About

The Past

My life changed drastically as a young teenager when I was hit by a drunk-driver and lost my right leg. Prior to being an amputee, I had been active in many sports, and loved the outdoors. I was determined that even though I had lost my leg, I would not lose my freedom, including freedom of choices in recreational pursuits.

I became an occupational therapist and started to adapt existing crutches and climbing equipment to enable me to return to the outdoors that I loved so much. I had several difficult trekking experiences using marginal equipment and knew “there must be a better way.”

In 1984, using adapted forearm crutches, I became the first women amputee to climb Mt. Rainier without an artificial limb. The following year, I became the first amputee without an artificial limb to climb Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.

Over the last five years we have carried out research and development for a new shock absorbent crutch system. Our design provides joint protection, minimizes vibration to the hand, and maximizes comfort and safety for the user over the long distance – something we believe every person on assistive devices or walking sticks will value. In 2004, I walked 720Km on the “Camino de Santiago” in Northern Spain, field testing an early prototype.

The Present

SideStix proto-type 6 was modified in August ’09 with a new spline damper shock system and sand baskets with harden steel tips. This design was field tested on B.C.’s West Coast Trail.

SideStix proto-type 5 was manufactured at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto with the help of model maker, Bill Johnson. Testing at Bloorview has indicated a 40% reduction in joint compression.

This shock system can be modified to any tubular system (walking stick, cane, walker, etc.) and has “feet” attachments to negotiate a variety of terrains.

Ergonomic benefits are also in the design and angle of the crutch handle. The modular design has a Patent Pending and the SideStix name has been trademarked.

I tested this design in January 2009, on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, using these specialized crutches. This climb offered a variety of challenges, including difficult terrain and high altitude. Please refer to the JOURNAL archives for details of the climb.

The Future

In Canada: University of British Columbia mechanical engineer, Machiel Van der Loos is currently supervising four UBC senior engineering students through their Capstone course. The students are working toward further refining SideStix. Bonnie Sawatzky of UBC/ ICORD will conduct graduate research on the ergonomic benefits of SideStix. Jan Andrysek of Bloorview Kids Rehab — affiliated with the University of Toronto — has expressed interest in researching a pediatric SideStix model.

In the USA: SideStix will be working with Boston University, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Occupational Therapy professor and AOTA past president, Karen Jacob and her students in health care management.

SideStix will also be assisting students of Hugh Herr at M.I.T.’s media lab to continue to design a “better crutch”.

My goal is to perfect the design of the various elements of the modular system, and then find manufacturing options for SideStix.

SideStix provides opportunities to those of us on crutches, who would otherwise be constrained to the more conventional paths in life.

If you have the urge to explore the unknown, to step ”out-of-bounds” SideStix are there to help your dreams become reality.