Ambulation - Brief summary of one of the first lectures. Taken from the ATI skills module. PDF

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Brief summary of one of the first lectures. Taken from the ATI skills module....

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Ambulation, transferring, ROM  Body mechanics-safe use of the body to maintain balance, posture, and alignment during movement (esp bending, lifting and walking)  Bend at the knees, not waist  use leg muscles not back muscles  keep pt close to your body and bed at working height  keep center of gravity over a wide base (your feet)  turning-don’t twist, move entire body in direction you want to face  use assistive devices: gait/transfer belt, transfer board, draw sheet TED hose (8-15 mmHg), SCDs Positions-sims-between lateral/prone (enema), orthopneic, fowler’s, (reverse) trendelenburg’s, etc.  Ambulation  Cane-hold cane on unaffected side, move cane 6-12 inches in front, move affected leg to be even with cane first, then move reg ahead of cane, move cane, repeat  Crutches-4 point gait (partial weight bearing on both legs)  move R crutch then L foot forward to align with L crutch, move L crutch forward, move R foot forward even with R crutch, repeat  3 point gait-move both crutches forward with weight on unaffected leg, move unaffected leg shifting weight onto crutches, repeat  2 point gait-L foot R crutch forward, R foot L crutch forward, repeat  swing to gait-move crutches forward, lift feet/swing forward, repeat  swing through gait  Walker-move walker/affected leg forward simultaneously, shift weight to arms and affected leg (unless contraindicated), move unaffected leg forward...