1. Ambulation Assistive Devices
Gabriela E Sousa

2. Ambulation Aids
Designed to help increase the base of support during ambulation and standing
Decreases pain
Decreases weight bearing (WB) on limbs involved
Compensates for patients lacking in balance, endurance, and coordination

3. Rolling Walker (RW) Provides maximum stability
Use for all ambulation except stairs
Two handles
Front two legs with wheel to facilitate ambulation
Flat plastic capsules or tennis balls can be placed on back legs to decrease friction on carpet
Handles should be level with hips
elbows should be bent degrees
Ambulation procedure:
Push walker forward first
NEVER lift walker off the ground
Step with operated leg first, than un-operated leg
Patient’s feet should land aligned with RW back legs for maximum stability

4. Crutches Crutches used for stairs only unless patient refuses RW
Does not provide as much stability as RW but able to bear body weight
Height should be set so crutches rest three inches below armpit
Handles should be set so elbow is between degrees of flexion
Place crutch on side opposite railing when going up/down stairs
Crutches on stairs with one railing
Up: step up with operated leg first and then follow with crutch and un-operated leg, one step at a time
Down: crutch comes down first, followed by un-operated leg, and then the operated leg

5. Canes Quad Canes Provides more stability than cane
Designed to help with balance by providing wider base of support but not for weight bearing
Better for patients with poor strength in upper extremities
Follow same procedure as crutches for ambulation on stairs
Most portable
Quad Canes
Provides more stability than cane
Does not provide as much stability as RW
Has one handle and four legs

6. Hemi-walker For patients limited to only one upper extremity
Difficult to use on stairs
Ambulation procedure similar to RW
Move hemi-walker arm’s length forward
Step first with operated or “bad” leg into the hemi-walker
Step with un-operated or “good” leg even with the first step

7. Leg Lifter
For patients with a functional or strength deficit in the lower extremities
How to use:
Place end with loop around arch of foot
Keep legs extended
Use upper extremities to help lift the target lower extremity
Rotate trunk to help guide lower extremity to desired placement

8. Walker with a platform
Provides stability for patients limited that have only one functioning upper extremity
Platform height should be set so the limited extremity is in a 90 degree angle
Platform provides a support for affected limb during ambulation while allowing patient to put pressure through elbow of affected limb to ease ambulation

9. Works Cited