift can be:

Hydraulic - the movement stops without jerking, but the speed is low, and it is possible to lift a disabled person (without a chair) only to a small height. Hydraulic lifting equipment is not suitable for use on landings.
Electric – works quickly, there is almost no lifting height limitation. Elevators for the disabled are based on an electric drive.

Types of lifts for the disabled

According to the area of use, experts distinguish between stationary structures (expensive, not for home use), represented by elevators, and mobile ones. The latter are either mobile lifts, with which you can move anywhere, or compact structures, useful in city apartments and transporting only a disabled person, without a chair.

Vertical

The mechanism of operation is similar to that of an elevator; the frame of the elevator is a metal cabin with a control button inside. The disadvantage is that such devices are installed in the entrance during the installation of elevators, or used on the street. Good option:

name: Invaprom A1;
price: negotiable;
characteristics: load capacity – 410 kg, lifting height – 13 m;
pluses: it has a ramp and is equipped with an automatic drive;
disadvantages: large dimensions, requiring outdoor installation.

A more budget option can be found from Vimec. The move line includes a functional elevator, characterized by smooth operation and minimal noise level, which, if necessary, can be ordered according to the customer’s individual standards:

name: Vimec move 07;
price: from 70,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 400 kg, lifting height – 9.25 m, travel speed – 0.15 m/s;
pros: suitable for private homes, unpretentious to weather conditions, buttons have marks for the blind;
Cons: not noted by consumers.

Staircase

If there are no built-in lifting devices on the stairs inside and outside the building, wheeled mechanisms are used to move people in wheelchairs, helping to transport a person with a wheelchair. The most popular are PT lifts:

name: PT-Uni 130/160;
price: from 260,000 rub.;
characteristics: ascent – 10 steps/min., descent – 14 steps/min., load capacity – up to 160 kg;
pros: can be used with any wheelchairs for the disabled;
cons: battery life is determined by the characteristics of the ladder.

If high load capacity is not required, or a disabled person with a chair weighs less than 130 kg, you can take a closer look at budget models. Among reliable lifts with low cost, this option stands out:

name: Mercury+ Puma Uni 130;
price: 185,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 130 kg, speed – up to 15 steps/min.;
pros: compatible with all strollers, charge cycle is designed for 500 steps;
cons: dead weight – 37 kg, runs on batteries.

Inclined

When vertical lifts for the disabled cannot be added to a flight of stairs, experts suggest using inclined mechanisms that resemble a wide ramp. Among the domestic options, the following are popular:

name: PTU-2 Potrus;
price: 89,000 rub.;
characteristics: platform movement path length – up to 10 m;
pros: comes with a control panel, easy to install, the angle of inclination does not matter;
cons: delivery is carried out only to 6 cities in Russia (including Moscow and St. Petersburg).

For a complex trajectory that involves climbing several flights of stairs, an inclined platform for the disabled will be more expensive and attached to wall guides. Experts recommend this domestic option:

name: Togliatti NPP (Accessible Environment);
price: from 319,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 260 kg, movement speed – 0.15 m/s, tilt angle – up to 45 degrees;
pros: in a passive state, the device folds and retracts against the wall;
cons: the minimum width of the stairs for installation should be 0.98 m.

Chairlift

For narrow stairs, experts advise looking at lifts in the form of a small chair with a backrest. Their only caveat is that they require installation of guides on the wall or the outside of the stairs. Popular Russian model from the Invaprom store:

name: Minivator 950;
price: 170,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 140 kg, travel speed – 0.15 m/s;
advantages: compactness, manual rotation of the seat can be performed by a disabled person;
cons: moves only in a straight path.

If the issue of price is not an issue for you, you can look at an alternative chair-type option. Produced by the Invaprom store of Russian lifting mechanisms, the cost depends on the modification:

title: Van Gogh;
price: negotiable;
characteristics: remote control, the chair is equipped with seat belts;
pros: movement on stairs with turns is possible;
cons: the manufacturer does not specify the approximate boundaries of the price range.

Mobile

Crawler-type lifts are convenient due to their versatility: they work even where there are no special devices. The operating principle of mobile tracked models is similar to the principle of step walkers, only the requirements for the surface are different. Among the stair crawler lifts in demand are:

name: Vimec RobyT-09;
price: on promotion - 222,000 rubles;
characteristics: travel speed 5 m/min., load capacity – 130 kg;
pros: battery lasts 8 hours, enough for 23 floors;
Cons: cannot be used on rounded steps.

The Italian company Sherpa also offers a good tracked lifting device for the disabled. The key advantage of the model is its small size and ease of maneuverability. The characteristics are as follows:

name: Sherpa N-902;
price: on sale with a discount - 198,000 rubles;
characteristics: travel speed 3-5 m/min., load capacity – 130 kg;
pluses: tracks move back and forth, backup mode up to 5 floors;
cons: the minimum width of the stairs for use should be 0.9 m.

Walking

Step walkers are used only with help from an accompanying person: a disabled person cannot handle them on their own. They do not move the chair, which is a subjective disadvantage, but they are convenient if the building does not have wide stairs or other lifts. Good option:

name: Escalino G 1201;
price: from 329,000 rub.;
characteristics: movement speed – 12 steps/min., designed for steps up to 21 cm high;
pros: the battery charge is enough for 18 floors, suitable for all types of stairs;
cons: load capacity is lower than standard - 120 kg.

If you need an option with good quality, but at a lower cost, manufacturers advise you to take a closer look at step walkers for disabled people from Italian manufacturers. The Invaprom store offers this option:

name: Yakc-910 (Italy);
price: 265,000 rub.;
characteristics: movement speed – up to 18 steps/min., designed for steps up to 22 cm high;
pros: low cost, wheelchair accessible;
Cons: no seats included.

Mini lift

This category includes a medical electric lift, devices for low mobility groups and wheelchair users in sanatoriums and other institutions. These mechanisms are intended to move only the disabled person himself over short distances. The best one:

name: Standing-UP 100;
price: 120,000 rub.;
characteristics: maximum lift – 1.75 m, load capacity – 150 kg;
pluses: presence of a remote control system, low platform;
cons: large dimensions of the device (1.1 * 1.03 m).

There are few ceiling rail lifts on the handicapped market, so the selection is limited. Mostly they are made to order. Medical experts highlight this option, convenient in the hospital and at home:

name: Sherpa;
price: discussed individually;
characteristics: manual control, movement speed – 12 m/min.;
pluses: there is an emergency descent (mechanical);
disadvantages: difficult to find on sale, no specific price range is indicated, the rail system must be ordered separately.

Mechanical lifts for disabled people

The simplest version of lifting devices is manually controlled - to start moving, you need the influence of an accompanying person, which is the main disadvantage. Even such a lift cannot be bought cheaply, unless it is a simple mechanism for moving into the bath:

name: Kanyo (Otto Bock);
price: 49,000 rub.;
characteristics: backrest tilt up to 40 degrees, fastenings - suction cups, seat width - 71 cm;
pluses: seat height is adjustable from 6 to 45 cm, presence of a protective system;
cons: the width is aimed at standard bathtubs.

Of the wide range of mechanical options available for sale everywhere, the Austrian one is recommended for the home. It is distinguished by its small dimensions and ease of movement when traveling. The features of the model are as follows:

name: SANO PT Fold;
price: RUB 352,000;
characteristics: load capacity – 160 kg, lifting speed – 18 steps/min.;
advantages: reduced diameter of wheels for narrow stairs, movement of a disabled person without a stroller, design is easy to fold and transport;
cons: cannot handle steps higher than 22 cm.

Electric lift for disabled people

High travel speed, large load capacity and height are the advantages of the electric drive. The design only transports a disabled person, so it is used indoors (remove a person from a bed, take a person to a bath, etc.). Experts advise:

name: Verticalizer (Russia);
price: 72,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 150 kg, made of steel;
pros: you can make the holder to individual sizes, the rear wheels are locked, the angle of the supports is adjustable;
disadvantages: large dimensions, not suitable for standard apartments.

German companies also produce good lifting mechanisms for disabled people, adapted for people undergoing rehabilitation after injuries. It will be more expensive, but richer in functionality, to purchase such a model:

name: Rebotec James 150;
price: 140,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 150 kg, lifting height – 1.51 m;
advantages: can be used at the rehabilitation stage, emergency shutdown and close access to furniture are provided;
Cons: pendant not included.

Hydraulically driven

The main advantage of models of this type is a smooth ride. They are mainly used for public transport, moving a patient in a health care facility to the bath, etc. The chair doesn't move. Among Russian-made lifts, the following deserve attention:

name: CH-41.00 (Med-Heart);
price: RUB 36,300;
characteristics: load capacity – 120 kg, lifting height from 0.85 to 1.55 m;
pluses: the angle of support can be changed, the wheels have a reduced diameter;
Cons: The carrier must be purchased separately.

German-made lifts also deserve attention, but they are distinguished by their high cost, even among hydraulic models. If you're looking for an option that doesn't require you to buy additional parts, try this device from Titan GMBH:

name: LY-9900 Riff (Titan GMBH);
price: 59,000 rub.;
characteristics: load capacity – 150 kg, lifting height from 90 to 210 cm;
pluses: the cradle is included, the wheels have a brake function;
cons: not indicated by consumers.

Lifting platform for disabled people

When moving vertically to a height of up to 2 m with a wheelchair, a platform without guards is suitable for a disabled person. Such a mechanism is used as street stationary lifts - it makes no sense at home. Popular lifting platform model:

name: Potrus-001;
price: 60,000 rub.;
characteristics: lifts 250 kg at a speed of 5 m/min., dimensions 90*100 cm;
pluses: folding platform, remote control;
cons: delivery of goods to a limited list of cities.

The Lithuanian platform has similar configurations, winning in terms of price-quality ratio. If necessary, the manufacturer can offer to adjust the dimensions of the platform to individual requirements. Classic model:

name: Domas Puntukas;
price: from 69,000 rub.;
characteristics: lifts 225 kg at a speed of 6.7 m/min., dimensions 90*125 cm;
pros: remote control;
disadvantages: mounting only on concrete, does not work at temperatures below -15 degrees.

How to choose a lift for the disabled

The characteristics of the lifting mechanisms are similar - the load capacity ranges from 130 to 300 kg, control almost always requires third-party assistance (with the exception of vertical cabins), the price is determined by functionality. For those who decide to buy a lift for the disabled, experts give some advice:

The dimensions of the platform (width) for the chair should start from 900 mm.
If the MGN lift does not move the chair, it must be accompanied by slings for the disabled person.
The surface of the vertical lift should be ribbed.
Look for devices that are protected from unauthorized use.
For mobile staircase mechanisms, look for models with a travel lock.

Everyone knows that there are people with disabilities. Everyone has also heard that they have some problems. A well-fed person is not a companion to the hungry, and only those who are confined to one, or who have loved ones with disabilities, can understand how a person in a wheelchair really lives. In 2012, Russia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

According to the principles formulated in the UN document, states participating in the Convention must implement the required measures to create equal access for disabled people with healthy members of society to all facilities and services provided by the state to the population.

There are problems. What about the solutions?

The Declaration of the UN Convention on the Protection and Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is, of course, not the only document that the state uses in its social activities. At least some of the difficulties that people with problems with the musculoskeletal system have to live with every day have completely acceptable solutions. To ensure freedom of movement for a person in a wheelchair, all public buildings must now be designed with special ramps or devices for lifting a disabled person up stairs - stair lifts.

SNiP 35-01-2001 contains recommendations for designing an accessible environment for people with disabilities. For public buildings being designed and constructed, these requirements are mandatory. But what about the old ones, already built and not equipped? Some structures, for example, architectural monuments, cannot be reconstructed in accordance with the requirements of SNiP 35-01-2001.

IDEAL X1 crawler lift has a lower cost compared to analogues Roby T09, LG-2004, Sherpa 902.

It has unique advantages over similar devices:

Folding supports to reduce dimensions during storage/transport

Removable headrest for strollers with its own headrest

Smooth speed control (there are no analogues)

Smooth acceleration and braking without jerking (there are no analogues)

Emergency movement button on the panel (does not require additional connecting cable)

The presence of a battery charge indicator on the steering wheel

Convenient steering wheel latch (with analogues it is very difficult to unlatch it)

Less vibration during movement due to toothed pressure roller

The frame design is optimally designed and requires less metal

Type of electric battery - LITHIUM-ION (Li - ion) - (optional, increased operating time of the crawler step walker, without recharging) (there are no analogues)

Alternative to ramps

In such cases, the solution to the problem will be a wheelchair stair lift - a device designed to lift a disabled person in a wheelchair up the stairs.

Vertical lift. Vertical lifts are available without shaft fencing, designed for lifting no higher than two meters, and with shaft fencing, lifting to a height of up to 12.5 meters.
Inclined stair lift for disabled people. Such lifts can be installed in buildings with wide staircases with the ability to turn around for the mechanism on the landing. The device is a platform that moves parallel to the slope of the stairs along guides mounted on the stair railing. Depending on the model, lifting is possible only on one flight (incline lifts INVAPROM A300, Vimec V64) or along a complex trajectory, repeating the spatial trajectory of the staircase - models INVAPROM A310, Vimec V65.

To install lifts of this type, no complex reconstruction of the building is required; it is enough to secure the movement guides of the platform.

Mobile crawler stair lifts for wheelchairs. Mobile lifting devices for wheelchairs further expand the capabilities of people with limited mobility. The devices allow a wheelchair user to climb stairs almost anywhere: on narrow stairs in private homes, in buildings not equipped with ramps and stationary lifts, on city street and landscape stairs.

There is a fairly significant range of devices designed to expand the capabilities of a person in a wheelchair. Based on the type of movement, they are divided into crawler lifts and step walkers.

Devices operating on the caterpillar principle are a platform with a caterpillar track, which makes it possible to safely move the stroller up and down. The lift's caterpillar design does not damage the surfaces of the steps.

The T09 Roby has an electronically controlled drive that increases the reliability of the device. Regardless of the lift’s load, the platform moves at a constant speed, without jerks or jolts. Wheelchair latches are universal and fit most types of wheelchairs.
Omega-Starmax is a crawler stair lift equipped with a self-braking crawler drive with electromagnetic brakes. It is offered in various modifications: for passive disabled people moving with accompanying persons and for active disabled people, with the ability to independently, without assistance, attach to a wheelchair and move, including on flat areas. Simple and reliable controls make it easy to use the device for people with fairly serious illnesses.

Omega-Starmax can be used not only indoors; the model is also excellent for overcoming uneven terrain, maintaining stability and mobility on snow cover.

Mobile stair lift SHERPA N 903 made in Italy. It moves on a caterpillar mechanism driven by an electric drive with a convenient electronic control located in the handle.
Electric stair lift Puma UNI-130 – stair climber. Allows you to climb steps up to 200 mm high. An accompanying person is required to use it.

Chair lifts. These devices are similar to inclined lifts, but are designed to be used by a person without a wheelchair to climb stairs. It is most suitable for use in private homes. Different models allow use both on straight flights and on stairs of complex configuration, with rounded flights.

Results

You can get an idea of how devices for lifting wheelchairs up stairs work by looking at photos and videos, as well as reading reviews.

The use of lifts, both mobile and stationary, allows people with low mobility not to feel cut off from the rest of society, taking an active part in public life, doing creativity or work.

Getting strollers up and down stairs - tips and solutions.

How to push a stroller down stairs? — this question is asked by young parents living in apartment buildings and actively traveling with their children around the city, since not all stairs are equipped with convenient ramps for strollers.

This primarily concerns residential buildings:

Stairs from the elevator to the entrance door
Stairs from apartment to elevator
Flights of stairs to the entrance door in houses without an elevator
Entrance porch staircase

socially significant objects(shops, pharmacies, banks, etc.)

As you can see, there are a lot of stairs on the way and only a few of them are equipped with ramps - how to move along them in a wheelchair?

Walking stroller - convenience or dead end?

In everyday life, mothers have the name “walking stroller” - this is a stroller, the structure of the wheelbase of which allows it to be carried down steps with minimal effort.

Slowly and carefully one climbs one step at a time. However, the concept of “minimum effort” is, to put it mildly, relative – try pushing or pushing a 13-20 kg baby stroller down a flight of stairs! Therefore, daily “walking” up stairs is fraught with discomfort for the baby, who shakes in the stroller when going up or down the stairs, and back problems for the mother, who lifts weights.

A device for lowering / lifting a stroller down the stairs in the entrance.

For lowering and lifting strollers up stairs, Pandus.su LLC has developed folding ramp model— it can be installed on any staircase, even a narrow driveway, the ramp conveniently folds and unfolds, the weight for a standard flight is about 5 kg. This device for lowering and raising baby strollers is a huge help for mothers.

How to lower and raise a stroller down stairs video

The Russian Federation has adopted legislative acts that protect the interests of parents with children using strollers in terms of free and comfortable movement, accessibility of housing and socially significant facilities. You can install a folding ramp in your entrance at the expense of the management company. You have the necessary tools in your hands, it is important to use them correctly and then the issue of lowering the stroller down the stairs will be resolved.