Adaptive Paddle Board Seat

The Ohio State University

Andrew Centa, Habeeb Al-Ghawi, Mallory Allen, Zach Brannan, Ed Pfeifer, Natalie Ruscello, and Katrina Schroeder

The overarching goal of the Adaptive Paddle Board Seat Project was to create a device which will allow persons with a T1 level spinal cord injury to take part in the activity of paddle boarding in a way that is authentic and physically engaging. This device looks to meet a previously unmet need that will help the paraplegic population and their families to enjoy a new recreational activity as well as improve their health as about 66% of individuals with spinal cord injuries are overweight. The final design for the seat included an aluminum chair which has ratchet straps mechanically attached to the front and back of it. The ratchet straps wrap around the board allowing for a stable attachment to the paddle board, while simultaneously being extremely intuitive to put on and remove. This allows for a design which can be easily attached to any paddleboard without having to make any permanent modifications to the board itself. Additionally, the bottom of the seat is lined with compressive foam to protect the surface of the board and prevent from any wear and tear. This design will have beneficial on the community as local Adaptive Sports Center in Columbus (TAASC) already plans to implement the design upon completion. Outside of the disabled community, this design also has potential to be marketed towards other demographics as it allows for a novel type of paddle boarding experience at the affordable price of about $300.

RESNA Design Brief

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