Stair safety – Find out more about Tommy, who suffers from osteoarthritis and uses the TOPRO Step

The topic of stair safety and the stair climbing aid TOPRO Step. Tommy Jørdal holds onto the handle of the TOPRO Step and pushes himself forward with the help of the handle. Tommy Jørdal feels completely safe and can finally climb the stairs at home again – all without outside help.

(This is a translation based on an article by Verena Døsvik, originally published in the magazine 70+, 2017).

Tommy Jørdal is someone who has led a very active life so far and preferably spent time in the forests and wilderness with his Giant Schnauzers.
Having dogs is undoubtedly a lifestyle in itself and definitely makes it easier to get out.

A few years ago, Tommy developed osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis). This form of osteoarthritis is one of the most common wear and tear conditions of the joints.

As a result, his walks became shorter and climbing stairs in his home became more and more difficult. But thanks to the TOPRO Step stair aid, climbing stairs became easier for him again and safety while climbing stairs is ensured once more.

Contents

Stair safety

Before installing the TOPRO Step at home, Tommy hesitated when going down the stairs from the second floor. He didn’t feel like he had anything to hold onto and therefore felt insecure and uncomfortable in his own home. It was his home help who recommended him to test and apply for the TOPRO Step.

TOPRO Step is a tool for stairs, consisting of a handle that is pushed ahead while climbing stairs and provides the necessary safety and support through its patented braking mechanism.

The carpet aid is so ingenious and simple and allows me to stay at home longer,” says Tommy. “I am very impressed by the students who had this idea and developed it into such a great tool.”

The user-friendliness of the stair aid was particularly important to Halvor Wold and the other product developers at AssiTech.

“With this product, we have no electronics or buttons that one has to deal with. The aid works fully mechanically and is very easy to use,” explains Halvor.

Stair safety - TOPRO Step

The stair aid TOPRO Step is manufactured in Trondheim (Norway) and by now, over 100 people in Norway alone have installed the aid at home.

“We have dealt very intensively with the topic of falls on the stairs and stair safety at the university. The solution that existed at that time was to install a stair lift, which in turn makes people so passive that it either worsens their walking function or at least does not improve it.”

From this problem, they developed the idea for the TOPRO Step. Anyone who needs the stair climbing aid can contact us or our distribution partners to schedule an appointment for consultation and a test run.

toprostep team
Topro Step Gerät

falls

A fall is one of the most common causes of accidents in Germany. Every year, more than 600,000 people in Germany fall. According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2015 alone, 12,867 people died from a fall. Especially with increasing age, those affected often suffer serious injuries.

The German Medical Association of North Rhine estimates that approximately 80 percent of all individuals over 80 years old and about 30 percent of all individuals over 65 years old fall in their own homes annually.

Stair falls - Barrier-free stairs and barrier-free living.

A large part of falls occur on stairs and these falls can have serious consequences. In 2013, there were around 4000 deaths due to falls on stairs. In accidents on stairs, the victim often bears the blame, as a stair fall often occurs due to lack of safety awareness or rushing up the stairs.

Fall prevention on the stairs

So far, no stair climbing aid has been found that mobilizes the affected individuals while providing the necessary safety and support for daily stair climbing.

The innovative stair walking aid TOPRO Step, developed in Norway, now provides the necessary support and safety needed by the person when climbing stairs. The TOPRO Step stair walker is a more cost-effective alternative to a stair lift and mobilizes the person instead of making them passive. As a result, the person actively trains stair climbing and increases their walking safety on stairs.

This ensures safer stair climbing even outside of one’s own home and can help prevent future falls. The installation of the TOPRO Step can be done quickly, as no permits or electrical connections are required. The system is modular and can be installed on almost all types of stairs.

Depending on your place of residence and country, you may be entitled to a subsidy from your insurance company or the state.

One should not take stair falls lightly. Make your stairs safe and use aids to secure them. Another important point for people with gait insecurity is to maintain and build their mobility and strength to ensure and train gait safety.

TOPRO Step Informationvideo

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