Patients with a scissor gait tend to bring their thighs together or cross their legs completely while walking, which impairs their balance and ability to walk independently (Figure 2). Scissoring is caused by an abnormal muscle tightness (spasticity) in the hip adductors. The hip adductors are responsible for pulling the thighs together and rotating the leg inward. The tightness in the hip adductors forces the thighs inward to cause the scissoring motion. Our team was asked to design a device that decreases scissoring and helps patients take wider steps (Appendix A).

Existing solutions are heavy and uncomfortable to the patient. For example, there are braces that force the legs apart, but they are inconvenient since they require a prescription and need to be fitted by a physical therapist. They are also expensive and specific to each patient (Appendix C). Additionally, many solutions are large and bulky and cannot be used with a walker or treadmill, such as the SWASH brace (Appendix C). Other solutions on the market are only available for children, whereas our client wanted a device for adults.

Our design, the Scissor Stopper, solves these problems by utilizing a physical divider that extends from a walker. The Scissor Stopper employs a sliding mechanism that allows for an adjustable height for the divider. This allows our device to be less expensive than other products and used for multiple patients (Appendix B). Additionally, a physical therapist can decide where to place the barrier for optimal use. Our design also features a clamp to the top of the walker and a crossbar that allows the device to be secure on a walker.