Use of Mobility Aids

Assistive devices are tools to promote patient movement, including ambulation devices and mechanical lifts that move a patient from one location to another. Before using an assistive device, the registered nurse or physical therapist will assess the patient, determine which device is best for the patient, and provide them with initial teaching on the selected device. However, as the licensed practice nurse, or LPN, also known as a licensed vocational nurse, or LVN, you should know when these devices are appropriate and determine if they’re being correctly used by the patient, while reinforcing any previous teaching.

Common ambulation devices include walkers, canes, and crutches. Let’s start by looking at walkers. These are lightweight devices that consist of a metal frame, two hand grips, and four legs.

They provide stability due to their wide base, so they're used for patients who can bear weight on their feet but have trouble walking due to weakness or balance issues. Before using a walker, make sure the hand grips are positioned at your patient’s waist level and that the ends of the legs have non-slip covers.

To use a walker, assist your patient to stand straight while holding the hand grips. If the walker doesn’t have wheels, they’ll move it forward by lifting their walker and moving it six to ten inches in front of them, and then setting it down on the ground. Then, using the walker for support, they’ll move one leg forward, followed by the other. If the walker has 2 wheels on the front legs, your patient can push it to move forward. There are also walkers with 4 wheels, called rollator walkers. These walkers tend to roll forward, so brakes are built into the device.

Next up, canes are lightweight devices typically made of wood or metal that consist of a handle, a shaft, and legs. There are single leg, triple leg, or quad leg canes. Canes with multiple legs typically provide more stability but can be heavy or inconvenient to transport. Canes are used by patients who can bear weight, but have weakness in one of their legs, for example, a patient who has left leg weakness from a stroke.

The cane’s handle should be at your patient’s hip level, and the ends should have non-slip covers. Your patient should hold the cane on their stronger side, or the side without weakness. The cane end should rest flat on the ground and then be lifted and moved forward six to ten inches before being placed flatly on the ground again. Your patient should then step forward with their weaker leg first, using the cane for support. After balance is established, they should move the stronger leg forward to meet the weaker leg.