The Stride Management Assist device in use. Photograph courtesy of Honda Motor Company.
Honda Motor Company, Tokyo, Japan, announced that its Stride Management Assist device will be featured in a program to assess independence solutions for elderly individuals. Conducted by the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Obu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the program will begin in late August.
According to Honda’s website, the Stride Management Assist device is a lightweight, wearable device with a belt that is worn around the hips and thighs to reduce the wearer’s load and to fit different body shapes. A motor helps lift each leg at the thigh as it moves forward and backward. This helps lengthen the user’s stride, making it easier to cover longer distances at a greater speed. The prototype comes in three sizes and has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will accommodate more than one hour of use.
Honda will provide NCGG with 40 Stride Management Assist devices, which will be used in shopping malls and on certain designated walking paths. The program will focus on older people with reduced walking ability who are still able to walk under their own power. Based on data output from the devices after use, Honda said it will research the applicability of the devices to be used as a mobility solution for elderly individuals.
