Assistive Devices

Assistive devices are important to assist clients to perform different tasks and movements to engage in occupation. Examples of assistive devices include walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs. Client characteristics may vary, such as height and weight. “Fitting” patients to an assistive device is important to prevent the occurrence of stress injuries and falls due to bad body mechanics. Let’s explore the basics of “fitting” for a cane, axillary crutches, lofstrand crutches, platform walker, and rolling walker.

For canes and walkers, the handgrip should be at the level of the ulnar styloid, wrist crease, or greater trochanter. They should be positioned in a way that the elbow can be relaxed but flexed at 20-30 degrees and the shoulders should not be elevated. For crutches, the same above applies, but the axillary rest should be about 5 cm below the floor of the axilla with the shoulders relaxed. The term lofstrand refers to the arm cuff that wraps around the proximal forearm. This can be attached to crutches to create loftstrand crutches. When measuring a client for loftstrand crutches, ensure the cuff if located on the proximal forearm. A platform can be added to a walker to allow a client to shift their body weight from the crutches to the walker. So it should be positioned to allow the elbows to be flexed at 90 degrees