Richard (RJ) Hetherington
Co-founder & CEO
Engineering, UPEI. Team lead on 7 engineering projects and alumnus of 6 startup accelerators.
LinkedInThe first hands‑free crutch for knee injuries.
LimbRise lets people recovering from knee-and-below injuries move, work, and live with both hands free.
Product video goes here
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Crutches haven't changed since Ancient Egypt.
Every year, 20 million North Americans injure their leg, and most end up on crutches that tie up both hands, cause secondary injuries, and slow them down. Nearly half give up on them entirely.
47%abandon their rehab protocol due to crutches
33%experience a secondary injury
2.4×slower than walking
Knee injuries have no hands-free option.
Hands-free crutches already exist, but only for foot and ankle injuries. Anyone with a knee injury is left on conventional crutches.
InjuryHands-free option
Foot & ankle
Available
Knee
None, until LimbRise
How LimbRise works
-
Step 1
Wear
Straps securely to the lower leg and thigh. Adjustable across a target fit range.
-
Step 2
Load
Redirects the load into your sitting bone, away from the injured limb.
-
Step 3
Move
Move with both hands free. Stabilize your core like a yoga ball.
-
Step 4
Recover
Maintain your daily life, without the setbacks that slow down recovery.
Designed with 5 surgeons, 6 physiotherapists, and 4 biomechanists.
Where we are
- FiledPCT patent filedUSA, Canada, Europe, Japan
- OngoingBench testingWith Dr. Chris McGibbon, UNB
- AcceptedPulse Biomed HubIncubator
NowBench testing and design optimization
2027Clinical pilots
2028US launch
Recognition
- Canadian Engineering Nationals2026 winners for Most Innovative Design out of 55 engineering schools.Winner
- Enactus Canada Early-Stage Summer Sprint National Final2026 winners out of 65 ventures from 27 post-secondary schools.Winner
- Hult Prize Canada National Final2026 national finalist.Finalist
Featured on CBC News
This hands-free crutch gives people with knee injuries a new way to move around
Watch the storyTeam
Noor Mazhar
Co-founder & CTO
Engineering, UPEI. Research project manager under Dr. McGibbon; has led teams of up to 16.
LinkedInAdvisors
Dr. Chris McGibbon
Clinical
146 publications in rehabilitation and mobility.
Dr. Chris Barden
Regulatory & IP
80+ issued patents.
Dr. Chris Cowper-Smith
Commercial
Two-time medical device founder.
Atharve Vashishta
Product
Built the world's lightest jetpack.
Let's talk.
Investors, clinicians, and partners: we'd like to hear from you.