Editing Fundamentals of Nursing (section)

=== Ambulation and assistive devices ===

* Use a gait belt for any patient at risk of falling. Grasp the belt from underneath, keep the patient close to your center of gravity, and walk slightly behind and to the weaker side.
* '''Cane:''' hold on the strong or unaffected side. Advance the cane and the weak leg together, then step with the strong leg.
* '''Walker:''' a standard walker is lifted and set down about one step ahead, then the patient steps into it. The patient should not lean over the walker or pull up on it to stand.
* '''Crutches:''' the axillary pad should sit two to three finger widths below the axilla, and weight is borne on the hands, not the axillae, to prevent brachial plexus injury. A three point gait is used when one leg cannot bear weight.
* '''Stairs:''' the strong leg goes up first and the weak leg goes down first. A common memory aid is "up with the good, down with the bad."
* '''Transfers:''' move the patient toward the stronger side, lock the wheels, lower the bed, position the chair at a slight angle, and dangle the patient at the bedside first to check for orthostatic symptoms.