316 RLE (PRELIM)

• Rehabilitation is a health-oriented process that assists an ill person or a person with disability to achieve the greatest possible level of physical, mental, spiritual, social, and economic functioning.
• When using a cane to go up and down stairs, it is helpful to remember “Up with the good and down with the bad”.
• Bring your injured or weak leg and cane together up to the same step.
• Keep your leg and cane in line with each other.
• Nursing considerations in rehabilitation include physical, psychological, coordination, safety, and resources.
• Assistive devices, also known as “Mechanical Aids”, are any item of equipment or product system that is used to improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
• A Walker is a mobility aid used to maintain balance, provide additional support because of wide area of contact with floor, and allow for some ambulatory independence.
• The height of the patient arm on the walker hand grip should be 20 – 30 degrees flexion at elbows.
• Use sturdy, well-fitted shoes when using a Walker.
• Proper use of a Walker involves handgrips being about wrist high when your arm is hanging at your side.
• When getting up with a Walker, place both hands on the armrest of the chair and use your arm to push yourself to standing before grabbing the walker.
• Set down on the chair.
• Reach both hands back and grab the armrest of the chair before sitting carefully.
• Walk with Walker with weight-bearing and partial weight-bearing.
• Lift the bad foot off to the ground and move the walker forward when going up stairs.
• Turn the walker sideways so the front of the walker is beside your leg when going up or down stairs.
• Put your hand on the handle of the walker closest to the stairs when going up or down stairs.
• Put the first two legs of the walker on the first step when going up or down stairs.
• Move your strong leg onto the first step and lift your injured leg to the same step when going up stairs.
• Going downstairs involves turning the walker sideways so the front of the walker is beside your leg, putting your hand on the handle of the walker furthest from the stairs, putting the first two legs of the walker on the first step, moving your injured foot onto the first step, lowering your good foot down to the same step, and repeating going down each step, starting with the walker, weak leg, then strong leg.
• Types of crutches include Underarm/ axillary crutch, Loftrand crutch, and PlatformJ.A.K.E Assistive Devices.
• Going down a curb involves walking up to the edge of the curb, putting all four legs of the walker on the ground below, stepping down with your weak foot, then your strong foot.
• The height of crutches can be adjusted according to the patient’s height.
• Safety tips for using crutches include making sure the crutches have padding at the top of the crutch at the handle and on the bottom tip that are in good condition, knowing how much weight you’re allowed to put through your injured leg, making sure any nuts are tight before using the crutches, wearing good supportive shoes or bare feet rather than loose slip on footwear, avoiding wet surfaces, removing any rugs that are easily moved to prevent slipping, adjusting the height of the crutches in standing, and placing the tip of the crutches about 10 cm or 6 inches out from the side of your toes