What’s worse than needing help with gait, mobility and balance? Being told you need a walker. No wonder, when the typical walker basically screams “frail elderly,” and is difficult to use as well.

Neurologist Patricia Kavanagh was struggling to get her patients with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders to use a walker.  So she teamed up with a design and production team to found Foray and create the Spring, a modern device that is more functional and stylish.

In this podcast interview we discuss:

• (0:13) Dr. Kavanagh’s clinical practice and the types of patients she treats
• (1:19) Key challenges she faces working with patients with movement disorders
• (3:24) Problems with current assistive devices like canes and walkers
• (6:11)  Whether walkers are unique in their poor design
• (7:26) The story behind the birth of Foray and the development of the Spring
• (8:42) The target audience
• (12:04) Price point for the new device
• (12:50) The thinking behind the branding of Spring and Foray
• (13:31) Potential line extensions
• (15:20) Impact of burden of chronic disease on mobility and exercise tolerance

By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.