How to Choose the Right Walking Aids for Seniors?

1. How to Choose the Right Walking Aids for Seniors? Growing older comes with its fair share of difficulties. One of the most common is trouble with mobility. We tend to lose muscle mass and develop problems with our joints. This results in difficulty in walking for elderlies. You might be struggling with how to choose the right mobility aid if your loved one is facing walking difficulty. Types of mobility aids General physicians in Australia often see elderly people with different mobility aids and assistive walking devices while visiting their clinics. A trip to a nearby drugstore by elderlies may require the use of different types of canes, walkers, and crutches of various shapes, materials and sizes. The simplest mobility aids healthcare equipment is a cane. It can be further classified into: · Standard wooden cane · Adjustable aluminum cane, and · Offset 4-legged quad cane. These canes are popular among seniors in Australia because of their social acceptance, ease of use, and maneuverability. Standard cane

2. Standard cane is generally used by the people with coordination or mild sensory problems occurring due to peripheral proprioceptive or central cerebellar disease. It helps stabilise the mobility issues of seniors by effectively providing an extra contact point with the ground, which significantly increases the base of their support. Adjustable aluminum cane An adjustable aluminum cane could provide greater stability if the cane is required to bear weight of an individual with osteoarthritic hip or knee pain. It allows the force to be placed directly along the cane’s shaft. Offset 4-legged quad An offset 4-legged quad can be needed if substantial weight bearing is required, such as in a hemiplegic patient. Why it is important to choose the right length of a cane? It is important to understand that there are different ways of fitting a cane but general physicians use elbow flexion as a guide. There should be 20 degrees to 30 degrees of flexion ideally in the elbow when holding the cane approximately 15 cm from the lateral border of the toes. It allows for elderly people with efficient elbow movement while walking. Experts recommend that the length of the cane should be roughly the distance from the ground to the greater trochanter or wrist crease when the patient’s arm is hanging by their side. Use the cane correctly

3. A cane is generally advanced in unison with and on the side opposite the weak or painful leg. It reduces the force on the leg opposite the cane by almost two-thirds. It is recommended to buy walking aids healthcare products (cane) that can easily support up to 15% to 20% of your total body weight to achieve maximum stability and support to your leg. The final thought Coordination, cognitive function, grip strength, physical endurance, and walking environment need to be considered while choosing the right mobility aids for seniors. Ultimately, the personal preference and performance of the person will help in choosing the correct mobility aids for them. A larger walker is heavier, bulkier and cannot be used by a patient who lives in a small apartment. Larger walkers should be avoided especially if there are stairs to negotiate. Unattractive, 4-legged canes might force a person to spend more time in the closet if it doesn’t suit their lifestyle. Consider consulting a professional physiotherapist for a complete mobility assessment before buying any mobility aid. They can make further recommendations about appropriate aids to maximize mobility.