Assitive Device Flashcards
Indications of Ambulation Aids
-Impaired balance
-Decrease strength
-Incoordination
-Pain during weight bearing
-Absence of lower extremity
-Altered stability
Advantages of Ambulation Aids
-Improve functional mobility
-Enhance body functions
-Assist with fracture healing
General purpose
-for safety and training of assistive device to use
Activities to improve in Ambulation Activities
-muscle strength
-improve cardiopulmonary function
-improve endurance
-improve sitting and standing balance
Most Unstable device for ambulation activity
-Single cane
Most stable device for ambulation activity
-Parallel bars
Not an assistive device but used to acclimate patients in a an erect posture
-Tilt table
Factors that may affect choice of assistive device
-Cognitive judgement
-Function
-Vestibular function
-Vision
-Physical endurance
-Upper body strength
-Living environment
Used when the patient requires maximal stability, support, and safety.
-Parallel Bars
Widen base of support, provide increased lateral and anterior stability, can reduce weight bearing on one or both lower extremities
-Walkers
Types of Walkers
-Standard (adjustable, non-adjustable)
-Reciprocal
-Wheeled
-Folding
-One-handed (hemiplegic)
A type of walker that facilitate mobility in the community, cars
-Folding/Collapsible Walker
A type of walker that facilitates walking as a continuous movement sequence, speed increase is allowed
-Rolling/Wheeled Walker
A type of walker that has two posterior extensions and additional handgrips off the rear legs for use on stairs.
-Stair-Climbing Walker
A type of walker that’s hinged, allow advancement of one side of walker at a time; used with reciprocal gait patterns, reciprocating orthoses.
-Reciprocal Walker
A type of walker that is modified for use with one hand only.
-Hemi Walker
Disadvantages of a Walker
-Difficult to store or transport
-Difficult to use on stairs
-Reduces the speed of ambulation
-Difficult to perform a normal gait pattern
-Difficult to use in narrow or crowded areas.
This device is used to Improves balance & lateral stability
-Crutches
Five types of crutches
-Forearm attachment ( platform attachment)
-Adjustable aluminium
-Triceps
-Offset adjustable forearm
-Forearm adjustable (Loftstrand or Canadian crutches)
Device used for persons who need less stability or support than is provided by parallel bars or a walker.
-Axillary Crutch/es
What nerve will be impinged in prolonged used of axillary crutch?
-Axillary Artery, Radial Nerve
Device used to provide slightly less stability but increased ease of movement
-Forearm (Lofstrand) Crutch/es
Device used for patients who are unable to bear weight through their hands; e.g., patients with arthritis
-Forearm Platform Crutches
Disadvantages of Axillary Crutches
-Less stable than a walker
-Can cause injury to axillary vessels and nerves if used improperly
-They require good standing balance
-Elderly patients may feel insecure with crutches
-Functional strength of the upper extremities and trunk muscles is required.
