Design for Agile Aging
Disability Exercise

Exercise: Arm injury (rotator cuff)

Staff: Elna

Normal symptoms: upper arm is sore, can’t raise arm over your head

ADLs probably unable to perform: lifting weight with that arm, brushing or combing hair on the back of head

Emulation: Wrap your dominant arm in a sling so that your arm is at a 90 degree angle and your wrist is free to move, but the arm can’t straighten.  Wrap the arm to your body with an Ace bandage so that you can’t raise it any higher than shoulder height.

Trial activities:

  1. Brush or comb your hair, particularly the back of your head.
  2. If you’re female, put on lipstick.  If you’re male, put on and tie shoes.
  3. Open door that has a hand-operated handle.
  4. Take handwritten notes.
  5. Use a computer keyboard.
  6. Use car keys to unlock, turn on, and drive a car, or use a bicycle.
Report:
After 8 hours, how did your arm feel?  Did anything you feel any cramping in your arm, elbow, or shoulder?
How did you adjust to your disability? How did you compensate for the arm? What did you find you couldn’t compensate for? 
If this were a permanent condition, what kinds of devices would you want to help you function?