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Assistive Devices

Cane, walkers, and crutches are mobility devices that provide varying levels of support. Canes are lightweight and adjustable in length, while walkers provide more support than canes. There are different types of walkers including standard, four-wheeled, and two-wheeled walkers. Crutches come in underarm, loftstrand, and platform styles. Proper fitting and gait training are important for safe ambulation with these devices.

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John Paolo Alad
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114 views34 pages

Assistive Devices

Cane, walkers, and crutches are mobility devices that provide varying levels of support. Canes are lightweight and adjustable in length, while walkers provide more support than canes. There are different types of walkers including standard, four-wheeled, and two-wheeled walkers. Crutches come in underarm, loftstrand, and platform styles. Proper fitting and gait training are important for safe ambulation with these devices.

Uploaded by

John Paolo Alad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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JOHN PAOLO ALAD

Cane
•Lightweight,
easily movable,
and made of
either wood or
metal.
Two types of Cane
▫Standard straight legged
cane
 used to support and
balance a patient with
decreased leg strength.
Two types of Cane
▫ Quad cane
 has 4 feet and provides the most support
 Standard cane is 91 cm (36 in.) in length
 Can be adjusted from 56 to 97 cm (22-38
in.)
 The length should permit the elbow to
be slightly flexed.
 Patients may use either one or two
canes, depending on how much they
need.
Using the cane
▫Hold the cane with the hand on the
stronger side of the body to provide
maximum support and adequate/
appropriate body alignment
3- point gait (for maximum support)
▫ Move the cane forward about forward 30cm while the
body weight is borne by two legs.
▫ Move the affected (weak) leg forward towards the cane
(weight is borne by the cane and stronger leg)
▫ Then move the stronger leg forward ahead of the cane
and the weak leg (weight is borne by the cane and
weak leg)
▫ Repeat the steps. This gait provides 2 point of support
on the floor at all times
2- point gait (for less support)
▫Move the cane and weak leg forward
simultaneously (weight is borne by the
stronger leg)
▫Move the stronger leg forward (weight is
borne by the weak leg and cane)

Moving up and down the stairs


▫Step up on the unaffected extremity
Walkers
Mechanical devices for ambulatory
clients who need support than a cane
provides
Comes in many shapes and sizes which
should be suited to individual needs
Standard walker
▫Made of polish aluminum
and has four legs with
rubber tips and plastic
hand grips.
▫Requires partial strength
in hands and wrists, strong
elbow extensors and
strong shoulder
Four wheeled walkers (roller walkers)
▫ Less stable than
standard
▫ Used by clients who are
too weak or unstable
▫ Move the walker with
each step
▫ Some walkers have seats
Two wheeled walkers
▫Provides more stability
yet it permits the client
to keep the walker in
contact with the
ground at all times.
▫Walker is pushed
forward.
Weight bearing/3 point gait

▫Move the walker forward about 15 cm


▫Next, move the right foot up to the walker
▫Move the left foot towards the right foot.
2 point gait/ non-weight bearing

▫Move the walker and the weak leg


forward simultaneously about 15 cm
▫Next move the stronger leg forward while
the weight is borne by the affected leg and
both arms.
KINDS OF CRUTCHES
•UNDERARM OR
AXILLARY CRUTCH
▫WITH HAND BARS-
MOST FREQUENTLY
USED.
KINDS OF CRUTCHES
•LOFTSTAND
CRUTCH
▫ALSO
FREQUENTLY
USED
▫EXTENDS ONLY
TO THE
FOREARM
KINDS OF CRUTCHES
•PLATFORM OR
ELBOW CRUTCH
▫HAS CUFF FOR
THE FOREARM
F.Y.I FOR CRUTCHES
•SUCTION TIPS (RUBBER)
•WEIGHT TO BE BORNE BY THE CLIENT’S
MUSCLE OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE
AND UPPER EXTREMITIES (EXERCISE IS
NEEDED)
•WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE BORNE BY
THE ARMPITS (INJURY RADIAL NERVE→
CRUTCH PALSY)
CRUTCH MEASUREMENT
•CRUTCH LENGTH
▫CLIENT LIES SUPINE→MEASURE FROM
THE ANTERIOR FOLD OF THE
AXILLA→HEEL OF THE FOOT +2.5 CM (1
INCH)
HAND BAR PLACEMENT
•CLIENT STANDS ERECT→SUPPORT
WEIGHT IN HAND BAR→MEASURE
THE ANGLE OF ELBOW FLEXION
(SHOULD BE 30 DEGREES)
Crutch Stance (Tripod Position)
•The crutches are placed 15 cm(6inches) in front
the feet and 15cm out laterally (creates a wide
base support)
•The feet are slightly apart
•Extended hips and knees; straight back; head is
held straight and high; and adequate elbows
extension to allow weight bearing on hands
•If patient is unsteady, place a walking belt and
hold it from above
Tripod Position
CRUTCH GAITS
•INDIVIDUAL’S ABILITY TO TAKE
STEPS
•TO BEAR WEIGHT AND KEEP
BALANCE ON STANDING POSITION
ON OR ONLY LEG, AND THE ABILITY
TO HOLD THE BODY
TYPES OF CRUTCH GAITS
• 4-POINT ALTERNATE GAIT
• 3 POINT ALTERNATE GAIT
• 2 POINT ALTERNATE GAIT
• SWING-TO-GAIT
• SWING-THROUGH-GAIT
• GETTING INTO A CHAIR
• GETTING OUT OF A CHAIR
• GOING UP THE STAIRS
• GOING DOWN THE STAIRS
4 POINT GAIT
•SAFEST AND MOST ELEMENTARY GAIT
•REQUIRES COORDINATION
•CAN’T BE USED IN WALKING IN CROWDS→
REQUIRES SPACE
•CLIENT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BARE WEIGHT
ON BOTH LEGS
•TRIPOD POSITION→ADVANCE RIGHT
CRUTCH→LEFT FOOT→LEFT
CRUTCH→RIGHT FOOT
3 POINT GAIT
•CLIENT MUST BE ABLE TO BEAR ENTIRE
WEIGHT ON UNAFFECTED LEG
•TWO CRUTCHES AND UNAFFECTED LEG
BEARS WEIGHT ALTERNATELY
•TRIPOD→BOTH CRUTCHES+AFFECTED
LEG→UNAFFECTED LEG
2 POINT GAIT
•FASTER THAN 4 POINT GAIT BUT
REQUIRES MORE BALANCE
•REQUIRES LEAST PARTIAL WEIGHT
BEARING ON EACH FOOT
•TRIPOD→LEFT CRUTCH + RIGHT
FOOT→RIGHT CRUTCH + LEFT FOOT
SWING-TO GAIT
•USED BY CLIENTS WITH LEG AND HIP
PARALYSIS
•PROLONGED USED OF THIS
GAIT→ATROPHY OF UNUSED MUSCLE
•TRIPOD→BOTH CRUTCHES→ LIFT BODY
WEIGHT BY THE ARMS→ SWING TO THE
CRUTCHES
SWING THROUGH POINT GAIT
•TRIPOD→BOTH CRUTCHES→ LIFT
BODY WEIGHT BY THE ARMS→
SWING THROUGH THE CRUTCHES
GETTING INTO A CHAIR
• Chair should have armrest and braced against a wall
• STAND WITH THE BACK OF THE UNAFFECTED
LEG CENTERED AGAINST CHAIR (helps support
the client)→TRANSFER CRUTCHES TO THE
AFFECTED HAND(hold by hand bars)→
UNAFFECTED ARM GRASP THE ARMREST→
UNAFFECTED ARM AND LEG SUPPORT
WEIGHT→LEAN FORWARD→FLEX KNEES AND
HIPS→LOWER INTO THE CHAIR
GETTING OUT OF A CHAIR
•MOVE FORWARD TO THE EDGE OF A
CHAIR→PLACE UNAFFECTED LEG
SLIGHTLY UNDER OR AT THE EDGE
OF A CHAIR (Helps patient to stand and
achieve balance)→ TRIPOD POSITION
GOING UP THE STAIRS
• CAREGIVER STANDS BEHIND THE PATIENT AND
SLIGHTLY ON THE AFFECTED SIDE
• TRIPOD AT BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS→ TRANSFER
BODY WEIGHT TO THE CRUTCHES→ MOVE
UNAFFECTED LEG UP UNTO THE STEP→TRANSFER
BODY WEIGHT ON UNAFFECTED LEG + MOVE
CRUTCHES AND AFFECTED LEG UP (AFFECTED LEG
SUPPORTED BY CRUTCHES
• ALWAYS REMEMBER GOOD LEG GOES TO HEAVEN,
BAD LEG GOES TO HELL
GOING DOWN THE STAIRS
•CAREGIVER STANDS ONE STEP BELOW
THE CLIENT, ON THE AFFECTED SIDE.
•TRIPOD POSITION AT TOP OF STAIRS→
SHIFT BODY WEIGHT TO UNAFFECTED
LEG+ MOVE CRUTCHES AFFECTED LEG
DOWN ONTO NEXT STEP→TRANSFER
WEIGHT TO CRUTCHES + MOVE
UNAFFECTED TO NEXT STEP

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