walking and mobility aids Flashcards

1
Q
A
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2
Q

what are the purposes of using a walking aid?

A
  • pain relief
  • relief of WB from the affected leg
  • assist with balance
  • provides support in case of weakness
  • psychological support
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3
Q

what does the type of walking aid depend on?

A
  • age of patient
  • disability?
  • physical status
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4
Q

describe the basic walking frame (with the 4 legs) -** how does patient use it** and what are the advantages?

A
  • **large amount of support and very stable **
  • patient** lifts frame forwards,** transfers weight onto frame, takes 2 steps up to the frame - bad leg first, good leg second
  • all 4 points of the frame must be on the ground at the same time before taking a step
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5
Q

what are examples of other type of walking frames, apart from the basic one?

A
  • wheeled walking frame
  • foldable frame
  • forearm walker
  • reciprocal walking aid
  • walkers
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6
Q

what are the important considerations for walking frames?

A
  • adjustable height
  • correct height
  • weight of patient
  • diameter of walking frame - is it suitable for home?
  • weight bearing status - is the patient NWB or PWB?
  • safety / balance
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7
Q

how do you measure the correct height of the walking frame for a patient?

A
  • measure from the ulnar styloid to the ground with the patient standing erect, shoulders relaxed with elbows flexed 15-20 degrees
  • when standing, the patient elbows should be slightly bent
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8
Q

what are the 3 types of crutches?

A
  • axillary (underarm)
  • elbow
  • forearm bearing
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9
Q

what weight bearing status are axillary crutches used for?

A

NWB gait

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10
Q

how does a patient use axillary crutches?

A
  • the crutches rest against the axillary wall
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11
Q

what is the risk of using axillary crutches?

A
  • there may be a risk of neurovascular damage - ie to the axillary nerve
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12
Q

what weight bearing status are elbow crutches used for?

A
  • both NWB and PWB
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13
Q

under what circumstance are elbow crutches unsuitable?

A
  • unsuitable for patient if they have restricted elbow and wrist ROM
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14
Q

what are the advantages of elbow crutches?

A
  • easily adapted
  • lightweight
  • handgrip variation
  • height is adjustable
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15
Q

in what situation would a patient use a forearm/gutter crutch?

A
  • if the patient is unable to use a normal handgrip
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16
Q
A
17
Q

what are the advantages of a knee walker / scooter?

A
  • dont have to carry around crutches etc
  • provide patients with freedom of movement if they have problems with foot ankle etc
18
Q

what weight bearing status are walking sticks used for?

A
  • PWB
19
Q

compare a** tripod vs a quadripod** walking aid

A
  • tripod - 3 point base, good stability, good base of support
  • quadripod- 4 point base, good stability and base of support
20
Q

which gait pattern is good to start with for a patient?

A

3 point - if they are able - then can adjust gait pattern

20
Q

what are the different** gait patterns**?

A
  • two point - contralateral or ipsilateral
  • three point
  • four point
  • reciprocal two point
21
Q

what is a contralateral two point gait with 1 stick/crutch?

example - left leg is bad leg

A
  • stick / crutch is in right hand and bad leg is left leg
  • left leg and stick in right hand move at the same time
  • then good leg is moved
22
Q

what is an **ipsilateral 2 point gait **with one stick?

example - bad leg is left leg

A
  • crutch or stick in left hand and bad leg is left leg
  • bad leg and crutch/stick move at the same time - both on same side
  • then move good leg
23
Q

what does a 3 point gait involve?

NB - 2 cructhes for this pattern

A
  • 2 crutches
  • crutches first, then bad leg, then good leg
  • good to start with this pattern - eg first day after op
24
Q

what is the 4 point gait pattern?

A
  • right crutch forward followed by left leg
  • left crutch forward followed by right leg
  • slower speed
  • normal gait pattern
  • pre FWB stage
25
Q

what is the** reciprocal 2 point gait**?

A
  • 2 crutches
  • right leg and left crutch stick together
  • followed by left leg and right stick together
26
Q

what is ‘swing to gait’?

A
  • both crutches are put down first
  • then weight is transfered to crutches
  • limbs lifted and swung forward to the crutches
27
Q

what is the ‘swing through gait’?

A
  • crutches are put forward
  • lower limb lifted
  • limbs swing forward** past the crutches **
28
Q

how do you go up the stairs with crutches?

A
  • unaffected leg first
  • affected leg
  • crutches
  • NB - 1 crutch and hold hand rail
29
Q

how do you go down the stairs with crutches?

A
  • crutch first
  • affected leg next
  • then unaffected leg
29
Q

what is an orthotic?

A
  • a device that is applied directly and externally to the patients body
  • aims to support, correct or compensate for an anatomical deformity or weakness eg muscular dystrophy, polio
  • prevents the unwanted motion or replaces the action of weak or dysfunctional muscles
30
Q

what are examples of orthoses?

A
  • foot orthoses
  • AFO- ankle foot orthoses - controlling mvt of ankle
    * KAFO - knee ankle foot orthoses- controlling mvt of ankle and knee
31
Q

what is a foot orthosis?

A

a functional foot orthosis is a device that is contoured to the entire foot and used to reduce abnormal motion or** abnormal position of the foot **

32
Q

what is an AFO - ankle foot orthosis?

A
  • device used to support the foot in a** stable and neutral position **
  • also** provides stability to the ankle**
  • used for neurological patients eg MS and spastic paralysis (damage to upper motor neurons) eg head injury or cerebrovascular accident (eg stroke)
33
Q

what is a KAFO - knee ankle foot orthosis?

A
  • used to treat symptoms due to spina bifida, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, neuromuscular dystrophy
  • reduces stress on leg, stabilises knee and limits knee mvt
34
Q

what is a HKAFO used for? - hip, knee, ankle, foot orthosis?

A

commonly used to treat symptoms due to spina bifida, paraplegia, neuromuscular dystrophy etc

35
Q

what is a supportive knee orthosis used for?

A
  • **relief of pain **
  • **stability **in arthritis
  • sports bracing for ligamentous damage
  • **post operative **- limits movement and provides stability