Enhancing Accessibility in Mexican Healthcare: A Versatile Lift and Walking Aid System

Abstract: Recent studies reported that 4.9 % of the Mexican population has a disability and/or limitations in their social participation; 48% of these being related to motor limitations (INEGI, 2020). The town of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, which is located in one of the biggest states of the country with predominantly low-income communities, faces a variety of difficulties regarding access to healthcare services and rehabilitation treatments. Access to private physiotherapy amenities is limited, and public services are often overloaded and distant from specialized clinics.Currently, there are various systems in existence to assist people with motor disabilities, such as Patient Lifts for transfer, Standers, and even Parallel Bars for physical therapy. Regardless of the many benefits they may have, these devices usually lack the proper adaptability and inclusion for patients of all ages. Bars may be too high and wide for pediatric patients in the case of Parallel Bars or height level may be too short for tall patients in the case of many Patient Lifts and Standers, among other issues. On account of these considerations, the project focuses on the design and construction of a lift and walking aid system that combines all the benefits of the existing tools and systems into a single one with the purpose of providing a solution to one of the main challenges of interprofessional care that patients with mobility impairments face every day in Mexico. The proposal aims to develop a patient lift targeted towards the rehabilitation clinic located at the University of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, with the goal of addressing multiple needs with a single and versatile device. It includes various features, such as switchable parallel bars and mechanisms that allow adaptation to the patient's specific needs, ensuring a proper walking and physical rehabilitation by providing stability and support; coupled with the use of a harness for patient's transfer and standing assistance. The system’s design is established considering patients’ anthropometric criteria and spatial measurements of the workspace, which ensures the safe and effective application of the device. This initiative would benefit the clinic by equipping healthcare providers with essential tools, optimizing equipment distribution, reducing costs, and most importantly, improving the quality of life for patients. Furthermore, the device's adaptability and versatility facilitates the incorporation of different accessories, such as the infinity band for rehabilitation in the same place, force platforms to measure strength in both extremities and monitoring systems for precise progress tracking during therapy.

Keywords: Patient Lift, Rehabilitation, Accessibility, Mobility Impairments, Human-Centered Design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004838

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