【Learning points】
- Wear shoes with flat and rubber soles, avoid wearing high heels or slippers which may cause falling or slipping.
- When walking with a walker, it may be swollen to show purple -red congestion due to the drooping feet of injuries.
- When walking, the distance of each step is the same, so as not to be unstable during the activity.
I.Correct height of the walker
- Check whether the handling button and the height adjustment button are stuck.
- The handles of the walker should be adjusted to the level of the waist with the angle of elbow about 25-30 degrees flexion(figure 1).
- The distance between the pace when using the aid to see the same distance, not to jump to reach a sense of balance.
- When walking with a walker, it may be swollen to show purple -red congestion due to the drooping feet of injuries, which is normal; therefore, when you go to bed, you can use a soft pillow to raise the injured foot to reduce the swelling.
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Figure1. The correct height of the walker |
II.Before using walker
- leg strength exercise
- Quadriceps exercise: Lie flat, straighten the injured foot, press the knee down for 5-10 seconds,10 repetitions of each movement, perform at least 3 times a day, 20 minutes each time, and last for 6-8 weeks after the operation(figure 2).
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Figure 2. Quadriceps exercise |
- Straight leg raise: Lie flat, straighten the injured foot, lift it off the bed at least 30 degrees, keep the knee straight, slowly lower it after 5-10 seconds, 10 reps per movement, at least 3 times a day, 20 minutes each time, back to 6-8 weeks after surgery(figure 3, 4).
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Figure 3. Lie flat, straighten the injured foot |
figure 4. lift the injured foot off the bed at least 30 degrees, keep the knee straight |
- Keep the floor board always dry and clear of objects, such as wires,chair, etc.
- Wear shoes with flat and rubber soles, avoid wearing high heels or slippers which may cause falling or slipping.
- Avoid wearing pants that are too long or too loose.
III. Instructions(figure 5):
- Press against the walker and maintain the body weight on the uninvolved leg.
- Lift up the walker and move it forward about to 40cm.
- Step forward with the involved leg, keep it within the boundary of the walker.
- Hold firmly against the handles.
- Step forward with the uninvolved leg.
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Figure 5. Walker Walking Method |
IV.Conclusion:
When using the aid to get out of bed, you should put on a slippery flat shoes first and adopt progressive activities. Open the helper to confirm whether the tenon button is stuck. 25-30 degrees. When walking, the distance of each step is the same, so as not to be unstable during the activity.
V.Reference:
- 袁素娟(2021)‧肌肉骨骼系統疾病之護理‧於劉雪娥總校閱,成人內外科護理下冊(八版,535-568頁)‧華杏。
- 林心怡、王宜鈴、李思璇、蔡心惠、洪誼婷(2022)‧提升護理人員執行骨科下肢術後病人復健護理指導之完整性‧長庚護理,33(1),71-84。https://doi.org/10.6386/CGN.202203_33(1).0007
- Hoenig, H., & Cary, M. (2022, June 23).Geriatric Rehabilitation Interventions. UpTo Date. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/geriatric-rehabilitation-interventions?search=Walker&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~138&usage_type=default&display_rank=1