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Clinical skills > walking aids > Flashcards

walking aids Flashcards

1
Q

what are the four types of walking aids?

A
  • walking stick
  • axillary crutches
  • elbow crutches
  • zimmer frames
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2
Q

what are the three main reasons for prescribing walking aids?

A
  • reduces weightbearing
  • assists with balance & stability
  • allow mobility & function
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3
Q

what does walking aids allow? give an example

A
  • allows healing
    e.g., fractures
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4
Q

what do walking aids take off? what does it reduce?

A
  • takes pressure off joints e.g., osteoarthritis
  • reduces pain & swelling e.g., ankle sprain
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5
Q

what are the five most important considerations when choosing a walking aid?

A
  • weight- bearing status
  • functional requirements
  • upper limb function
  • ability
  • understanding
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6
Q

what are the three types of weightbearing?

A
  • full
  • partial
  • non
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7
Q

what is full weightbearing?

A
  • don’t need any weight off
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8
Q

what is partial weightbearing?

A
  • foot to floor but need some weight off
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9
Q

what is non- weightbearing?

A
  • sturdy aid for whole body weight
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10
Q

describe functional requirements as a consideration

A
  • stairs
  • can’t take a zimmer frame upstairs
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11
Q

describe upper limb function as a consideration

A
  • some walking aids are very strenuous
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12
Q

describe ability as a consideration

A
  • requires strength, endurance and balance
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13
Q

describe understanding as a consideration

A
  • axillary crutch is difficult to use
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14
Q

what is the indication of axillary crutches ?

A
  • non weight- bearing
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15
Q

what is the advantage of axillary crutches?

A

+ wieght- bearing ability

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16
Q

what are the disadvantages of axillary crutches?

A
  • require strength and balance
  • nerve damage if used incorrectly
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17
Q

how do you measure axillary crutches?

A
  • adjust height to 5cm below axillary fold/ armpit (2-3 fingers)
  • adjust handle so elbow slightly flexed (15 degrees)
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18
Q

how do you use axillary crutches? what do you weight bear through and why?

A
  • squeeze tops of crutches between arms and ribcage
  • weight- bear through handles, not armpits (can equate to radial nerve damage)
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19
Q

how do you use axillary crutches to walk?

A
  • swing to gait
  • swing through gait
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20
Q

what is swing to gait using axillary crutches?

A
  • crutches forwards
  • affected leg clear of ground and in front of body
  • sound leg swings to crutches
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21
Q

what is swing through gait with axillary crutches?

A
  • same as swing to gait but unaffected leg swings past crutches
    + quicker
  • less stable
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22
Q

when are elbow crutches indicated?

A
  • partial weight bearing
  • non- weight bearing with provisions
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23
Q

what are the advantages of elbow crutches?

A

+ less cumbersome than axillary crutches
+ easier to use

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24
Q

what is the disadvantage of elbow crutches?

A
  • can’t bear as much weight as axillaries
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25
Q

how do you measure elbow crutches?

A
  • with patient standing tall and arms hanging by side:
  • handles level with wrist crease
  • cuffs just below elbows
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26
Q

how do you walk with PWB using elbow crutches?

A
  • 3 point gait
  • crutches
  • affected leg
  • sound leg
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27
Q

how do you use elbow crutches for NWB?

A
  • crutches must be new
  • patient must be under 20-25 stone
28
Q

when are zimmer frames indicated?

A
  • non or partial weight bearing
  • patients requiring greater stability than crutches
29
Q

what is the disadvantage of a zimmer frame?

A
  • can be used on single steps but not stairs
30
Q

what are the four types of walking frames?

A
  • standard frame
  • rollator frame
  • gutter frame
31
Q

does the standard frame have wheels?

A
  • no wheels
32
Q

how many wheels do rollator frames have? what does this increase?

A
  • two or four wheels
  • increases grip
33
Q

what is the disadvantage of 4 wheeled frames?

A
  • doesn’t allow you to rest as it would start moving
34
Q

what do gutter frames have in comparison to other frames?

A
  • arm rest
35
Q

how do you measure zimmer frames?

A
  • handles should be level with wrists
36
Q

how do you walk using a zimmer frame?

A
  • 3 point gait
  • frame, affected leg, sound leg
37
Q

what is important to stay safe while using zimmer frame?

A
  • patient should stay within base of support/ frame
38
Q

when is a walking stick indicated?

A
  • impaired balance (1or 2 sticks)
39
Q

what does a walking stick allow? which hand do you hold it?

A
  • allows you to take some weight off of affected leg
  • hold in opposite hand so you lean away
40
Q

what is the disadvantage of walking sticks?

A
  • limited support
  • still nearly FWB
41
Q

how do you adjust a walking stick?

A
  • handle level with wrist crease
42
Q

what are the three types of gait using a walking stick ?

A
  • reciprocal
  • 2- point reciprocal gait
  • 4- point reciprocal gait
43
Q

what is reciprocal gait?

A
  • stick moves when affected leg moves
44
Q

what is 2- point reciprocal gait?

A
  • right stick moves with left leg
  • left stick moves with right leg
45
Q

what is 4- point reciprocal gait?

A
  • like 2- point gait but slower
  • right stick
  • left leg
  • left stick
  • right leg
46
Q

how should you never turn when using a walking aid? why?

A
  • never turn on the spot
  • would fall on the floor
47
Q

how do you turn with walking aids?

A
  • turn in 3 stages
48
Q

where should you keep crutches when turning and why?

A
  • keep crutches in front of body
  • maintains base of support
49
Q

how do you stand from sitting using crutches?

A
  • crutches held on affected side in H shape
  • affected leg extended out
  • push up using sound leg and hand on chair arm
50
Q

how do you sit from standing using crutches?

A
  • crutches held on affected side (arms out)
  • affected leg in front of body
  • use sound leg and hand on chair
  • affected leg glides forwards, no weight
51
Q

what should you ensure in stand to sit if NWB?

A
  • ensure they can feel chair at back of legs
52
Q

how do you stand using a zimmer frame safely?

A
  • patients shouldn’t hold onto frames during transfers
  • one hand on seat of chair
  • one hand on arm of chair
  • to make it easier, shuffle forwards towards the edge and lean body forwards
53
Q

how do you get to the chair using a zimmer frame?

A
  • 3 point turn
  • don’t sit down until chair is felt at back of legs and you can see the chair
54
Q

describe ascending stairs for partially weight bearing patients

A
  • put both crutches into one hand (T shape)
  • hold onto rail
  • sound leg up
  • then affected leg
  • then crutch
55
Q

how can you stimulate realistic settings during stair practice?

A
  • ask patient which side their banister is on at home
56
Q

describe descending stairs of partially weight bearing patients

A
  • put both crutches into one hand (T shape)
  • hold onto rail
  • crutch down first
  • then affected leg
  • then sound leg
57
Q

how do you get up the stairs when non weight bearing?

A
  • good leg
  • crutch
58
Q

how do you get down the stairs when non weight bearing?

A
  • crutch
  • good leg
59
Q

what are the two important things to check on walking aids before prescribing them?

A
  • check ferrule and condition of aid (no holes)
  • check weight limit of device
60
Q

what should you ensure and why?

A
  • ensure the button is popped out
  • otherwise it will collapse
61
Q

what should the model be in when prescribing walking aids?

A
  • appropriate footwear
  • don’t let patients wear socks
  • use of slippers
62
Q

what environmental factor should you check before giving walking aids out?

A
  • check the floor
  • floor should be dry
  • chance of slipping on wet floors
63
Q

where should you stand when patient uses walking aid?

A
  • always stand by patient’s side
  • closely supervised
64
Q

what must you correct?

A
  • correct model if they are using the aid incorrectly e.g., frame too far away from patient, stick in wrong hand
65
Q

how many people should be used for stairs?

A
  • 2 people should be used
    & when appropriate 2 people should be used
    e.g., 1st time walking

Clinical skills (13 decks)

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