KOWSKY 22 User manual

Intended use and indicaon
Our walking aids are designed for people with signicant mobility impairment with impairment to movements, compromised balance with suciently intact walking ability and impaired coordina-
on. They are used to maintain, promote and stabilise walking or to parally or fully relieve the strain on the lower limbs. The walking aids can be used both indoors and outdoors. It is imperave
that the safety instrucons are also observed!
Contraindicaon
The use of walking aids is unsuitable if there is a loss of limb in both arms or joint contractures/joint damage in both arms. The crutches are not intended to be used during sporng acvies. The
crutches are not suitable or intended to be used to support the body weight aer jumps (e.g. down stairs).
General safety informaon
Do not hang any bags, pouches or other objects on the walking aid! Walking aids may under no circumstances be used for any other purpose than that for which they are intended, e.g. for liing
or moving objects or as a tool for switching light switches or pressing buons on lis! It is essenal that the ground has a good grip to ensure a secure hold of the walking aids! Avoid wet oors or
surfaces such as gravel, sand, foliage, ice or snow! Pay aenon to stumbling points such as unevenness, holes in the oor, loose oor coverings or edges, because the walking aid can unexpectedly
slip away or sink in! Extra cauon is recommended when lighng condions are insucient, since irregularies in the ground can then only be seen with diculty! When adjusng the push-buon,
it must protrude from the hole as far as it will go (Fig. 2)! The holes for adjusng the walking aid undergo a certain amount of wear. It is important to ensure that they are not worn out, as this would
prevent the push buon from locking securely. When adjusng the clip, the plasc clip must have a posive t when inserted (Fig. 1)! Prior to each use, make sure that all screw connecons are
rmly ghtened! If forearm crutches are used with the arm clip closed, it must be ensured that the arm clip is not pressed down unintenonally; otherwise there is a risk of pinching or bruising
the skin or ngers.
Adjusng the walking aid
Warning! Please contact your specialist dealer to ensure proper funconal and ergonomic adjustment! Incorrectly adjusted walking aids may restrict the funconality of the
walking aid or lead to overloading or incorrect loading of the paent! The walking aids are handed over to you as a paent in a proper condion, whereby they are
individually adjusted to your body by your specialist dealer or health care specialist. If you have any doubts as to whether this is the case, please contact the responsible specialist per-
sonnel. The walking aid can only oer you the relief you desire if it is opmally adapted to your body size. Adjustment: Loosen the union nut by approx. one turn clockwise prior to adjustment (Fig.
1). Unlock the height adjustment by pressing in the push buon or pushing out the clip. Adjust the length of the supports to your body size by pulling the support tubes out or pushing them together.
Lock the height adjustment once again by aligning the tubes as such, that the two locking holes are on top of each other, whereby the push-buon engages again. In case of clip adjustment, reinsert
the clip. Following adjustment, the union nut must be ghtened again. Non-adjustable walking aids are shortened by individually adjusng the support tube to your size using a metal saw or a tube
cuer. Cauon: Risk of falling due to walking aids buckling when the height adjustment is not locked correctly! Check the correct locking aer each adjustment by aempng to twist or move the
support! It is possible to adjust the anatomical hard handle axially. Proceed as follows to adjust: 1. Loosen the sleeve nut with a coin or a wide screwdriver and unscrew the sleeve nut completely. 2.
Pull the handle forward and adjust it. 3. Finally x the handle again with the sleeve nut.
Use
There are many dierent ways to use the walking aids and it all depends on the individual restricons of the walking ability. Seek instrucon in the use of the walking aids from your specialist dealer
or health care specialist! Walking aids must not be used in water. Any penetrang water can lead to corrosion forming and consequently to an increased risk of breakage. Avoid prolonged contact
of the walking aids with moisture. The walking aids must be dried appropriately when they come into contact with water. The correct handling of the walking aids takes some pracce. We therefore
recommend geng addional support from an assistant at the beginning. We recommend using walking aids in pairs when you require support on both sides! However, only one support should be
used in general pracce, and then always on the side opposite the injured leg or the leg that needs to be protected! Guide the walking aids close to the body, not at an angle facing outwards (Fig. 3)!
You might fall otherwise! During use, grasp the handle(s) of the walking aid(s) completely and rmly with your hand! Always place the walking aids as straight as possible on the ground so that you
do not slip away! Find chairs with armrests to sit on. You will then be able to support yourself on the armrests when standing up! Wear shoes that are as comfortable as possible with at soles so
that your leg can beer withstand addional strain! If you do fall: if possible, let the walking aid fall to the side so that you do not fall onto it! Use of stairs: Have someone accompany and support
you if possible, so that they can catch you if you fall! Try and arrange for qualied personnel to instruct you in climbing stairs with a walking aid! When climbing stairs with only one walking aid, it is
important to hold on to the railing using your free hand (Fig. 4)! When climbing stairs with two walking aids, hold both walking aids together in one hand and make sure to hold on to the railing rmly
using your free hand (Fig. 5)! When climbing stairs, do not rely solely on the crutches, but always use a stair-climbing aid that is independent of the crutches, such as a handrail
Precauonary measure
Using a walking aid places an unusual amount of strain on individual parts of the body! This may result in the following undesirable side eects: The hands, arms or items of clothing may encounter
pressure or chang! We recommend the use of grip and bracket pads as prevenve measures. When using two walking aids, make sure that you bear the enre body weight with your arms and
shoulders! Keep in mind that this can lead to pain and overexeron at the beginning or during prolonged exeron! It is important to take sucient breaks!
Storage and care
Never store the walking aids in the vicinity of heat sources such as furnaces, heaters or in places suscepble to heat in a car! Do not expose walking aids to sunlight for prolonged periods of me!
Strong sun or heat damages the plasc! Protect your walking aids from toppling over and from damage to the paintwork (e.g. by using straps or holders). The rubber buer is a wearing part and
must be replaced at regular intervals. Walking aids must only be used again aer an extended period of non-use following prior inspecon by qualied personnel! Warning! Never clean handles and
rubber caps using oily substances! There is a risk of slipping! In the event of contaminaon, clean the walking aids using a mild cleaning agent and a so cloth where necessary. Never use cleaners con-
taining solvents, since these will damage the plasc! Note: Should disinfecon be required, then a suitable disinfectant agent should be used. Please follow the manufacturer’s instrucons for use.
Limitaon of use
The walking aid must only be subjected to loads in accordance with the manufacturer’s instrucons. Observe the maximum permissible body weight that is specied on the product! Please
contact your specialist dealer in the case of greater loads or in case of any doubts. The crutches are not intended to be used during sporng acvies. The crutches are not suitable to be used to
support the body weight aer jumps (e.g. down stairs). Bent or damaged walking aids must not be used under any circumstances, since they can no longer oer the necessary stability! Bent walking
aids must also not be straightened because of the risk of breakage! Note: All serious incidents that occur in connecon with the product must be reported to the manufacturer and the competent
authority of the Member State in which the user and/or the paent is located.
Re-use (rental) / duraon of use
We shall only accept liability pursuant to the Product Liability Act for the inial placing of our products on the market. We only consent to reuse if we have rst inspected the product. The service
life of the forearm crutches is limited to 2 years. The user shall be responsible for the connued use of the forearm-supported walking aids aer this me.
Warranty and liability
You have purchased a high-quality Kowsky product. In the event of a jused material defect in spite of the highest quality standards, Kowsky reserves the right, as part of a 12-month warranty, to
either repair the defecve item or replace it with a defect-free follow-up delivery, at its own discreon. Please note that stricter legal regulaons are applicable to our nished products, in parcular
custom-made products. We shall not be liable for any damage caused by modicaons to our products. The warranty does not cover defects aributable to wear and tear or improper handling.
Wear parts are excluded from the warranty. Only original replacement parts and accessories must be used! Please contact your specialist dealer for replacement parts, accessories and repairs.
Disposal Accessories
Please consult your specialist dealer about the regional disposal
regulaons.
The approved accessories for your walking aid can be found at:
hps://shop.kowsky.de/downloads-zum-produkt/
Technical data Replacement parts
Table 1.A Table 1.B
Symbol directory
Walking Aid Instrucons for Use (Table 1.A) - EN
Item number
Manufacture
Batch number
Date of manufacture
Read the operang
instrucons
Permissible body
weight
Aenon
This product complies with the
requirements of Regulaon (EU)
2017/745 (MDR).
Distribuon by Medical device

Erwin Kowsky GmbH & Co. KG
Oderstraße 73
24539 Neumünster
GERMANY
Phone
Fax
Internet
E-Mail
+49 (0) 43 21 - 99 57 0
+49 (0) 43 21 - 99 57 57
www.kowsky.de
[e-mail]
This is a product according to the guidelines of the Medical Devices Direcve.
Furthermore the Erwin Kowsky GmbH & Co. KG is cered according to DIN EN ISO 13485.
Version 11.10.2023
1.A Technical data
A B C D
22 ORIGINAL A1 / A2 22,5 cm 76 cm - 96 cm 16 mm 140 kg
22UE ORIGINAL
extra long A1 / A2 22,5 cm 86 cm - 106 cm 16 mm 140 kg
24 MINI A1 / A2 16,5 cm 60 cm - 80 cm 16 mm 100 kg
26 UNITED A1 / A2 22 cm - 24,5 cm 76 cm - 96 cm 16 mm 140 kg
27 KING KONG A3 22,5 cm 105 cm 19 mm 150 kg
1.B Replacement parts
22 ORIGINAL Art. 1320 Art. 13220 Art. 14420 Art. 15228 Art. 71600
22UE ORIGINAL
extra long Art. 1320 Art. 13220 Art. 14420 Art. 15228 Art. 71600
24 MINI Art. 1320 Art. 13220 Art. 14420 Art. 15228 Art. 71600
26 UNITED Art. 1320 Art. 13220 Art. 14420 Art. 15228 Art. 71600
27 KING KONG ----Art. 17101
B
C
D
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
A
A1 A2 A3
Push buon Clip unadjustable