Walking aids
Handling and Transfer
Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:
 Identify the correct walking aid for a given patient, based
on health social circumstances and specific mobility
problem.
 Use correctly – Elbow crutches, sticks and frames.
 Ensure that the walking aid is safe. Measure the correct
height of the aid.
 Teach the patient to walk, sit stand negotiate stairs and
curbs with the aids
 Instruct the patient in the safe use of an appropriate
walking aid
Base of support and Walking aids
• In pairs :
1-Define Base of support and factors affecting it.
2-Why patients use walking Aids.
Feedback to the whole group.5 minutes
NB the large base of support with the FRAME
Ferrule
NB the large base of support with the FRAME
Base of support
Ferrule
2 x Walking sticks. NB slightly smaller base of
support compared to the frame.
= Walking stick
2 x Walking sticks. NB slightly smaller base of
support compared to the frame.
Base of support
= Walking stick
2 x Walking sticks positioned poorly. NB the smaller
base of support (less stable).
Base of support
= Walking stick
1 x Walking stick. NB Smaller Base of support = Less
stability
Which side should a single stick go on? Good side or
bad? Why
Where is the base of support?
Injured leg
weight bearing
Swing through phase
Where is the base of support?
Swing through phase
Injured leg
weight bearing
Which has the biggest area of support?
Swing through phase
Injured leg
Swing through phase
So why give walking aids
•
•
•
•
•
Weight bearing
Balance
Motor pattern
Confidence
Endurance
Gait pattern with walking aids
Gait with single aid
Four point gait
Three point swing through gait
Three point swing to gait (the feet are
advanced by a much shorter distance and
placed behind the level of crutches)
• Two point gait
•
•
•
•
A general guide
• 4 point gait –Balance and confidence / full
weight bearing
• 3 point gait – Balance and/or partial weight
bearing
• 2 point gait – non weight-bearing
• Stairs
• Sit to stand
• Kerbs and corners
Sticks/Canes
Sticks/Canes
• Measure from the wrist crease to a point on
the floor about 15cm from the outside of the
Patient’s foot.
• The patient's elbow should be bent at 15-30
degrees when holding the stick and standing
upright.
Sticks/Canes
Elbow crutches
• Elbow crutches – partial weight-bearing and
occasionally non depending on the patients
weight.
• Measure in standing (normal method) or lying
from the ulnar styloid to a point 20 cm lateral
to the heel of the shoe.
Axillary crutches
• Now fast becoming obsolete due to the
potential injury/nerve damage
Forearm crutche
Gutter frame
• For partial or non weight bearing. Ideal for patients unable to
take weight through the hands.
• Measure in standing from a flexed elbow to floor.
Walking frames
• For partial or non weight bearing.
• Measure in standing with a slightly flexed elbow
Rollator frames (Mobilators)
• For partial or non weight bearing.
• Measure in standing with a slightly flexed
elbow
Other walking aids
Tripod frame
Pulpit frame
Delta frame
Safety
• What safety points have to check?
Safety
• General condition – Metal/plastic
• Ferrules (rubber tips) are not worn to the point where
no tread is showing.
• Correct prescription / type
• Correct use and instruction
• Crutches are a matching pair. Do not issue a
mismatched pair.
• Spring clip tips are located into both holes (for axillary
crutches make sure the nuts and bolts are tight).
• Adjustment mechanism adjusts freely (elbow
crutches).
Which leg to lead first.
•The good lead up to heaven
•The bad lead down to hell
• Based on - Going up stairs the leading leg does
most of the work, but going down the trailing
leg does most of the work.
Practice
• In groups of 4
(Physio-Patient and 2 observers to give
feedback )
• Practice the following activities
.
Things to cover
Elbow crutches
PWB / FWB
Frame
NWB / PWB / FWB
Walking sit to stand
and turning. Stairs
with and without a
banister.
Walking, sit to stand
and turning
One stick
Walking, sit to stand
and turning
Two sticks
Walking, sit to stand
and turning