#freedomofmovement

«People notice when the blonde walks in», jokes Sandra Laube. «Over the last four years, I've been through hell. But as destroyed as I am, I have to move on now», she sums up.

It means freedom, quality of life, independence and flexibility. Driving opens up new perspectives, both professionally and privately.

A great honour for Orthotec: Switzerland's national communication agency has chosen our OT FOXX racing wheelchair as a prime example of Swiss innovative strength.

Together with the Sauber Group and other Swiss technology partners, Orthotec has developed the OT FOXX racing wheelchairs. Elite athletes Marcel Hug and Patricia Eachus were the first to use them.

Switzerland's first mountain guide has been in a wheelchair since an accident. After almost 30 years, Nicole Niquille has returned to the summit of a four-thousander thanks to the muscle strength of experienced alpinists and a special Orthotec sledge.

«I learnt how to make usable aids out of scrap and the few materials I’d brought with me.»  – Antje Giger

Marcel Hug pulls away from everyone else in his new Orthotec OT FOXX racing wheelchair. He is in top form and wins four gold medals at the Paralympics in Tokyo and conquers new world and track records again and again. Wow!

«The best possible starting point you can have as an athlete is to be in the best possible piece of equipment. Wheelchair racing is such a huge part of my life, of my career. To have that attention to detail, that much investment and level of commitment from the team makes all the difference.»

Madison De Rozario

«I believe that wheelchair racing is prestigious. You need people to be convinced by it and athletes to really believe in it. And that's how it takes off.»

Tatyana McFadden

«Accessibility in public spaces is extremely important for me. I love the promenade lift, the proximity to the station, bus, cinema and theatre. It all increases my radius of action and thus enhances my life.»

Gabriela Pozzi

«My orthopaedic technician is persistent and extremely creative in how they look for new ways to try out unusual things, too. We often work on something for a long time to find the perfect setting. To enable things to work smoothly without causing pain.»

Marie-Sophie Mouget

«Tetraplegia gave me the space to question many issues in my life.» Matthias tells us what matters most to him today. In the short film, he whisks us away to the city of Zurich and to the beautiful scenery of the Napf region.

Driving a large bus with just the smallest of hand movements is possible! The technology is called Joysteer. It allows people with tetraplegia to drive and has also enabled Monika to get around despite her muscular disease.

Cisi Arpagaus, who has paraplegia, masters his first practice drive since his skiing accident with flying colours

«For me, mobility means great freedom in day-to-day life. With the newly adapted car, I can get to places I couldn’t get to before. Whether to meet friends or to work wherever I want.»

Joel Jung

“Flying is fabulous, but falling over isn’t. For a long time, falls were part of my day-to-day life. My right thigh muscle is completely non-functional. I’d tried out various upper leg orthoses before we discovered the C-Brace system. It was only the second electronic leg orthosis of this kind to be fitted in Switzerland. With it I can finally walk, stand and even climb stairs step-over-step safely. The Orthotec team of prosthesists are delighted with me.”

Rolf Bader

Which technological developments make life easier for wheelchair users? This is a question we consider every day at Orthotec. We look out for innovations, find out what suits the person, and obtain payment guarantees.

It has to be mobile and fast. However, it also has to provide me with good support and keep me upright, because of my scoliosis. That's why I have two wheelchairs for my day-to-day life. One for when I’m out and about and one for at home.

“Our mission is about so much more than setting records for the fastest speed. We want to promote the freedom of movement.”

Using a wheelchair puts great strain on the shoulders. A team of experts from Orthotec, ETH Zurich and Swiss Paraplegic Research has taken on the challenge of optimising the seating position in a wheelchair and is developing an ergometer with great potential.

The hand bike tour of westernThe Handbike Tour 2024 visited the cantons of Graubünden, Ticino and Vaud and arrived at its destination in Valais without a care in the world. Orthotec provided a technical tour service for participants.

Powder snow and icy surfaces are definitely not wheelchair-friendly. However, there are aids that allow reasonable freedom of movement in winter, too.

When the lights go out at the end of the working day at Orthotec, special things may happen in the Christmas period. In other words: reflective can also be loud, can't it?

Hope is an enormous source of strength when a person has to find a new direction or overcome limitations. On the Nottwil Campus, there are ten freely accessible Beacons of Hope with stories that give you courage. Come with us on a guided tour either in person or online.

“I was constantly looking for reasons not to buy the car. It’s not an everyday car. The orange Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with 717 HP is a luxury object. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was told that I’d never be able to sit in a normal car independently again. I tried it out. And when, to my great surprise, I could actually get in and the vehicle adaptation expert also assured me that there would be space for the adaptations I required for my tetraplegia, there were no more counterarguments. I love the sound of the engine, the power and the freedom to determine where I want to go.”

Daniel Bachmann

“I’m enjoying life. I’ve always been a travel freak. And it's been no different since my motorbike accident. I have tetraplegia and steer my electric wheelchair with my left hand. Although many things take longer than they used to, once I have an idea in my head, I do everything I can to achieve it. I’m lucky enough to be able to count on amazing people around me. Heavy metal music is my passion. And my favourite way to listen to it is live in the middle of the crowd.”

Vera Müller

“After my lower leg amputation, the pain finally went away. And my desire to move awakened. My fascination with track sports started when I first rode my racing bike on the indoor track in Grenchen. My main event is short-distance sprints. And shocking pink is my trademark – from my shirt to my carbon cycling prosthesis.”

Pädi Ifanger

“To travel across the Sahara – my dream came true. I returned happy and healthy from my charity rally in West Africa. A massive adventure, with wonderful encounters. We were on the move for 21 days, drove 7000 kilometres through snowstorms and the dazzling desert sun to Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. We transported my old VW Passat and two of my worn out but freshly renovated wheelchairs to our destination. The local charity and the two boys (see photo) were absolutely delighted with the gift.”

Urs Lussmann

“It makes me happy when I manage to get an idea down on paper. And it makes me even happier if it moves other people. I used to work as a painter on building sites – until I had my accident. I’ve had tetraplegia ever since. After professional reorientation, I studied visual communications at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Art, School of Design and Art. Now I work as a freelance illustrator. I draw with my left hand directly from my shoulder. My drawing strokes have something immediate and spontaneous about them, which is also due to my limitation.”

Roland Burkart

“Made it! After 1 ½ years, I’m finally allowed out on the road on my own.

The accelerator pedal is on the left instead of the right – and there is a special rotary knob on the steering wheel. Thanks to these adaptations and the special driving school car, I was able to take driving lessons despite my right-sided cerebral palsy. And now I can drive my own adapted blue speedster over the hills – that makes me so happy and gives me such freedom!”

Marina Müller