Close your eyes for a moment and reminisce about all the good old days. Try to remember your hobbies. Were you into gardening? Dancing, perhaps? Were you once a soldier who had an immense amount of energy and strength? I’m pretty sure you were a great cook too! Ah, those were the days.
Remember, just because time has caught up on you a bit, doesn’t mean you can’t do all those things that used to give you a thrill.
We believe you can still do all the things you used to do - with a little help of equipment designed specifically to make your life easier. These equipment are called mobility aids.
What are these mobility aids?
Chronic problems such as arthritis, balance disorder can reduce your long-term mobility. However, temporary problems such as a sprain, fracture, or surgery would only need mobility aids for a short period of time.
Whether the purpose of your mobility aid is to help you walk or remain stable, for permanent or temporary use, it is vital to choose the appropriate aid for you.
Examples of mobility aids are as follows:
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs allow you to refrain from moving a painful limb or joint, it can help prevent falls when getting around.
Manual wheelchairs are for people who still have upper body strength. These can be propelled by pushing the arms in a forward direction as the hand grabs the wheels. Patients who have lower body amputations can use a manual wheelchair.
Self-Propelled Wheelchairs such as the Breezy Basix2 Self Propelled Wheelchairs are recommended for users who do not possess the upper body strength required to push the wheels such as patients who are living with quadriplegia.
Walkers
There are two types of walkers. A wheeled walker often called a rollator, is a walking-aid device with wheels that you can easily push while walking to help maintain your stability.
On the other hand, a normal walking frame only has a handle - no wheels or any special devices. You will need to lift the walker in order to walk which requires a minimal amount of arm strength.
A standard walking frame is perfect for patients who need to put a significant amount of weight and strength on the device. Usually used by older patients who are unstable in using a cane but do not have the ability to control a rolling walker.
A rollator is composed of four fully-rotating wheels, brakes, a seat, and sometimes, a basket. Rollators are for patients who only need a walker for balance and not for weight-bearing. The seat is also very useful for patients who are diagnosed with heart failure or COPD because they can sit down and rest.
Canes
Out of all the mobility aids in the market, the cane is one of the most valuable. You can use canes for both long-term or temporary use. However, when using a cane, you have to make sure that you have adjusted it according to your height because an improperly adjusted cane can cause back pains or unsteadiness.
Additional tips on canes:
- For an affected leg, use the cane on the opposite side of your affected leg.
- For improving your balance, hold it on your dominating side.
To properly adjust the cane, you have to:
1. Stand up straight
2. Position the tip of the cane 15 cm from your foot
3. Adjust the cane handle at your wrist level
Crutches
How can Assistance Healthcare help me?
Before selecting your mobility aid, make sure you discuss your needs with a medical professional. Some mobility aids might be cheaper if you purchase with a prescription.
We have continuously supplied mobility aids on our website to help make things easier for you. All you have to do is to visit our website, choose from our extensive range of mobility aids, and wait for it to be delivered to your doorsteps.
Our featured products for this month are…
Breezy Basix2 Self Propelled Wheelchair
BetterLiving Ultra Compact Wheeled Walker
BetterLiving Euro Wheeled Walker
Walking Frame with Wheels & Skis
With the right mobility aid, you don’t have to worry about being stuck inside your home all day long.
