Motion limiter for short leg walker

Abstract

A motion limiter (2) for use with a short leg walker (4) includes a threaded shaft (20) passing freely through a hole (42) in a sliding block or guide (36) that is pivotally attached preferably to an upper part (6) of the walker. The lower end (28) of the shaft is preferably pivotally mounted in a recess (34) in the lower portion (10) of the walker and the remainder of the shaft is free to slide within the hole in the sliding block within a recess (26) in the upper part of the walker. The position of stop members (64, 68), threaded to the shaft above and below the block, determine the amount or fraction of the shaft permitted to pass through the hole in the sliding block. As the stop members are positioned along the shaft relatively far apart from one another, a greater length of the threaded shaft is permitted to pass through the sliding block, thereby increasing the range of motion of the walker. Conversely, as the stop members are moved relatively closer together, the range of motion decreases. If the stop members are positioned so as to abut the sliding block, no range of motion is permitted. The stop members may be positioned by a user without using tools.