GRADES 9-12
DESIGN A PARAPLEGIC EQUESTRIAN SADDLE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Equity In Sports Engineers who work in sports have the same goals as other sports professionals: enhance performance; prevent injury; assure safety; increase enjoyment; health benefits; longevity (to play the sport as long as you like) and accessibility (any age and physical challenge). Longevity and accessibility are important challenges in equipment design. Believe it or not, it has been common in the past to just scale down men's equipment for women and children. However, women are not small men and children are not smaller men and women. Important anatomical and physiological differences exist which should be integrated into the design. Injury rates and types of injuries differ between the genders and age. As our population ages, provisions should be made for equipment which addresses the special needs of seniors, either through adaptation or assistive devices. There also is a market demand and responsibility to address the needs of individuals with physical challenges. Here are two examples. Tandem bicycles (a "bicycle built for 2") are a fun cycling alternative for families and individuals. As these bicycles became more popular these same tandem bicycles became prevalent in cycling for the visually impaired. A sighted "pilot" cycles in the front seat, while the visually impaired individual pedals at the same speed in the rear seat. A Trigger Release And Three-Finger Grip Used In Archery With Permission and Courtesy Of Tru-Fire Bow hunters may have to draw their bows for long periods of time. Releases are available to assist bow hunters in this activity. (A little clamp hooks onto the bowstring; the clamp is attached to a trigger or a hand-conforming grip.) The grip or trigger allows the archer to use more of their fingers and hand in drawing and holding the bowstring back. The trigger/grip mechanism also is used by seniors, women and children who simply do not have the strength of an adult male and by individuals with physical disabilities which affect their grip.