Mobility Aids, helping people move around independently
Mobility equipment like canes, crutches and walkers enable people with limited mobility to move around independently. A suitable aid ideally provides comfort and easy movement while performing daily activities.
People who can get by easily and whose main requirement is stability while walking are best served by canes or walking sticks. Patients who are recuperating from an accident or have limited mobility on account of disability or due to medical conditions would be better served by crutches or walkers.
Canes and walking sticks
The cane or the walking stick is the most basic mobility aid. It has been in use for quite a long time with the wooden cane being commonly used by the elderly in the past. Today along with the classic wooden canes, one can opt for strong and lightweight aluminum canes or plastic folding canes for easy portability.
An innovative form of the walking stick is the quad cane which comes with a base fitted with four points of contact to the ground. This helps in providing increased stability and balance due to the low center of gravity as compared to a regular cane. A walking stick primarily shifts most of the body weight on the hands, wrist and arms relieving the pressure on the knees and legs.
Crutches
A crutch is sometimes more effective in providing stability as it is supported at the arm and shoulder as well as by the hand. This enables the crutches to withstand increased load as compared to a cane. Crutches though are more suitable for people whose arms and shoulders are strong enough to bear their body weight.
Walkers and Rollators
A Mobility walker is the best mobility aid, one that provides complete stability and support by way of a freestanding metal framework. The framework has three or four points of contact and provides complete independence of movement for people with limited mobility.
Walkers also come equipped with wheels for smoother movement. Wheeled walkers, known as “Rollators” are suitable for people with good hand co-ordination. Walkers in general are the safest mobility aids for the elderly. The only drawback is that they may not fit in narrow spaces or be impractical for climbing stairs.
Choosing the right mobility aid
Mobility aids need to be chosen according to individual requirements. For selecting an appropriate aid, a thorough review of one's home and the surroundings in general needs to be performed to determine potentially hazardous spots. This should be done along with a review of the individual's own special requirements considering factors like age, overall physical fitness and body coordination.
Vital factors that need to be looked at include stability, height, body weight, posture and walking pattern. Mobility equipment that aids the individual to go about one's daily tasks independently with maximum safety is what one should be looking for. It’s highly recommended to get to know the correct technique of using the mobility aid which reduces chances of any accident occurring due to improper usage.
