medical supplies for export pulley with seat walker

1. The function and application scope of the walker
(1) Maintaining balance – such as in elderly individuals, where there are no central nervous system disorders, weakness in the lower limbs, poor extension of lower limb spasms, inability to maintain balance when shifting the center of gravity, etc. However, this has little effect on balance issues in elderly patients with stroke or multiple cerebral infarctions.
(2) Support for weight-bearing: After hemiplegia or paraplegia, when patient muscle strength declines or both lower limbs are weak and unable to support weight, or when joint pain prevents bearing weight, a walker can serve as a substitute.
(3) Strengthening muscle strength: Regular use of walkers or axillary walkers, which require supporting the body, helps strengthen the extensor muscles of the upper limbs.

2. Clinical Applications
Generally speaking, walking sticks are suitable for patients with hemiplegia or unilateral lower limb paralysis, while forearm poles and axillary poles are suitable for patients with paraplegia. Walkers have a larger support area and are more stable than axillary poles, and are mostly used indoors.
(1) Walking stick – A walking stick can be used only when the muscle strength in the upper limbs and shoulders is normal. This applies to the healthy side of patients with hemiplegia, or patients with incomplete paraplegia who have poor muscle strength in their lower limbs. Patients with good grip strength and strong upper limb support can use a single-foot walking stick; those with poor balance and coordination should use a three-foot or four-foot walking stick.
(2) Forearm crutches and axillary crutches ① For complete paralysis of both lower limbs (paraplegia below T10, requiring thigh orthoses; or complete paraplegia below T4, with upper limb muscle strength at level 5 using paraplegic orthotic walkers), double forearm or axillary crutches can be used for walking. ② In cases of partial paralysis of both lower limbs, axillary crutches or forearm crutches should be selected based on the remaining muscle strength in the lower limbs. ③ Generally, standard forearm crutches are used for training. If the patient can walk even while holding the handle with hands when the axillary crutch is raised, forearm crutches may be appropriate. ④ When upper arm muscle strength is weak: if the triceps brachii is weakened, elbow support capacity decreases, and triceps support plate-type axillary crutches should be used; if elbow joint stability is poor, forearm crutches or axillary cruthes with wrist joint fixation straps are recommended. ⑤ If elbow joint flexion contracture prevents full extension, platform crutches can be used.
(3) Walker: For patients with unequal muscle strength in both upper limbs and unable to fully support body weight, an armpit-supporting walker should be selected. For paraplegic patients with normal upper limb muscle strength but poor balance ability, an interactive walker can be used.

3. Usage Instructions

Below is an introduction to the use of walkers, using paraplegia and hemiplegia as examples. Patients with paraplegia often need two axillary crutches to walk, while those with hemiplegia generally use only a forelimb walker; their usage methods are different.
(1) Ambulatory use of axillary crutches for patients with paraplegia: Depending on the order in which the axillary crutches and the feet move, it can be divided into the following types:
① Alternating floor sweeping walk: The method is to extend the left axillary cane, then the right axillary cane, and subsequently move both feet forward while sweeping the floor, reaching near the axillary cane.
② Simultaneous floor sweeping walk: Also known as “pai to bu”, which involves extending two walking sticks at the same time, and then moving forward while dragging the floor with both feet until reaching near the armpit stick.
③ Four-step walk: The method is to extend the left armpit brace, then step with the right foot, extend the right armpit brace, and finally step with the right foot.
④ Three-point walk: The method is to first extend the foot with weaker muscle strength and the axillary crutches on both sides simultaneously, then extend the opposite foot (the one with stronger muscle strength).
⑤ Two-point walk: The method is to extend the crutches on one side and the foot on the other side simultaneously, then extend the remaining crutches and foot again.
⑥ Walking with swings: The method is similar to walking with swings, but both feet do not touch the ground; instead, the body swings forward in the air. Therefore, the stride is larger and the speed is faster. The patient’s trunk and upper limb control must be good, otherwise, they are prone to falling.
(2) Walking method using a walking stick for patients with hemiplegia:
① Three-point walking: For the majority of patients with hemiplegia, the walking sequence is extending the cane, then moving the affected foot, followed by the healthy foot. A small number of patients walk by extending the walking stick, moving the healthy foot first, and then the affected foot.
② Two-point walk: This involves extending the cane and the affected foot simultaneously, followed by walking with the healthy foot. This method allows for fast walking speed and is suitable for patients with mild hemiplegia and good balance skills.