5.6 Safety and precautionary measures when using a walker

Prior to ambulation using a walker, the following safety and precautions should be checked.


• The handgrips are attached sturdily and not move when pressure is applied.

weight) and finally moves the weight bearing lower limb towards the walker (to the

The user moves the walker forward to an arm's length distance. Then the user

The user moves the walker forward to an arm's length distance. Then the user

The user moves the walker forward to an arm's length distance. Then the user

Crutches are the most common prescribed ambulatory devices. They are used in pair. Crutches have two contacts with the body (hand and elbow or hand and axilla) which make it a better ambulatory device for stabilization of the user. They are types of orthosis that provide support from the floor to the upper limb. There are

Axillary crutch: this is also known as the standard crutch. It has the following components: axillary bar covered with an axillary pad, a hand grip, and double uprights vertical posts joined distally by a single vertical post (allow height adjustment) covered with a ferrule (Figure 8). The adjustment of the handgrip is performed by adjusting the handgrip in predrilled holes in the double upright bars using screws and wing bolts. The vertical posts and short horizontal bars are made of different materials such as wood, hard plastic, stainless steel, aluminum steel

Adjustment of height of the axillary crutch and the handgrip is standardized in an inch distance (2.54 cm). Adult axillary crutch range from 48 to 60 inches (122–153 cm). It is available in Pediatric, youth, adult and tall adult sizes

put the weight on the walker using the upper limbs and moves the affected/ involved (i.e., FWB) lower limb forward towards the walker (bearing total of body weight on the FWB lower limb) while moving the unaffected lower limb, i.e., the weight bearing lower limb towards the walker (to the same level as the FWB lower

two different types of crutches: axillary crutch and elbow crutch [16].

put the weight on the walker using the upper limbs and moves the affected/ involved (i.e., WBT) lower limb forward towards the walker, bearing body weight that the lower limb can tolerate on the WBT lower limb. The user finally moves the weight bearing lower limb towards the walker (to the same level as the WBT

put the weight on the walker using the upper limbs and moves the affected/ involved (i.e., PWB) lower limb forward towards the walker, bearing less than 50% of body weight on the PWB lower limb and finally moves the weight bearing lower limb towards the walker (to the same level as the PWB lower limb). The cycle is

same level as the TDWB lower limb). The cycle is then repeated.

5.11 Partial weight bearing (PWB)

Ambulatory Devices: Assessment and Prescription DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89886

5.12 Weight bearing as tolerated (WBT)

lower limb). The cycle is then repeated.

5.13 Full weight bearing (FWB)

limb). Then cycle is then repeated.

6. Crutches

and iron.

71

(Figure 10 and Table 1).

then repeated.

