Lecture Notes: Mobility Devices - Canes, Walkers, and Crutches

Introduction

• Presenter: Meris
• Topic: Mobility devices: canes, walkers, crutches
• Reference Material: Fundamentals of Nursing flashcards (card #72)

Canes

• Patient Teaching:
  • Cane should be held on the strong side ("good" or "unaffected" side).
  • Ensure correct terminology is understood for test questions.
  • Cane height:
    • Aligned with patient's wrist or greater trochanter (big bump on femur below hip).
  • Four-pronged cane:
    • Flatter side towards body to prevent tripping.

Walkers

• Height:
  • Should align with wrist height when arms are by the side.
  • Elbows should be flexed, not straight, to avoid discomfort/injury.
• Usage:
  • Use chair arms to rise from a seated position, not the walker.
  • Pulling on the walker can cause falls.

Crutches

• General Guidelines:

  • Crutch pads should not touch the axilla (armpit) to avoid nerve/blood vessel damage.
  • Maintain a two-inch gap between axilla and crutch pads.
  • Weight should be on the handgrips, not on the axilla.

• Crutch Gaits:

  • Swing-through gait: Move both crutches together, swing legs to meet crutches.
  • Two-point gait: Move opposite leg and crutch together.
  • Three-point gait: Move both crutches and injured leg, then advance the uninjured leg.
  • Four-point gait: Move one crutch, then opposite leg, second crutch, and last leg.
  • One-crutch gait: Specific situations not detailed.

• Stairs Navigation:

  • Ascending Stairs:

    • Position strong leg next to stair railing, hold hand rail.
    • Crutch under affected side.
    • Step up with unaffected leg, then affected leg.
    • Mnemonic: "Up with the good."

  • Descending Stairs:

    • Position affected leg near stair railing, hold hand rail.
    • Crutch under unaffected side.
    • Lower crutch one step, then affected leg, then unaffected leg.
    • Mnemonic: "Down with the bad."

Conclusion

• Crutches require careful patient instruction for home navigation.
• Encouragement for viewer interaction and feedback for additional strategies.
• Reminder to subscribe and share the video for future updates and learning.