LEC.09. Safety during gait.ppt safety during gait

pasha06 6 views 60 slides Oct 21, 2025
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About This Presentation

safety during gait


Slide Content

AMBULATION AIDS, PATTERNS
AND INSTRUCTION
DR. ABDUL RASHAD
Assistant Professor
PhD*, MPhil(OPT), DPT, IASTM, SIR. CST,
CKPT,
  CMT
Nazeer Hussain University

OBJECTIVES
Understand and use key terms related to gait
and use of ambulation aids
Modify intervention based on weight bearing
status/restrictions
Apply a gait belt efficiently and correctly
Demonstrate safeguarding of a “patient” during
sit <-> stand, ambulation, stairs, and a simulated
fall
Measure and adjust all assistive devices for your
“patient” appropriately

Progressive Mobilization
•In what order should/do we progress
mobility?
•How does the environment impact this?
•When do we select a device?

Dynamic Systems Interaction

Key Terms
•Affected side/limb
•Ambulation
•Gait training
•Assistive device
•Reciprocal
•Weight Bearing Status
•Weight Bearing
Restrictions
•Swing-to/Step-to
•Swing-through/Step-
through

Safety First!
•Is your patient ready to walk? How do you
know?

Weight Bearing Status
FWB=Full Weight Bearing
PWB= Partial Weight Bearing
TTWB=Toe Touch Weight Bearing
TDWB = Touch Down Weight Bearing
NWB=Non-Weight Bearing
WBAT=Weight Bearing as Tolerated

Safety
•Set up environment
•Screen strength
•Assess orientation
•Check vitals
•Patient must wear appropriate, non-slip
footwear
•APPLY GAIT BELT BEFORE STANDING!

Safety
Be alert for signs of:
Pallor
Fatigue
Diaphoresis
Confusion
Dizziness/lightheadedness
Sudden weakness
If you are doubtful of your patient’s ability,
have assist nearby

Safety
•Do not become complacent or distracted
•Be ready for the patient to stumble or fall at any
time
•Never leave a patient unattended when standing
•Maintain proper body mechanics
•Protect IV’s, catheters & other equipment

Guarding
•Gait Belts:
–When to use?
–Stand behind and “in diagonal” with the vulnerable side
–One hand on belt, one lightly on vulnerable side shoulder
–Walk in “sync” w/ your patient
–Don’t pull
www.youtube.com

s387997107.initial-website.com www.tsitherapy.com

Guarding
•Stand on one side of the patient & slightly behind
•LE’s in stagger stance
•One hand underneath the gait belt and the other
lightly on shoulder

Falls
•This WILL happen to you.
•Two choices:
◦Prevent the fall
◦Control the fall

Falls
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ed5CY7mKqtg

LIGHTNING LAB!
DONNING/DOFFING GAIT BELT
GUARDING

Amount of Assist: FIM
•Independent
Pt ambulates alone
•Supervision
Pt requires observation
for safety, but NO Hands
on
•Standby Assist
Pt needs close
supervision, but NO
hands on
•Contact Guard
Pt needs light hands on
for safety
•Minimal Assist
Pt performs ≥75% of
effort
•Moderate Assist
Pt performs 50-75% of
effort
•Maximal Assist
Pt performs 25-50% of
effort
•Dependent/Total Assist
Pt exerts <25% of effort

Choosing an Assistive Device
•Patient goals
•What amount of support is required?
•Unilateral? Bilateral?
•What can the patient do?
•UE function
•How much stability is needed?
•What is the energy cost?
•Weight capacity of the device
•AMAP/ ANAP: AMAP/ ANAP: ““least restrictive deviceleast restrictive device””

Stability and Mobility
Johansson and Chinworth, p. 376

Assistive devices/Early mobilization
Device Use with patients with:
Tilt table Coma, extended periods of
bedrest, ROM loss, paralysis,
orthostatic hypotension
Standing frame Some emerging trunk control
Parallel bars Weakness, dizziness, poor
balance, but able to begin
ambulation training

Tilt Table
•Uses:
–Evaluate cause of fainting or syncope
–Increase tolerance for upright postures
–Promote beginning weight bearing for people with
limited trunk control
•Procedure for use to be covered in detail
during Clerkship

Tilt Table

Unilateral Assistive Devices

Bilateral Assistive Devices
Device When to use:
Walker (Standard/PUW) General weakness with 2 functional UE’s
Balance impairment
Rolling walker (FWW or four wheels)Promotes smoother, faster gait pattern
Less energy expenditure
Rollator walker Allows user to sit and rest
User needs better balance than rolling
walker
Axillary crutches Good balance + 2 functional UE’s, but
need to unload one LE
Allow increased speed, variable gait
patterns
Loftstrand crutches Less stable than axillary crutches
More lightweight and mobile

Fitting an Assistive Device

How to Measure Assistive Devices:
•General guidelines:
–Patient: stand upright, shoulders relaxed
–Hand hold  wrist crease
–20-30 degree elbow bend when holding device

Canes:
SPC, SBQC, LBQC, Hemi-walker
Device held on the
opposite side of the
involved extremity
Quad canes:
Pick up and set down all
4 legs at same time
Do not tip
Pattern: cane ->
involved -> uninvolved

Loftstrand Crutches
•Hand grip at distal
wrist crease
•Forearm cuff is 1-1.5
inches distal to
olecranon when
handpiece is grasped

Axillary Crutches
•FIRST, place crutches 6” anterior to small toe
•2-3 fingers between axilla and crutch pad
•NEXT, align hand grip at distal wrist crease

Walkers
•Pick up the walker
and set all 4 legs
down
•DO NOT TIP
•Walker-step-step
•Do not step past the
walker
•Do not keep the
walker too close nor
put it too far ahead

Rolling/Rollator Walkers
•Rolling --------->
–Standard walker plus
wheels
–2 in front: Front
Wheeled Walker
(FWW)
–Four Wheeled
Walker

Rolling/Rollator Walkers
Rollator ------->
Four wheels
Hand brakes
Seat
Both types allow for
faster, smoother gait
Require greater
balance and control
www.drivemedical.com

LAB:
ADJUSTING ASSISTIVE DEVICES

GAIT PATTERNS

2 Point Gait Pattern
Assistive device moves at the same time as the
opposite leg
Can use with:
•1 or 2 canes
•1 or 2 crutches
•Hemiwalker
•Indicated for:  balance or weakness

2 Point Gait Pattern

3 Point Gait Pattern
•Assistive device and 1 weight bearing LE
remain in contact with the floor
•Device and involved extremity advanced
together, followed by the uninvolved
extremity
•Only used when one LE has restricted weight-
bearing

3 Point Gait Pattern

4 Point Gait Pattern
•2 assistive devices (canes, crutches)
required
•AD  opposite leg  other AD 
other leg
•Slower, but more stable
•“Deliberate 2-point gait”
•1, 2, 3, 4 pattern

4 Point Gait Pattern

LAB PRACTICE:
ALL THREE GAIT PATTERNS

2
ND
LAYER OF GAIT PATTERNS

Swing..step…through…to…huh?
Terms may be used interchangeably
BUT they are technically not the same thing
Let’s clarify….

APTA Acute Care Section Definitions
Swing-to
•Uses bilateral device(s),
typically crutches
•Both crutches advanced
together
•Then both legs advanced to
the line of the device(s)
•Non-reciprocal pattern
•Trunk momentum to help
advance LE’s
Swing-through
•Same as swing-to, EXCEPT:
•Both legs are advanced
anterior to the placement
of the device(s)
•Trunk momentum to help
advance LE’s

A Picture is Worth….
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqXCRN7WfE
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1PoJXApgQA

Clinical Terminology
Step-to
•Allows increased double
stance time
•The LE in swing phase
advances up to the device
Step-through
•More “normal” pattern
•Possible when patient has
better balance and stability
on the opposite limb
•The LE in swing phase
advances beyond the device

Got it?
•Let’s find out…..
•Video then Vote

FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH
ASSISTIVE DEVICES

How to get up from a chair with
crutches

How to get up from a chair with a
walker or unilateral device
Do not grab device & pull up
on it
Push up from chair and then
reach for the device
If using a wheelchair, LOCK THE
BRAKES!
Alternative for walkers: 1
hand on chair, 1 hand on
front cross bar of walker
Sit to stand using assistive devices: http://www.youtube.com/embed/gl5X9FG7zio

How to sit down into a chair
Lock brakes!!
Turn slowly with wide BOS
Back up to the chair
“Feel the chair with the backs of your legs”
Walker: let go and reach for the chair
Crutches: move both to involved side hand
Unilateral device: depends on patient
condition
Reach behind for the chair

CRUTCH WALKING:
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/EMBED/4ENW0PIREYA

Stairs
•Down:
–Assistive device, involved leg, uninvolved leg
•Up:
–Uninvolved leg, involved leg, assistive device
•“Up with the “good”, down with the “bad””
Guarding on stairs: http://www.youtube.com/embed/-jYKRa9Vx4M

Stairs Ambulation: Cane or 1
crutch
•Use handrail(s) initially
–Opposite side for 1 sided
device
•PT positioned behind and in
stride on the way up
•PT positioned in front on the
way down
•Step-to initially
•Progress to reciprocal

Stairs Ambulation: Crutches NWB
Going up:
•Stronger/uninvolved leg
up first
•Crutches and involved
leg follow
Going Down:
•Crutches and involved
leg lower first
•Stronger/uninvolved leg
hops down next

Guarding on the Stairs
•Maintain broad BoS with staggered feet
–Do not have both feet on the same step
•Stand between the patient and the direction
they are most likely to fall
•Do NOT pull the patient’s gait belt

Questions?

Objectives Revisited
Understand and use key terms related to gait
and use of ambulation aids
Modify intervention based on weight bearing
status/restrictions
Apply a gait belt efficiently and correctly
Demonstrate safeguarding of a “patient” during
sit <-> stand, ambulation, stairs, and a
simulated fall
Measure and adjust all assistive devices for your
“patient” appropriately

References
•Johansson C. & Chinworth SA. Mobility in Contexts: Principles
of Patient Care Skills. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 2012: Chapter
14.

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