8a

• patient can walk NWB on their right leg with elbow crutches following knee surgery. Ensuring the crutches are safe to use. Teach them how to go up and down stairs without a handrail - EC and STAIRS

  • safety check zimmer frame
  • get pts onto zimmer frame
  • safety check crutches
  • adjust crutches
  • sit pts down
  • stand pts up via crutches in H position
  • teach stairs
• ZIMMER FRAME SAFETY CHECK

  • safety checks are similar to the crutches
  • ferrules must have good grip on it and are securely on the legs
  • the poppers must be visible and are stable
  • the poppers must be at the same level on each leg
  • the shafts must maintain their integrity - shouldnt be any dents, as it may collapse if someone puts their weight on it
  • there should be a sticker saying its been confirmed for safety (same as crutches)
  • the handles mustnt have any cracks
• CRUTCHES SAFETY CHECK

  • shouldn't be able to move the ferrules at all
  • need to make sure theres no wear in the holes
  • the poppers should be able to come out
  • the handle shouldnt be able to move around
  • the handle pivot should be firm
  • no damage or loose bolts by the elbow cuff
• ZIMMER STS

  • first give a demonstration so pts can learn
  • check if frame has been set up to pts height
  • pts must be in suitable footwear and environment must be safe
  • get pts to shuffle to the edge/front of the chair
  • must sit to stand from the chair, using the chair, pushing down on it to stand up
  • only once theyve stood up should they hold onto the frame - IMPORTANT!!!!
  • to sit down make sure pts can feel the bed/chair behind them and at that point reach back and sit down
• CRUTCHES STS

  • put crutches on the same side as the injured leg in H position
  • also use the arms of the chair / sides of the bed to get into standing
  • transfer non injured side arm through the elbow cuff first, then put injured side through the cuff, then move non injured side to its normal side
  • to go back down move the non injured side to the same side as the injured side, take injured side arm out of cuff, then non injured side, look back and then place hand on chair, lowering yourself down
• CRUTCHES HEIGHT

  • the top of the handle should be in line with the styloid process (can also use the wrist crease) whilst the arm is relaxed by the side
  • patients taller than 5"11 require longer crutches
  • get pts to stand up using the arms of the chair and hold onto a Zimmer frame when measuring (only hold onto frame after standing up)
  • stand next to pts at all times
  • after arms are in crutches get pts to lean forwards with crutches and bring injured leg forward to make a triangular base of support
• patient can walk NWB on their right leg with elbow crutches following knee surgery. Ensuring the crutches are safe to use. Teach them how to go up and down stairs without a handrail - EC and STAIRS

  • the same as normal stairs but pts have to hop up with good leg and then bring crutches and injured leg (not placed on floor) onto same step
  • try to place crutches on the back of the step for extra stability and to help lean pts forward
  • on the way down the injured leg goes down with the crutches first (injured leg doesnt touch the floor), then place good leg onto same step
• patient can walk NWB on their right leg with elbow crutches following knee surgery. Ensuring the crutches are safe to use. Teach them how to go up and down stairs without a handrail - EC and STAIRS

  • STAND BEHDIND PT ON THE WAY UP
  • ON THE WAY DOWN TELL EXAMINER TO STAND BEHIND PT, YOU STAND IN FRONT
• patient can walk NWB on their right leg with elbow crutches following knee surgery. Ensuring the crutches are safe to use. Teach them how to go up and down stairs without a handrail - EC and STAIRS

  • TELL AND EXPLAIN TO PATIENT THAT THEYRE NON WEIGHTBEARING!!!!