Drive Medical 10105-1 Platform Walker/Crutch Attachment, Silver

This device is an absolute essential for anyone working on mobility rehabilitation. My 96-year-old grandmother is paraplegic, and after her third heart stroke, we were told walking might not be possible. Thanks to this product, she is now walking again with assistance. The forearm support is what makes all the difference, providing a stable platform for her to use her strength and regain her mobility. The device was simple to attach and fits most standard walkers. While assembly is not difficult, you will need a bit of hand strength to securely tighten the fasteners. This is key for a safe, stable hold and is the only part of the process that requires a strong grip.

This worked really well since he had an arm with metal plates in that didn’t need all the pressure in the hand.

The upright walker is an excellent device for those with mobility issues and have trouble staying upright. But the upright walker is suitable from a minimal height of about 5 ft. My mother is 4'6" due to osteoporosis and the upright walker would not work for her. However this extension added just enough height to help her stand more upright. The material is a light metal material so it does not add much weight. The clamps that hold onto the walker are secure with a lot of screws for easy adjustability. If the user stumbles however, this arm could twist out of place even with fairly secure tightening. It can easily be reset into correct position, but just be aware that the arm can twist if there's some kind of balance or coordination problem with the user.

I purchased two of these (a few days apart) for my mother's walker. The platform is sturdy and works well. The knobs for the vertical bar project out well beyond the rest of the walker, and get caught on doorways. Also, the length of the handlebar is more than enough. With the platform armrest swiveled about 30 degrees inward, the handlebar gets caught on doorways. It is possible that some users would need the entire original length of the handlebar, but that person would have extremely long arms. When received, the brackets for the vertical bar were assembled incorrectly, on both platforms purchased. I had to take them apart and swap the spacers from one bracket to the other so they would work with the walker. Not difficult to do, but also not obvious for the typical installer. I happen to be a mechanical engineer, and found the problem when trying to install the first platform. Because of that, I was aware of the problem when the second platform arrived, and found the same problem immediately. I made the following modifications: - Replaced the bolts and knobs on the vertical bar with 1/4" x 1-1/2" carriage bolts, and nylon lock nuts (the original bolts are metric, and the local hardware store did not have metric carriage bolts) - Cut 5 inches off the handlebar with a hacksaw. I filed the rough edges, and reinserted the finishing plug. The photos show the installed platform with the above modifications. Pros: - Easy to adjust - Light weight - Sturdy Cons: - Bulky hardware on vertical bar - Handlebar very long - Incorrectly assembled brackets at the factory

Really helps if you are not 100 percent weight bearing. Easy install.

The screws for the handle post would not tighten completely without additional washers which we had to supply. The screws provided would not thread all the way through the plastic covered nut. The screws were already placed into the brackets loosely so there was no guess work as do where they went, but neither would screw down hard enough to keep the handle tight.

I recently had surgery and needed to be only partial weight bearing on one leg after for several weeks. Due to unstable shoulders, I was recommended to try a walker, with platform supports to take of the stress off my shoulders. I didn’t choose the nicer upright rolling walkers, as it would have been an even tighter fit through doorways in my home, but I wish I had. I did not find these attachments to be easy to install. That may have been due to my specific walker and where I could attach the brackets. The brackets would not fit over the handgrips on my walker. I suppose if I wanted to gouge and ruin the handgrips, I could have made them fit. The only other place I could have attached these was in front of the grips and that would have made the walker easily tip forward. I was able to attach them on the lower support bars, but lining the brackets up was not easy. I had to add duct table around the bar on one side to tighten the bracket so it wouldn’t move. Once I finally got these platforms secured on the walker, I found the walker to weigh more than my lifting restrictions would allow. When doing anything at a counter or where I need to back up, the walker can be cumbersome to move. Prior to my surgery I was very active and I still found maneuvering a walker with these attachments (all while not being able to put full weight on one of my legs) to be a challenge at times. I would not recommend this set up for anyone who is very unsteady on their feet or with any lifting restrictions. Positive for these platforms are the quality and price. These platforms were half the price of the ones at the durable medical equipment store and just as good quality.

This platform accessory for my walker is exactly like the one i used in physical therapy. Fit easily on my walker and allowed me to go home sooner.