Insights and experiences with the Nitro Glide:
revolution in orthopaedic rehabilitation
Our Product Manager for Mobility Aids, Manuel Haas, shares the history of the Nitro Glide in an interview and provides a firsthand experience after using the knee walker following his own surgery.
Editorial:
Good day, Manuel! We're excited to be talking to you today about the launch of the Nitro Glide. This knee walker opens up a completely new segment in the Drive DeVilbiss product portfolio. How did the decision to introduce this product and develop the Nitro Glide come about?
Manuel:
Hello! The knee walker concept isn't entirely new for Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. Particularly in the American and Australian markets, knee rollers have become indispensable. Due to the positive feedback from our sister companies, we took notice and gathered initial customer opinions and market feedback. To optimize the product for the German aid market, we worked with our design team to develop an orthopaedic roller that combines an individual and appealing design with the desired and required functionalities. By adding it to our German product portfolio, we can offer our national customers this practical and efficient alternative for mobilization after operations or during injuries in the lower leg area.
Editorial:
It's interesting that you underwent foot surgery yourself during the preparations for the Nitro Glide launch and used the product personally. What stood out to you in particular while using it?
Manuel:
Yes, it was a challenging time. In situations like that, you realize how everyday actions can become major challenges. The most routine tasks like carrying a water bottle or preparing a meal become genuine obstacles without a storage option. The Nitro Glide has helped me enormously and made everyday life easier. Thanks to the included basket, I could easily transport items around the house. When preparing meals, I could rest my injured leg on the knee pad and still have both hands free. The Nitro Glide gave me back a lot of flexibility during this time.
Editorial:
Was there anything you paid attention to during the Nitro Glide's development, considering your own handicap and firsthand experiences?
Manuel:
Simple handling and user-friendliness are key to such an aid. It's essential to ensure that users can operate all functions with minimal assistance. It can't be assumed that family or caregivers will be available around the clock during rehabilitation. Furthermore, a holder for crutches is essential on such a product, which, for instance, is not mandatory on the American market. These were small but crucial improvements that I was able to experience during my use of the Nitro Glide and that were incorporated into the development of the product.
Editorial:
What makes the Nitro Glide such a special and useful aid for you?
Manuel:
Our Nitro Glide aids in mobilization and movement, providing an ergonomic alternative to conventional forearm crutches. While using the roller, tension in the muscles of the injured limb is maintained. This positively impacts the patient's recovery and can even accelerate it. Furthermore, compared to using forearm crutches, the Nitro Glide relieves the shoulder, neck, and upper body muscles, preventing subsequent issues. All these factors make our Nitro Glide a very special and, above all, useful aid.
Editorial:
You mentioned functionalities that were particularly important during product development. What makes the Nitro Glide a unique knee walker?
Manuel:
During development, we focused on the product's quality and various application influences. Our Nitro Glide offers adjustment of the front wheel distance to enable the best possible use in different environments and on different surfaces. A quality feature of our roller is the disc brake, ensuring quick and secure braking. For transportation, it was essential for our knee walker to fold up compactly and be stowed away easily. These functionalities, combined with its appealing design, make our Nitro Glide a pleasant companion and a true hero during rehabilitation.