Table 3.

Mobility-assistive device–specific sample review snippets for each injury type.

Mobility-assistive device	Major injury	Minor injury	Potential future injury
Cane	“[I]t offers no stability. my father’s dr. said stop using immediately. but unfortunately it was after he had a terrible fall, splitting open his head.” “[I] removed the plastic bag and the next thing i knew i was laying on my back hollering, i’ve fallen and i can’t get up! i walked away with a broken rib or two.”	“[W]hen walking out of a restaurant the cane in my left hand snapped in half...i ended up with bruised rib, bruised stomach and head and scratched fingers. i don’t want this to happen to anyone else...very scary for anyone relying on these.” “[W]hen my father sat on it, the plastic clamp like thing that keeps the chair folder [sic] out just gave in!! it’s a miracle that my dad didn’t break something. he landed on his left arm, his fingers were swollen for 4 days.”	“[C]ollapsed due to a broken plastic ring the first time my husband (who weighs less than the advertised maximum for the item) my husband [sic] sat in it and left him sprawled on the floor. fortunately he was not injured.” “[T]he bottom rubber stopper came off while i was walking leaving the metal exposed. i almost fell as it slipped out from under me! do not buy this product!”
Gait or transfer belt	“[T]wice the belts come undone and our family member has been seriously injured!! It’s a horrible feeling when they slip away n fall getting seriously injured w concussion and sprangs [sic] n bruises.”	“When lifting my husband...the transfer gate slide up to his chest. no matter how tight you pull the transfer gate will not stay put. actually hurt my husband. who is a paraplegic.” “[O]nce worn and pulled by the helper it leaves a mark on the waist and the patients complain of pain around the waist.”	“[O]ne of the handles threads snapped within a few minutes of its first use. my father almost fell. this product is dangerously, cheaply made.” “Crappy and unreliable. material is too thin to the point that buckle does not hold adjustment in place. i cannot trust this to secure and hold the elderly person it was bought for.”
Ramp	—a	“[T]here are two smooth lines that are very dangerously slippery. knowing that they are there, I’ve slipped many times.” “[T]he ramps are heavy and clumsily to handle. since i am the person who uses the scooter and having to use this has been a big mistake, it has caused my back to hurt.”	“[V]ery little support in the center section so while you are midway with a wheel chair or just walking on it, the ramp bounces and shifts on the step. i don’t feel secure enough to use it with my dad’s wheel chair.” “[I] tried to use this with a lightweight wheelchair and i felt like it was going to buckle/break underneath me...this ramp is suppose [sic] to have a 600lb weight capacity.”
Walker or rollator	“[F]ront right wheel fell off causing my wife to hit her head on a piece of furniture. i had to take her to the emergency room.” “[T]his walker broke apart while my wife was using it. the metal just broke and the walker collapsed. she broke her wrist and hit her head.”	“[T]he legs gave out and my grandma who was sitting on the walker fell back and hit her head on the concrete.” “[T]he back rest connects to the walker via these thick plastic sockets. while my wife was sitting on it both sockets cracked/broke and she fell off the back of the seat hitting her head on a wall. avoid this walker unless you like head injuries.”	“[H]ad a cheap front flat bracket that has a weakness on its bent corner. so if your [sic] sitting on the walker and slide to the right or left there is a chance the bracket crumbling dumping you to the floor...i for one can’t be falling, i am hurt enough and i wouldn’t want my loved ones falling either.” “[Y]esterday my husband was using it and the leg broke in half. thankfully he was not hurt but could have been. it broke completely in two at the weld in the leg. this is a safety issue.”
Wheelchair or transport chair	—	“[B]ack wheels should be farther back. i fell over backwards and was unable to get up by myself. even a little pressure on the handles will cause the chair to tip backward.” “[T]he handles broke off as we were going down a stair step. almost got badly hurt. the pusher fell on top of the patient and the patient’s head hit the last step. very dangerous.”	“[U]nfortunately, when my mom sits down in it, it rocks backward. She’s afraid to use it for fear of flipping over backward. sending it back as it’s unusable if it’s unsteady.” “[T]he brakes shouldn’t be relied on. if you plan to use it in a hilly area, don’t count on them to make much of a difference...they wouldn’t work on a hill or on a long slope.”

^aNot available.