Walkers, Canes, and Crutches

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Walkers, Canes, and Crutches

• Alayna George
• Julia Northrop

2
Walkers

• These are prescribed for people who need more
  support than canes (typically elderly)
• Less dangerous than crutches, require less upper
  body strength
• Can completely support only one lower limb, not
  the whole body weight

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Types of walkers

• Pick Up Walkers walker is picked up and moved
  after each step
• Harder to use because it requires strength and
  coordination
• Wheeled Walkers
• Less energy required
• 2, 3, 4 wheeled available to accommodate
  different needs

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Advantages to Wheeled Walkers

• Wheeled Walkers can be accessorized with
• Shelves, or baskets to carry groceries or
  personal items
• Seats for resting

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A Case Study

• 4 wheeled walkers improving lives in Sweden

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• Over the course of 3 years, 30 elderly Swedish
  women were followed
• The longer the women had the walkers, they fell
  less, even as the rest of their health declined
• The walkers allowed the women increased
  independence and mobility, helping keep their
  muscles and bones stronger through use

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Basics of Canes

• Canes typically support 15-20 of body weight
• Canes can help with balance, and compensate for
  muscle weakness

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Types of Canes

• Basic cane

• Usually used for balance issue or leg injury

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Types of Canes

• Quad Cane

• Provides more support than basic cane
• Is more awkward than basic cane
• Allows greater freedom than walkers

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Cane Length

• The preferred measurement is from the ground to
  the wrist crease
• If this is not possible, measure from the floor
  to the greater trochanter

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Crutch Basics

• A crutch becomes necessary when a person cannot
  walk, or walks with extreme difficulty. Any
  person with leg or foot pain or injury, weak
  muscles, or an unstable gait may benefit from
  using a crutch or crutches.
• Crutches shift the force of upright movement from
  your legs to your upper body. You must have
  sufficient arm strength, balance, and
  coordination to use them effectively.
• For lower-limb injuries, crutches are useful to
  decrease discomfort, reduce recovery time, and
  assist walking.

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Types of Crutches

• Strutters Platform/tricep crutch
• Knee crutches
• Most Common
• Forearm crutches
• Axillary/underarm crutches

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Forearm Crutches

• Elbow should be flexed 15-30
• Cuff should be 1-1.5 inches below back of elbow

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Axillary Crutches

• Proper Use of Axillary Crutches
• if you are unable to link to this video please
  refer to the following slides

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Measure of Crutches

• Never rest your weight
• on your arm!

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Sit to Stand

• Place crutches on weak side
• use the other hand for support from the chair
• stand up
• bring one crutch to the other side
• place both crutches beneath your armpit
• Stand to sitting is just the reverse of sit to
  stand

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Walking

• Move both crutches forward together
• follow by weak leg
• then your strong leg
• Note when making 180 turns use three steps

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Up Stairs

• Get close to stair case
• step up with your strong/good leg first
• follow with crutches and weak leg

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Down stairs

• Get close to the stair case
• bring crutches down to next step first
• weak leg should immediately fallow
• strong/good leg should step down last