Mechanical Aids in Walking

I. CANES

- is a walking stick used as a crutch, a mobility aid. Cane tips should have rubber
caps to improve traction and prevent slipping.

Two types of canes:

a. Straight-legged cane

b. Quad cane
 Nurse’s responsibility The length of the cane should permit the elbow to be
slightly flexed. Client may used either one or two canes depending on how much
support is needed.

II. WALKER
- is a mechanical devices for ambulatory clients who need more support than a
cane provides.

- aids crippled or infirm persons to walk and to rise from a sitting position to a
standing position

Two types of walker:

a. Standard type- needs to be picked up to be used. The client requires partial strength in
both hands, wrists, strong elbow extensors and strong shoulder depressors
 b. Two wheeled and four wheeled type do not need to be picked up to be moved but
they are less stable than the standard walker. They are used by clients who are too
weak or unstable to pick up and move the walker.

Nurse’s responsibility: The nurse may need to adjust the height of a client’s walker so
that the hand bar is just below the client’s waist and the client’s elbows are slightly
flexed. This position helps the client assume a more normal stance.

III. CRUTCH
- a mechanical device used by clients usually in the orthopaedic ward as an aid in
walking.

- is a type of mobility aids used to counteract mobility mutilation or an impairment

that limits walking.
Types of crutch:

a. Underarm or axillary crutch with hand bars

b. Lofstrand crutch which extends only to the fore arm and the metal cuff and metal bar
stabilizes