It has been a long time since I have added to my blog. Starting last September I was very ill and in the hospital and rehab. Finally, after three months I came home to home health care and a stretch of therapy. I am now glad to be back.

For starters, my walker grip is almost in production. Just as soon as we get the mold we will start making grips that fit over existing walkers. They also will be ergonomic and much more comfortable than a round tube. Several people have helped with this design, including a doctor and therapists plus other individuals. The walker grip is also light weight and can be cleaned easily. There will be removable straps to hold the hands onto the grips, for stroke victims. These grips will be extremely simple to attach. I do not intend to have a great choice of colors, maybe just black and granite.

I have more ideas for grip 'add-ons', and other types of grips. If you have questions or ideas, I will try to answer, and am open to others ideas. Please keep an eye on this blog. The American dream is still alive and well, and I'm full speed ahead.

Our New Grip Design

With our ongoing effort to improve our crutch grip, we are pleased to announce our new design.

Recently, we took this improved grip to the National Physical Therapist Convention in Las Vegas, where we received some very positive feedback.

More information on this development will follow soon but for now, here is the first picture!

Wesley Robbins 3/16/2009

New Improvements

It seems ages since I added to my blog. However, exciting things are happening. I took my crutch hand grips to Nashville, TN to the APA's CSM, in February, and in June to a trade show in San Antonio, Texas for the National Convention of Physical Therapists. At both shows, the reception of my product was great.

One question which came up often was "Do you have anything for walkers?" Older hands hurt. Older hands that must use walkers either for total support or simply to help steady a person, need more comfort on existing walkers at a minimum cost. Since coming home I have been working diligently on a prototype. It is almost ready for production. Watch for it.

Also, I am excited to say that I am planning a small change to my present crutch grips that will give a person a choice on how to hold the crutch. If the hand tires in one position, the person may change to another. I feel this is a huge improvement. This new design should be in production in the fall.

By the way, have you noticed my price reduction, which now includes postage and handling? At a time when everything is going up, I am pleased to be able to do this, at least for the present.

I will show off my grips again in Las Vegas, Nevada, in February, at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting (CSM). Look me up. I'd like to meet you.

I am starting 2008 with a booth at a trade show in Nashville, TN. There are to be around 7,000 Physical Therapists attending. Also I've had very good comments about the hand grips for crutches and I am now working on the prototype for hand grips for walkers. I hope to have them in the not too-far future. I am looking forward to meeting the therapists in February.

With all the negative comments lately about lead getting into toys, etc, I would like to say that my crutch hand grips have no lead in them, and that they are made in the good old USA. They are the easily cleaned also and the crutch grips have a slight texture to keep the hands from slipping.

Hi! My name is Johnie Robbins. Having to go through the expected discomfort of my new 2000 model, titanium knee was bad. Much worse, was the totally unexpected, excruciating pain to my hands caused by the old world grips on the aluminum crutches. It was horrible. Surely, I thought someone has come up with a better idea than just to pad the existing grips. I checked medical supply stores and the internet. Nothing. We have invented ways to travel faster than the speed of sound, carry telephones in a pocket, let the kids and sometimes the driver watch television while speeding down the highway, but something so simple as an improved hand grip for crutches - no, I couldn't believe it. Even my rolling pin has comfortable grips (yes I bake). So, I did it myself.

I used several types modeling clay and worked until I now have a crutch grip that does not hurt the hand. Some time ago, a friend borrowed a pair of my prototypes because she had to use crutches and has carpal tunnel syndrome. At that time She said her wrists were killing her. I loaned her a pair and she had no more problems with the carpal tunnel. She would not give them back, saying she wanted to keep them in case she needed crutches later. When the finished product came on the market, I gave her a pair of red ones.

It has taken me over four years of hard work to finally come up with a product I am proud of. I have a patent pending. This past year I received a grant from the West Texas A & M Innovation Center of $10,000, to help with expenses of development and production, for which I am grateful. A local manufacturer makes them.

Since I am mechanically challenged, the grips had to be easily installed. A child can do it, and no tools are needed. They are easily cleaned with soap and water. They are affordable and come in a rainbow of colors. Coordinating team colors are great for athletic injuries.

I would like to hear from you. Success stories and comments are welcome. Thank you for visiting the home of Robbins Grips.