How to use canes, crutches and walkers after surgery

Summary

This instructional video by Allina Health provides essential guidance on safely using canes, crutches, and walkers following surgery. Emphasizing the importance of proper adjustment and technique, it covers basic usage for walking and stair navigation. Key points include ensuring the cane is adjusted to wrist height, using crutches with a proper gap from the axilla, and using the walker for stability. The video details specific methods for ascending and descending stairs, along with different weight-bearing scenarios. Whether using a cane, crutch, or walker, the video emphasizes the mantra, 'up with the good, down with the bad,' for stair mobility. It also highlights the importance of seeking assistance and re-watching the guide to master the techniques, ensuring safety and balance during recovery.

Highlights

• Adjust your mobility aid for a snug fit to ensure proper support. 🌟
• When using a cane, remember: Cane, sore foot, good foot! 🚶‍♂️
• With crutches, always lock your elbows and keep tall. 📏
• On stairs, remember: Up with the good, down with the bad! 🚶‍♂️📈📉
• When using a walker, move it first, then the sore foot, then the good foot. 🚶‍♀️
• Rewatch the video or ask a healthcare provider if unsure. 📺

Key Takeaways

• Always adjust your cane to wrist height for optimal support! 💪
• Use a cane on the opposite side of your injured leg for better balance! ⏳
• 'Up with the good, down with the bad' is crucial for stairs! 📈📉
• For crutches, maintain a gap between the axilla pad and your armpit! 🙆‍♂️
• Use your arms to support your weight, not your armpits, while using crutches! 🚷
• When using a walker, push up with your arms before grabbing the walker! 🚶‍♂️
• Incorporate video guidelines consistently to ensure safety post-surgery! 📽️

Overview

Mastering the art of using canes, crutches, and walkers is key for a smooth recovery after surgery. This video tutorial by Allina Health is packed with useful tips and guidelines to help you navigate safely and confidently. From ensuring your mobility aid is properly adjusted to understanding the right order of steps, the importance of precision and safety is emphasized throughout.

The video guides viewers through practical techniques for using each mobility aid, along with tips for tricky tasks like climbing stairs. For instance, the mantra 'up with the good, down with the bad' simplifies remembering how to negotiate stairs safely. There's also advice on managing various weight-bearing limitations, ensuring users maintain balance and confidence under different conditions.

Patients are encouraged to practice these techniques consistently and seek help whenever needed. By integrating these strategies into daily use, individuals can minimize risks and focus on recovering. With engaging visuals and clear instructions, the video serves as a valuable resource for anyone adjusting to new mobility challenges post-surgery.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 03:00: Introduction: Using Canes This chapter introduces the basics of using a cane as recommended by a physician. It emphasizes the importance of adjusting the cane for a proper fit, ensuring that the handle of the cane aligns with wrist height. The cane should be used on the opposite side of the injured or involved leg. Additionally, the chapter offers guidelines and tips for safely walking and using stairs with a cane.
• 03:00 - 05:30: Using Canes on Stairs The chapter titled 'Using Canes on Stairs' provides guidance on how to properly use a cane while navigating stairs. It emphasizes maintaining good posture, with your arm hanging naturally at your side. The key instruction is to place the cane on the opposite side of your injured or sore leg. The process involves moving the cane forward first, then bringing the sore foot forward equal to the cane's position, and finally stepping through with the good foot. As users become more adept, they may advance to moving the cane and sore foot simultaneously.
• 05:30 - 09:00: Introduction: Using Crutches The chapter provides guidance on safely using stairs with a cane, emphasizing the importance of a railing or assistance. A memorable phrase is introduced: 'up with the good, down with the bad.' The procedure described involves taking the railing with one hand and then placing the cane down one step before moving.
• 09:00 - 15:00: Using Crutches on Stairs This chapter provides guidance on how to use crutches effectively while navigating stairs. It emphasizes a sequence: placing the cane down first, followed by the sore foot, and then the good foot. This method is outlined for both ascending and descending stairs.
• 15:00 - 17:30: Introduction: Using Walkers This chapter provides guidance on how to use a cane while navigating stairs, emphasizing which foot to move first. It explains the importance of positioning the cane on the opposite side of the injured leg and using a railing if available. The method involves stepping up with the uninjured leg before moving the injured leg and cane together.
• 17:30 - 20:30: Using Walkers with Weight Bearing Guidelines The chapter provides guidelines on using walkers with a focus on weight-bearing techniques. It emphasizes the sequence of moving the 'good' or uninjured foot first, followed by the cane, then the 'sore' or injured foot. The video encourages viewers to re-watch if there are questions or to consult healthcare team members for more clarity.

How to use canes, crutches and walkers after surgery Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] your physician is recommended you make use of a Cane there are guidelines and tips for walking and using stairs safely with a cane the first thing you'll need to do is make sure the cane is adjusted for the proper fit we're going to place the cane on the opposite side from the involved leg we want the handle of the cane to come to about wrist High when
• 00:30 - 01:00 your arm is hanging at your side and you're standing straight and [Music] tall when walking with a cane it's important to remember to place the cane on the opposite side from your involved leg now move the cane forward and then your sore foot equal to the cane and step all the way through with your good foot cane then sore foot then good foot and as you get more comfortable you can actually move the cane and the sore foot together
• 01:00 - 01:30 when using stairs with a cane it's safest when there is a railing or someone available to help you in any case remember this phrase when using stairs with a cane up with the good down with the [Music] bad when coming down the stairs with a cane there's a railing available you should take it with one hand and then place your cane down one step move your
• 01:30 - 02:00 sore foot down and step down with your good foot cane sore foot Good Foot cane sore foot Good [Music] Foot simply put the cane down one step then your sore foot and finally bring the Good Foot Down cane sore foot Good Foot cane sore foot Good Foot when going going up the stairs with
• 02:00 - 02:30 a cane and no railing is available again remember to put the cane on the opposite side from your involved leg now step up with the Good Foot then bring the cane and the sore foot along after up with the Good Foot then the cane and the sore foot up with the Good Foot then the cane in the sore foot when going up the stairs with a cane if a railing is available we recommend you use it you simply step forward with the Good Foot now stand up and bring the sore foot and the cane
• 02:30 - 03:00 along after up with the Good Foot then the cane and sore foot up with the Good Foot then the cane and sore foot if you have questions or concerns view this video again or ask a member of your healthc care [Music] team
• 03:00 - 03:30 if your physician has recommended that you use crutches to get around it's important that you know how to use them safely there's more to it than many people realize the crutches may need to be adjusted to fit you one size doesn't fit all when it comes to crutches we're going to place one crutch under the arm and with the crutch tip about six inches out to the side and about six inches forward we still want to see two or three fingers withth gap
• 03:30 - 04:00 between the top of the axillary pad and your armpit the next thing we want to look at then is the hand grip we would like it to fall right about where your wrist is if your arm is hanging at your side so this crutches fit about right for her now when you're ready to stand up and use your crutches it's easiest if someone is there to assist you you can have them hold the crutches while you use both arms to push up from the chair and stand up and then you just hand the crutches to the patient patient and
• 04:00 - 04:30 they're ready to walk when you're ready to sit down if you can hand them back you've now got both hands free you can grab the chair and sit now if someone is not available to assist you hold the crutches in the hand that's on the same side as your sore foot then I want you to reach and grab the chair with the other hand and come to a standing position now you can reach across grab a crutch bring it under your arm turn the other crutch in and you're
• 04:30 - 05:00 ready to walk when it's time to sit down you need to reverse that process turning one crutch out reaching the other across now one hand is free to reach back grab the chair and sit in order to walk safely with crutches you need to know your weightbearing status this refers to the amount of body weight you can safely place on your affected leg or foot
• 05:00 - 05:30 your weight bearing status will be one of the following weightbearing as tolerated partial weightbearing toe touch or non weight bearing when walking with your crutches both the weight bearing is tolerated and partial weightbearing types of walks look the same you're going to put both crutches forward just the amount you're comfortable putting your sore foot forward put your foot on the ground and step all the way through with your good foot crutches sore foot
• 05:30 - 06:00 Good Foot crutches sore foot Good Foot now with the toe touch weightbearing type of Walk we're going to move both crutches forward just the amount we're comfortable moving the sore foot forward place the ball of your foot between the crutches lock your elbows stay tall and step through with your good foot crutches sore foot Good Foot crutches sore foot Good Foot now with the nonweightbearing type of Walk we're going to need to get the sore foot completely off the ground we
• 06:00 - 06:30 can either bend the knee and put the foot behind us or we can straighten the knee and put the foot in front of us you're going to want to move both crutches forward to get better balance then if you lock your elbows and stay tall we want you to swing your good foot all the way past the crutches it's important to remember to keep the weight on your hands and not on your armpits stairs can be tricky when using crutches it's safest when there's a
• 06:30 - 07:00 railing and someone available to help you in any case remember this phrase when using stairs with crutches up with the good down with the bad walk to the base of the stairs and stand close to the railing if one is available if there's no one available to help you place the second crutch in a cross pad pattern so you can hold both
• 07:00 - 07:30 crutches easily with one hand now we're going to put all the weight on our two hands and step up with our Good Foot and then bring the crutch and the sore foot along after up with the Good Foot then the crutch and the sore foot when coming down the stairs and a railing is available we recommend you use it so move close to the railing and move the crutch to the opposite side as we did before now move the crutch one step down put your sore foot down shift your weight forward and then bring your
• 07:30 - 08:00 good foot down crutch first then sore foot then the good foot crutch sore foot Good Foot when there's not a railing available and you need to do stairs you're going to keep the crutches under both arms now you're going to put all the weight on your two hands step up with your good foot stand up on the Good Foot and bring the crutches and the sore foot along after up with the Good Foot then the crutches and sore foot up with
• 08:00 - 08:30 the Good Foot then the crutches and sore foot when coming down the stairs and there's no railing available we're going to move both crutches down one stair then the sore foot and shift your weight forward and bring the Good Foot Down crutches sore foot Good Foot crutches sore foot Good Foot if you have questions or concerns view this video again or ask a member of
• 08:30 - 09:00 your health care [Music] [Music] team your physician is recommended you use a walker to get around safely follow these tips to make using your Walker safe and easy
• 09:00 - 09:30 easy the first thing we need to look at is the proper fit if I place the walker in front of you we'll have you stand up and what we're looking at is the hand grips we want them to be about wrist High when your arm is hanging at your side when it's time to stand up and use your Walker it's very important that you place both hands on the armrest of the chair give a good push and come to standing before you grab the Walker when
• 09:30 - 10:00 you're going to sit make sure you're backed up to the chair then reach both hands back grab the armrests and sit carefully many people like to hang on to the Walker as they come to a stand but this is dangerous as the Walker May tip and you could fall remember when it's time to stand up and use your Walker it's very important that you place both hands on the armrest to the chair and use your arms to push yourself to stand standing before you grab the
• 10:00 - 10:30 Walker when walking with a walker both weight bearers tolerated and partial weightbearing walks look the same you move the Walker forward place all four legs on the ground step forward with your sore foot just halfway and then step the rest of the way with your good foot Walker sore foot Good Foot Walker sore foot Good Foot when using the Walker with toe touch weight bearing it looks nearly the
• 10:30 - 11:00 same you're going to place the Walker forward now just place the ball of your foot half the distance lock your elbows stay tall and step through with your good foot Walker sore foot Good Foot with nonweightbearing walking we're going to lift the sore foot all the way off the ground now Place The Walker forward and get all four legs on the ground lock your elbows stay tall and swing your good foot forward forward
• 11:00 - 11:30 Walker and swing up to the bar Walker and swing up to the bar it's difficult to use stairs safely with a walker so it's not recommended if you must use stairs with your Walker refer to the print brochure for the safest way to do so a walker will work to get up and down a curb or a threshold the safest way to do this going up is to actually turn
• 11:30 - 12:00 around we turn all the way around make sure we can feel the curve with our feet now place all the weight on our hands and step the Good Foot up now stand up and bring the Walker and the sore foot up coming down we can go forward we place the Walker on the ground all four legs then the sore foot finally the Good Foot if you have questions or concerns view this video again or ask a member of
• 12:00 - 12:30 your health care [Music] team