Patient Movement

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Patient Movement
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Patient MovementAmbulation

• Choose an ambulation aid
• based on patient age
• type of injury
• patients condition
• patients weight bearing status
• A gait belt should be used by the health care
  provider to provide safety and support for the
  patient

3
Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Cane
• Used to help with
• balance
• weakness, injury or pain on one side
• Place the cane on the unaffected side
• Correct fitting
• Handle of cane is level with the head of the
  femur
• Patients elbow is flexed 25-30 degrees

4
Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Crutches
• Axillary
• Used by placing the pads under the armpits and
  holding on to the grip
• Grips are below and parallel to the armpit pads
• Forearm
• Used by slipping the arm into the cuff and
  holding on to the grip
• Platform
• Forearm is placed on an armrest with secure strap
• Used by person with poor hand grip

Axillary
Forearm
Platform
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Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Crutches
• Correct Fitting
• Patient and crutch tips form a tripod
• Crutch tips are 4-6 in front
• and to side of patients foot
• 2 between axilla and crutch
• Elbows flexed 25-30 degrees

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Patient MovementAmbulation

• Crutch Gait
• Gait is the pattern of movement.
• Four Point Gait Slow, both legs can bear some
  weight
• Two Point Gait Faster, more natural, both legs
  can bear some weight

4 point gait pattern
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Patient MovementAmbulation

• Crutch Gait
• Three Point Gait
• One leg is non-weight bearing

3 point gait pattern
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Patient MovementAmbulation

• Crutch Gait
• Swing Through
• One leg is non-weight bearing 2 point pattern.
• Most rapid gait pattern
• Swing To
• One leg is non weight bearing 2 point pattern.

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Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Walker
• Ambulation aide that provides support
• Patient must be strong enough to hold themselves
  upright

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Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Walker
• Styles
• standard
• folding
• rolling
• platform

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Patient MovementAmbulation Aids

• Walker
• Correct Fitting
• Handles level with top of femur
• Elbow flexed to 25-30 degrees

12
Patient MovementAmbulation

• Walker Gait
• Step-to/3 point gait
• pattern for weight bearing on both legs
• Swing-to/2 point gait
• pattern for non-weight bearing

13
Patient MovementAmbulation
Demonstrate the skill Provide for guided practice
Provide for independent practice Verify student
passing
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Patient MovementTransferring a Patient

• Transfer to a Chair/Wheelchair
• Demonstrate the skill
• Provide for guided practice
• Provide for independent practice
• Verify student passing

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Patient MovementTransferring a Patient

• Transfer to a Stretcher