Overcoming Handicap - Aids To Walking: Sticks And Chairs |
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If your rheumatism affects your legs you may need help with walking. If you need slight help now you will need more help when you are older, and you will be wise to get into the habit of using a walking stick soon. At one time you were not a proper man unless you carried a stick but at present fashion has dispensed with sticks, so you will have to go against fashion for the sake of comfort and safety. What sort of stick? It does not matter, provided that the stick is a comfortable height and has a good rubber end on it to stop it slipping on hard or wet surfaces. Older people often prefer a T-shaped handle to a curved handle; either works well as long as you can grip it firmly. If you look at hospital stores you will often find adjustable metal sticks with large straight handles: these suits any size of patients but they have no particular advantage over ordinary sticks when they are always going to be sued by one person only.
Crutches can be helpful, but not very often. Full-length crutches are not often used now for people who are going to need them for years at a stretch because the continuing pressure of the crutch can damage the nerves that run in the armpit. Elbow-length crutches are far more useful: they are easier to control, they are less liable to slip and they do not damage the nerves.
Both walking-sticks and elbow-crutches can be hooked on the arm so that the hands are free to open doors, turn switches and so on. The easiest way with a stick is to tie a loop of tape or leather about nine inches long jut below the crook; it should be nailed or glued as well, so that it holding the stock; if you leave you you still have the stick hanging from your arm by its loop. Elbow crutches are usually made with an elbow grip that allows you to treat them similarly.
There are other kinds of stick that you will probably have seen used that have more than one leg. There are three- and four-legged walking sticks and there are three- and four-legged frames intended to be sued with both hands. These are not often helpful to those with rheumatism unless they have some other disability, such as a stroke, as well. In any case, if your rheumatism affects you so badly that an ordinary walking sticks is not enough, you should be taking advice about it from a doctor who is used to these problems. he will be able to guide you quickly to a good solution and save you from being disheartened by spending time and money on unsatisfactory equipment.
It sometimes happens that arthritis of the hips progresses so fat that it makes walking almost impossible. However, it is very rate for arthritis, or any form of rheumatism for that matter, ever to stop people walking. You will straight away think of people you know who, you think, are prevented from walking by arthritis. Do find out whether they have not got some other illness as well.
All the same, there are people whose rheumatism stops them walking. These sufferers can often be allowed to lead a fuller life with the help of a wheelchair. A folding chair, known also as a transit chair, is best, if only because it allows you to take advantage of offers of outings by car or coach: it can also be foolded to take less room in the place where it is kept. |
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