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Assistive products are for people who face difficulty in mobility and motion. Usually, people who have injuries or disabilities, or the older adults facing a risk of falling, need such aids to make their daily lives a lot easier.
Such devices offer several benefits to the users, right from reduced pain, greater independence, to increased confidence. And given below is a list of six of such assistive products.
1. Mobility scooters
Like wheelchairs, mobility scooters have seats set over the top of either three, four, or five wheels. User’s feet rest on footplates, and they get steering wheels or handlebars for controlling direction. They run on batteries; so charge them when you need them. You can get them at various prices depending on brands. For cost-effective purchasing, opt for mobility scooters for sale.
Mobility scooters are the best for those without the flexibility or upper body strength to utilize a manual wheelchair. Many users claim that the scooters have had a positive impact on their lives, and they are faring much better now than when they used canes.
However, remember that the rules for using mobility scooters on roads and sidewalks vary as per the location. Usually, there is training available for people using a mobility scooter for the first time.
2. Canes
Canes support the body’s weight and aid in transmitting the load from the legs to the upper body. But they take the lesser weight off the lower body than the crutches and put greater pressure on the wrists and hands. Assistive canes are meant for people with balance issues, and it helps them to move more quickly.
Three of the most common types of canes are:
- White canes: These specifically help to assist visually impaired people. The white canes are thinner and longer than the traditional canes.
- Quad canes: These contain four feet right at the end of the cane, offering more stability and broader grip.
- Forearm canes: The canes allow greater weight to get distributed from the arm to the wrist, providing extra forearm support.
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3. Crutches
Crutches help transfer the weight from the user’s legs to the upper body. You can either use crutches in pairs or singly. It helps keep a person upright and might be helpful in permanent disabilities or short-term injuries.
Given below are different types of crutches, namely:
- Axillary crutches: Users put these axillary crutches against the ribcage under the armpits, and after that, they hold the handgrip.
- Lofstrand crutches: The crutch involves putting the arm in a plastic or metal cuff and holding the handgrip.
- Platform crutches: The hand of the users holds the grip, and the forearm rests on the horizontal platform. People with weak hand grips will find it easy to use platform crutches.
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4. Walkers
Walkers have a metal framework containing four legs that offer support and stability to the user. These are stable walking aids that many adults over the age of 65 use in the USA.
The basic model of walkers are of three types, and they are:
- Rollators: The most common type of walker has a frame and four wheels, a seat, and handlebars. The users can rest when they need it. It also has a hand brake as a safety feature.
- Knee walkers: Knee walkers let the users rest their knees on padded cushions as they propel themselves forward with their stronger legs.
- Walker-cane hybrids: A cross between a walker and a cane; this one has two legs instead of a full-frame.
5. Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are for people who are unable to walk and should not put additional pressure on the lower limbs. They are usually more suitable than walkers for severe disabilities or where users need to travel over greater distances.
Users can manually propel the wheelchairs, get them pushed by someone, or use the electrically powered ones. A few years back, a wheelchair driven by neural impulses came into the market.
Some of the examples of special types of wheelchairs include standing wheelchairs. These products can support the users in a nearly upright position. In addition, some sports wheelchairs are used during particular sports.
6. Guide Dogs
People with special needs can have guide dogs to help them out. Guide dogs have special training that helps them know how to escort visually impaired or blind people by assisting the owners in moving past obstacles.
Besides, having a therapy animal or a guide dog also has positive physiological, psychological, and social impacts.
Keep in mind that service animals need to be legally permitted to access any agency or business. This is especially applicable to the areas open for the general public (excluding the safety or health risks involved) in the USA and several other countries.
Other Safety Modifications:
Along with such assistive products, other offices or home modifications are also helpful for navigating within a building or in other areas with changes in surface heights.
Some of these modifications include ramps, handrails, and stairlifts. People with canes, crutches, and walkers would also find it easier to navigate if these modifications are present.
The Endnote
Anyone who has injuries or disabilities, either long-term or temporary, can benefit from the assistive products. People recovering from surgeries, older adults, and ones who have undergone an amputation would also find the assistive products helpful. The type of assistive products they choose depends on the individual needs. Thus, go through these six products mentioned above and opt for the one that can make your life easier!