Increase Your Loved One’s Mobility
Increase Your Loved One’s Mobility
Author: Med AME
Canes and Crutches – Increase Your Loved One’s Mobility
Not everyone can get around at 80 quite as well as they did at 30, although there are some exceptions. For most people, however, mobility becomes difficult once they pass their seventies, and sometimes younger people have trouble as well. This trouble can be short-term from an accident, injury, or surgery, or it can be long-term, chronic, and debilitating. When it becomes long-term the goal becomes helping the person have as much mobility as possible. There are several ways to do this, but the most common are canes, and crutches. Which one of these is needed will depend on the degree of mobility that someone has, how steady they are on their feet, their overall health and strength, and other factors. One thing is for sure, though, and that’s the fact that there are almost always options – but they should be looked at carefully to make sure you’re getting the best item for your needs.
Where crutches are concerned a lot of people who use them all the time prefer the forearm crutch. Since it fits over the forearm it is more stable than the standard crutches that fit into the armpit. The forearm crutch is also beneficial because it does not rub on a person as hard as the standard crutch and this avoids the sensitive and irritated skin that can often come about due to pressure and rubbing. Invacare, a leader in home health products, makes a forearm crutch in junior, adult, and tall, and a pair can be purchased for just over $60, making them a good bargain. They are aluminum with vinyl-coated cuffs, oversized crutch tips for stability, and a three-year warranty. Since they have cushioned vinyl handgrips and can hold up to 300 pounds they are a logical choice for many people who need crutches with added stability. For people who are looking for the standard crutches, Invacare makes these as well, in junior, adult, and tall, for about $27. They have a weight capacity of 250 pounds, padded handgrips, and rubber tips that are reinforced with metal.
If crutches are not needed, canes are also good choices. Invacare and Rubbermaid both make canes. Invacare’s standard cane is made of aluminum and costs only a little over $20. It is lightweight at less than a pound but can support up to 250 pounds, and it adjusts from 30 inches to 39 inches so that it can fit anyone from 4′6″ to 6′6″ in height. The grip on the cane is soft and spongy, reducing hand fatigue. However, it is still strong enough to resist compression so that it stays solid for a long period of time. The best thing about the Invacare cane, though, is that it has such a low price and still comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s a great deal for someone who will be needed a cane to get around, but it’s not the only cane worth considering.
Rubbermaid also has canes available with both round and offset handles. The round-handle cane comes in a standard grip and a narrower grip which is often more comfortable for the smaller hands of women. The price for one of these canes, with either grip, is just over $22, and with a 250 pound weight capacity the cane can be used by almost everyone. The height adjustment starts at 29 inches and goes all the way up to 38 inches in one inch increments, and shipping is free. However, if you need a cane with an offset handle, Rubbermaid can meet your needs there, as well. The offset handle cane has the same weight rating and height adjustment, but provides a cushioned grip and a wrist strap for just over $28 and free shipping.
No matter what cane or crutch is chosen it is important to get the right one that meets the needs of the patient. If you are the patient, you may already know what you need or what you would like better. If you are taking care of the patient, listening to that person and letting them tell you what they need is a good first step. They may have to try out some options until they find what works best for them, but they should be active participants in their care for as long as they are able. By keeping them active in the decision making process they feel more useful and the transition from their previous abilities to the need for a crutch or cane can be made in a less painful way. Depression can be a real problem for the elderly or for people who are disabled and allowing them to have as much control over their lives as possible works to lessen that.
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Filed under: Pain Relief
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