8 Lab 06: Gait
Lab 06: Gait: Assistive Devices, Gait Patterns and Gait Training
Gait: Unit 1 – INTRODUCTION
Unit Objectives
Assistive Devices:
- Identify various types of ambulation aids.
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of various types of ambulation aids.
- Properly fit an assistive device for a patient to promote safety, efficiency, and comfort during ambulation.
- Recognize safety factors while using assistive devices
Gait Patterns:
- DESCRIBE AND PERFORM the two-point, modified two-point, four-point, three-point, and modified three-point gait patterns on level surfaces, uneven surfaces, curbs and stairs.
- Describe the ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGEs of the different gait patterns.
- Competently demonstrate the INSTRUCTION of gait patterns using appropriate equipment based on various conditions
- Describe the purpose of pre-ambulation procedures and ambulation
Gait Training:
- Correctly describe the level of assist required for safe gait activities.
- Recognize how to SAFELY GUARD a patient during gait training.
- Safely and effectively implement interventions for gait training and use of assistive devices for common patient/client conditions.
- Provide education on the safety factors involving transfers, gait, and assistive devices as directed by the physical therapist plan of care?.
Introduction:
Welcome to what just may be the most fundamental of all “PT Skills” – Gait training. While volumes have been written on this topic, this semester, we will only be wading into its shallow waters: We will just be looking at gait training for patients with orthopedic conditions. As your knowledge of neurological and medical diagnoses grows, however, you will soon appreciate how deep these waters flow. For now, however, let’s just get our feet wet.
While up until this point in your life, it is possible you may have taken your ability to walk for granted. Like most of our innate abilities, we do that. Well, until that ability is taken from us. When it is, we feel…
REFLECTION BOX:
Imagine for a moment a loved one, your parent, friend, significant other, asked you to join them for a weeklong vacation. A week filled with all of your favorite activities. The day before you are to leave, you are in an accident and injure your leg such that you are confined to a wheelchair for the next week.
Your loved one feels so sad, but, well, since they have bought the tickets and all…. they decide to take someone else and off they go. After a few days pass, you are alone in your home, and you realize they are not even keeping in touch with you (too busy having fun). Because you cannot walk, you are not even able to engage in activities in the local community or even your home.
How might you begin to feel? Towards yourself? Towards your loved one? Towards your friends who are too busy to come visit you. Towards the situation?
Perhaps you felt anger, sadness, anxiety, resentment, confusion or any number of other emotions well up inside you. Think for a moment how