Week 11- Assistive Devices; Types and Safety, Gait Patterns, Wheelchair Components and Measurements Flashcards
ASSISTIVE DEVICES: TYPES AND SAFETY
ASSISTIVE DEVICES: TYPES AND SAFETY
What are the 5 weight bearing status descriptors?
FWB (full weight bearing)
-All weight put on limb
WBAT (weight bearing as tolerated)
-“Allowed” to put full weight, may not due to pain
PWB (partial weight bearing)
-Some weight put on limb, in form of %
TDWB/TTWB (touch down/ toe touch weight bearing)
-little or no weight, foot or toes more so for balance
NWB (non weight bearing)
-No weight put through limb
Who determines weight bearing status?
Ultimately the medical doctor overseeing their care.
What things are important for guarding during gait training?
- Determine if 1 or 2 to guard.
- Stand behind and slightly to one side of pt.
- Note assist level.
- Keep BOS wide yet feet out of the way.
- Move in step with the pt.
If there is a unilateral dysfunction with an assistive device, do we want to stand on the same side or opposite of the assistive device?
Opposite
What 3 things should we be aware of when using assistive devices?
- Patient concentration
- Fatigue
- Methods of instruction
With Guarding:
- Always use a gait belt properly when necessary.
- Do not interfere with individual’s __________.
- Stay _____.
- Constantly __-_______.
- __________
- Be observant.
- Do not leave a patient _________ in standing.
- Manage all other appliances connected to patient.
- movement
- alert
- re-evaluate
- anticipate
- unattended
Precautions to gait training:
- Appropriate _________
- Safe walking _________
- Clear _________
- Place to ____ if needed
- Appropriate footwear
- Safe walking surface
- Clear pathway
- Place to sit if needed
What responses to activity should we be on the lookout for when walking?
- vitals
- S/Sx
- fatigue, SOB
Should we use clothing to guard?
NO!
If a patient has a loss of balance, what should we do?
- Stop the fall early
- React quickly and determinedly
If the patient can not recover balance, what should the PT do?
Lower patient slowly to the floor, protect head and neck.
What are the 4 levels of assistance (before a patient requires help) and their description?
Independent
-Completes task without assistance or device.
Modified Independence
-Completes task without assistance but uses some sort of device.
Supervision
-No physical assistance needed, requires cueing (due to safety, cognition, etc.)
Contact Guard (CTG or CG)
-No physical assistance needed, but hands are on the individual “just in case” or for manual cues.
What are the 4 levels that require a PT to help and their description?
Minimal Assist (min A) -Individual performs more than 75% effort Moderate Assist (mod A) -Individual performs 25%-74% effort Maximal Assist (max A) -Individual performs <25% effort Total Assist or Dependent -Individual performs 0% (unconscious, spinal cord injury, etc.)
- Minimal assist (min A) = pt performs more than __% effort.
- Moderate assist (mod A) = pt performs __% - __% effort.
- Maximal assist (max A) = pt performs
- 75%
- 25%-74%
- 25%
- 0%
What are some indications for using assistive devices?
- Correct gait deviation
- Pain
- Limited weight bearing
- Balance issues
- Promote or assist with healing
- Sensory or coordination impairment
- Structural deformity
- Muscle weakness or paralysis
- Fear?
What are the biomechanical effects of assistive devices (ADs)?
- Increases BOS
- Redistributes weight
- Provides larger “cone of stability” where the CoG can shift without loss of balance.
- Provides a redistribution of support within the wider BOS.
What are some common types of ADs?
- Parallel bars
- Walkers
- Crutches (axillary or forearm)
- Canes
- Knee walker; iwalk
What are the 3 main things that contribute to the selection of an assistive device?
- Weight bearing status
- Strength
- ROM (both UE and LE)
- If NWB, TTWB, or PWB, a __________ device is required.
- Only WBAT or FWB can use a ___________ device.
- two-handed device
- one-handed device
Why are we concerned about ROM and strength for ambulating with assistive devices?
- Do they have the ROM to even use the device.
- Strength to take weight off LE as needed.
What other factors go into the selection of an assistive device?
- Medical status (endurance, IV?, oxygen)
- Balance
- Cognitive status
- Overall mobility
- Home environment
Preperation for Gait Training:
- Review patient’s __________ to determine safety of ambulation and weight bearing status
- Evaluate patient’s strength, ROM, sensation/proprioception, balance, transfers, etc.
- Determine appropriate equipment, level of assistance and gait pattern based on your assessment
- Prepare the ___________.
- Use gait belt when ___________.
- Guard or assist patient using appropriate points of control.
- Maintain proper ____________ for yourself and patient.
- Adjust ambulation aid to ensure proper fit.
- Be flexible and open to trying other devices.
- medical record
- environment
- necessary
- body mechanics
What are a few pre-ambulation devices?
- Parallel bars
- Tilt table