I walked on a walker. I was afraid of crutches like hell, I tried to walk on them but I couldn’t. In my opinion, the walkers are very reliable and comfortable. I even walked down the street with them, first in the yard, and then in shopping malls.
And I use a computer chair to drive around the house. Very convenient, you can do everything! And in the toilet there is a stool as tall as the toilet. I “enter” backwards, sit on a stool and move onto the toilet. A friend who has a mental disorder suggested it to me, I recommend it to everyone. Especially with a high threshold like ours.
And I, too, used a computer chair to move around the apartment. And I washed the dishes like this: I drive up to the sink, use crutches to stand up, put my leg in a cast on the chair, and wash the dishes like that. Of course, not for long, because it was swelling. I also vacuumed. Cool!!
Edited by Tatyana (2011-03-18 17:50:07)
I washed myself on the advice of the girls from the earlier forum from Wumen.ru: I put 2 garbage bags on my leg, and tied each of them separately. And on one leg - into the shower (with the help of my husband). Even in 2 bags I tried not to get my leg wet. Not very comfortable, but at least somehow in that hot summer.
At first I walked on so-called “Canadian” crutches, but it was not comfortable at all, then I switched to our regular crutches. I got used to them, the attachments were only non-slip, so I could walk outside and my back and arms still hurt, of course, but humans are designed in such a way that they can adapt to almost anything.
When I washed my leg in a cast, I put it on a stool and the rest in the bath, and when I washed dishes, I also placed it on a stool with my knee. I jumped around the house on one leg and went outside on crutches.
From the very beginning, I moved on elbow crutches; at the medical care center they said that they were much more comfortable than axillary crutches. The first days, my palms hurt, of course, but then I adapted, it became very comfortable to move on them. And when washing my leg, I didn’t tie anything, I put a stool in the bathtub, climbed on it, and threw my leg in a cast over the bathtub. Apart from the fact that my healthy leg was numb, it was quite comfortable
Today I wrapped my leg in cling film and took a shower! My cast is plastic up to the knee, in principle you can wash it without film, but the stocking under the cast gets wet and needs to be dried with a hairdryer. And there is beauty in film! Well, a stool, of course, I can stand up and sit down.
I also walked with a walker. The doctor cursed at first, saying that walkers are for grandmothers, and you are still young for them (he knew what he could buy a 44-year-old woman with). I tried really hard to fit in and honestly tried to walk on crutches. While I was in the hospital, a rehabilitation specialist visited me every day, and we learned to walk. But in my case, science was powerless. They failed to get me used to crutches. In the end, the doctor waved his hand and said - go as you want. I only have crutches for “going out”. That is, if you go outside. It’s impossible to jump on our uneven roads with a walker. I tried both axillary and elbow crutches. Somehow I liked the elbows better. Now the leg can be loaded at 50%. So the walkers had already been rented out, leaving only the crutches. I jump on them vigorously.
And in my instructions for my walkers it was written that for the young and active, they help to recover from sports injuries. I have them on four wheels, bright blue metallic, German. There were also ones from the same company for older people, they are a little different , on two wheels or without them at all, and of course the colors are not eye-catching
When I explained mine, what I needed to buy, I didn’t know what the walkers were called. So I asked: buy me the kind of thing they use in foreign films
Sophia, I didn’t even know they had wheels. A friend has a walker (disabled after a visit to a chiropractor 12 years ago), it has four legs and no wheels.
disability after a visit to a chiropractor 12 years ago), they have four legs and no wheels.
Oh, I also have a friend who was paralyzed after a chiropractor; she has been bedridden for many, many years. She worked as a television announcer. She came to do a report about him, and in gratitude he offered her his services.
What nightmares you write! But in general, I was always afraid of these manual technicians. So it’s not in vain.
What a horror! They suggested that I go to a chiropractor about my back! NO WAY!
They suggested that I go to a chiropractor about my back!
If my lower back gets tight from time to time, I take special painkillers. And I also read that after 10 days everything goes away on its own.
Girls, there are really cool manual therapists, and then there are...
My friend came across this guy, and even (though on someone’s recommendation) she called him to his house, he’s a private owner. And here is the result. she was 39 years old when it happened. True, he moves around the apartment with a walker, but...
Oh, what horrors they write about manual technicians here! But yes, this is the case - you have to choose very, very pickyly and based on very, very large recommendations.
On topic: I also get around with a walker. I have them on legs, without wheels, and therefore I see a number of advantages in them:
- they are lighter than crutches and easier to move
- the armpit is not injured, and there is no fuss with wrapping them with something
- they stand on their own, so you can hold on to them with one hand and do something with the other
- mine have crossbars approximately in the middle, and these bars are very convenient for placing the knee of a broken leg when you need to stay on one leg for a while and do something with your hands - for example, wash your face or wash the dishes.
There is also a minus: walkers are a bulky thing, you can’t fit into every narrow place with them. For example, my sister has a small bathroom; walkers can’t fit in there - I have to take crutches. And you can’t climb them up the stairs, you also need crutches - and ideally a set of crutches and a husband/friend. So when I need to leave the apartment, I still take crutches and jump around the apartment with a walker.
Edited by Mashenka (2015-09-10 21:26:57)
To move around with any serious leg injury, be it a fracture or torn ligaments, as well as with some diseases, you need helpers - special rehabilitation equipment: crutches, canes, walkers. How to choose the most convenient ones?
Anton Ivanov, an expert consultant at a medical equipment store, talks about some of the rules for choosing crutches .
If your leg is injured, then you need crutches. It is impossible to move without them for several weeks. And the crutches must be correct. A mistake can result in serious problems: chafing, joint damage, inflammation of the armpits. For leg fractures, axillary crutches are most often needed. What to consider when selecting them?
Height is the first condition for safety and ease of use. The axillary cushion should be 4–5 cm below the armpit so as not to “hang” on crutches - otherwise pain in the armpits will appear due to pressure on the nerve endings.
Since the main emphasis when moving should be placed on the hands, the height of the crossbar, which, in fact, you have to hold on to, should be slightly higher than the level of the wrist.
Obviously, with a broken leg, you can't go shopping for crutches for yourself, so whoever does it for you needs to be told what length you need. The formula is: height minus 40 cm.
Construction . Wooden crutches with “constant height” are a thing of the past. Most modern models provide multi-level fixation. Be sure to adjust them in height immediately after purchase. To do this, you need to stand on your healthy leg, lean firmly on something, slightly bend your elbows, and someone close to you will need to set the length and height of the arm support to a comfortable level. It is important to secure the screws well, but it is better to purchase crutches with push-button latches.
In different situations, a cane is needed for additional support. The standard one, we usually call it a stick, is usually used after injuries; multi-supported, at the end of which there are several legs - most often during the period of rehabilitation after a stroke and some other diseases. Important selection criteria:
Height . A cane that is too high or low is uncomfortable and reduces body stability. Its length should reach mid-thigh. However, the length of everyone’s arms is different, so the cane is chosen as follows: its handle should reach the wrist with the arm slightly bent at the elbow and lowered down. It is better to buy a cane that is height adjustable.
Pen . The larger its diameter, the more convenient it is. The main thing is that when grasping, the fingers of the hand do not touch each other. It is ideal if there is a rubber pad on the handle - the cane will not slip out of your hands.
The bottom attachment of the cane is usually rubber - so that the stick does not slip. But, if you have to use it in winter, buy it with a spike at the bottom, this is additional insurance against falls.
Height and load . Walkers that can be adjusted in height to suit the patient's height are preferable. You need to pay attention to what load they are designed for, and select them in accordance with the person’s weight.
Patient status . At the beginning of rehabilitation, it is better to use walkers with four legs: they are the most stable. In case of coordination problems - with support under the elbow. If it is difficult for a patient to lift a walker, you can buy a model with front wheels and a lightweight frame. For seriously ill patients and the elderly, it is worth paying attention to walkers with wheel locking brakes.
You can break your hip at any age, but it happens more often in older people. According to statistics, only one out of ten victims is under 65 years of age, the rest? citizens of respectable age, two thirds of whom are ? women. Age-related weakening of muscles, ligaments, leaching of calcium, proteins and, as a result, bone fragility lead to the fact that, having tripped out of the blue, a person ends up in a hospital bed. What is more dangerous than a fracture is immobility and its consequences? bedsores, vascular occlusion, muscle atrophy, pneumonia.
Activity is the main medicine and it cannot be done without auxiliary means. When choosing a walker for a hip fracture, you should take into account
Young patients with a hip fracture are placed in a cast for three months. After strict bed rest, the patient gets up and learns to walk again, using a walker. For the next four weeks, you should not put any pressure on the bone or step on the injured leg.
Walkers with soft underarm bolsters on which you can hang your whole body provide reliable support for weakened muscles.
Hip replacement? an effective way to treat older people. If the development of events is favorable, the patient, a day after the operation, takes his first steps and returns to normal life within 2 months. Complete unloading of the injured leg after surgery is not required; you can lean on it, which makes it easier for your hands to work when moving in a walker.
With a walker, it is convenient to learn to bring the affected leg forward with the healthy one and move from a catch-up gait to a normal one. Telescopic legs and (or) handrails are height adjustable and have all-season anti-slip tips. The portable support can be easily folded by pressing the lock button. The structure weighs 2-2.5 kg, while supporting a patient weighing 115-135 kg.
During rehabilitation you will have to do a lot of gymnastics, first in bed and then standing. It is convenient to do the exercises while leaning on a walker. For this case, a simple fixed single-level walker without wheels is suitable.
A walker after a hip fracture is not the only thing you need. The person undergoing surgery will need a toilet chair with seat height adjustment, since at first the injured leg cannot be bent at all; it is possible, but gradually, day by day, reducing the angle. You need to sit so that there is at least 90° between your torso and thigh.
Do you need a stable, non-slip chair or board for the bath? During the year you will have to wash while sitting.
Femoral neck fracture? complex pathology with long rehabilitation. The diverse range of certified walkers in the Aura-Med store allows you to make a choice with maximum attention to detail and confidence in the patient’s recovery.
We care about your money and suggest using the promo code “ DISCOUNT2017 ”. Get 5% discount and buy more useful things.
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Walkers for hip fractures (collum femoris) help victims move during the rehabilitation period without loading the back and sore leg, maintaining balance. After discharge from the hospital, patients will have to move around the house, up stairs and outside. But before that, you need to choose the right design and learn how to use a walker.
Victims always have a question about which walker is best for a collum femoris fracture. Only the attending rehabilitation physician can select the desired design and give recommendations on the use of the product.
Patients who have been lying motionless for a long time, especially in older people, have weak legs, so light, comfortable and stable walkers are needed for rehabilitation after a collum femoris fracture.
Important. Stationary models of the product are not suitable for patients who are too weak. It is better to replace them with walking walkers. When using them, you do not need to completely rearrange your legs, but move each side in turn. The most comfortable models on wheels have large dimensions, so they are difficult to transport.
Walkers after a hip fracture can be in the form of:
Advantages include models of products made of lightweight material, such as aluminum, as well as folding ones and adjustable to a person’s height.
Important. Walkers should not go backwards or roll over and should have rubber tips so that the patient can move on a slippery floor.
If the patient does not know what to choose: crutches or walkers, then products are now being produced that have axillary support to relieve the load from the spine and sore limb. They are reliable and comfortable for people with limited motor skills. Lightweight aluminum ensures durability, and the foldable design allows for easy transport in the car.
The frame of the walker can be adjusted in height, the hand supports are equipped with rubber pads to prevent slipping. The back legs are made with curves, which makes the product stable, prevents it from tipping over and can withstand loads of up to 100 kg. The price is within 5110 rubles.
In the video in this article you can learn about the types of walkers,
about walkers with armrests,
and products that allow walking on stairs.
When choosing products at an early stage of rehabilitation, you should be guided by the following recommendations:
When choosing, you must also be guided by the technical characteristics of the product, as indicated in the table:
To correctly adjust the height, you must:
When walking, your elbows will take the desired angle, which will prevent excessive leaning forward.
How to use a walker with a hip fracture is indicated in the table:
The first thing that absolutely all patients with broken legs are asked to bring is crutches. First of all, decide whether you will buy or rent them. Usually the hospital has “its own” rental point, where they advise you to go. Many very busy relatives do this. I don’t recommend doing this, and here’s why. “Hospital” crutches are used constantly, their wear and tear is high, the screws can become loose, and the rental price offered is usually higher than even the most expensive orthopedic salons. What if your relative “didn’t meet” the rental deadline, and he needs the item for a longer time than expected - then you will most likely be asked to return the product, and the question of purchasing will arise again. But used crutches from private individuals - neighbors, friends and relatives - are normal. All modern models are adjusted according to height, “after one user” the thing is usually almost new, and they will ask for it inexpensively - no one even admits the thought that they might find themselves in a similar situation again. And no one will limit the time of use - it is unlikely that the owner will need crutches in the near future. If you still decide to buy, then proceed from the following. Classic wooden crutches perfectly maintain body balance, although they are heavier than metal crutches - they are usually hollow. Wooden ones are more difficult to find, but they are cheaper. So decide what is more important. For overweight people, wooden ones are better. For an elderly person who had difficulty walking even before the fracture, or who has poor balance, be sure to use soft upper bars, which are located under the armpits. Just in case, I’ll say that elbow crutches without support under the armpit are completely unsuitable for walking after fractures; they are for completely different patients. If the person is not old, active and has to leave the house, and it’s winter outside, check the rubber tips on which the crutch rests - they should not slide, because you don’t want to fall again! Sometimes they immediately offer a second pair of these special, non-slip tips. Of course, this is not at all necessary for those who plan to move only around the apartment. Or if it's summer outside. Modern crutches are not divided by size, since they have a screw that allows them to be adjusted to any height; they are divided only into children's and adults; children's crutches are not only smaller, but also always lighter and softer. The cost of crutches in pharmacies ranges from 500 to a thousand rubles; the more expensive ones most likely have bells and whistles that no one needs.
Before a patient with a fracture is discharged, a plaster is applied to him (after the operation this is not done immediately; a splint is put on so that there is access to the wound.) Plaster is an ancient material, but to this day it is the most reliable. Therefore, you should not give it up unnecessarily. But just in case, you need to know that there is an alternative - for those who, for example, have skin diseases and lesions, or there are other reasons why it is impossible to make a limb inaccessible for treatment for several months, splints are used. This is an orthopedic product that, with the help of plastic and straps, fixes the limb as rigidly as a cast, but which can be unfastened and the leg can be wiped, treated and simply “let it breathe.” Many, having learned about this possibility, ask not to apply plaster, but of course, the last word on this is with the attending physician; if he allows it, buy it. A splint used after injuries should not have any hinges, be completely rigid and cover two joints adjacent to the fracture site. For example, if the lower leg is broken - knee and ankle. Before purchasing the product, measure the circumference of the knee and hip, without any splints or plaster - using these parameters you will select the right size. You can buy a splint in orthopedic stores or special salons, and here, of course, there is no question of renting it - this is an intimate thing that will soon take the shape of your specific leg. Cost - within 1400-2000 rubles. For more expensive ones, you need to check whether all the “options” you pay for are necessary. Specifically, speaking about products for convalescents, I do not name companies that I would advise you to buy - if you look through catalogs or websites on the Internet, you will see that there are their own orthopedic brands. For them you will have to pay almost 10 times more money, but neither common sense nor the sellers could explain to me why they are better than other, “unpromoted” products. Therefore, focus on the desired qualities and prices. Of course, fractures of the upper limbs also occur. In these cases, most often the injured limb is kept in traction or in a splint until a cast is applied; no additional devices are required and splints are not applied to the arm. It so happened that for a number of reasons, the healing of fractures here takes longer and worse than on the legs, the range of movements in the joints is greater, so the hand requires very rigid fixation. But with dislocations and sprains of the ligaments, the situation is different - there are orthoses - products similar to splints are applied to the joint whose ligaments are damaged. There are many models, the cost of good ones that hold tightly starts from 1,700 rubles. Often, orthoses are used for so-called “habitual dislocations,” often in athletes whose injury rate is high specifically in terms of ligaments. You can use a bandage - a softer design, it costs much less, imported ones from 700 rubles, but bandages are used more often for bruises, to fix the limb and reduce pain - after all, they do not create complete immobility. I am not considering spinal fractures here as very serious injuries that require high professionalism for treatment. I note, however, that sprains and bruises of the neck area occur; in such cases, special neck orthoses are used; they look like a collar and come in two sizes - 8 and 10 cm in height. The Russian Shants splint is not much different; it fixes the cervical spine well, looks like a collar, and costs only 250-300 rubles.
Another difficulty is that it happens that a person was able to learn to walk on crutches, and continues to lie down at home. This happens more often in older people, who, in addition to the damaged leg, have other limbs that are also not entirely healthy (of course, this also happens in young people, but much less often). For example, widespread arthrosis, arthritis of several joints. After all, walking on crutches involves transferring the entire body weight to one leg and partly to the arms. And if this formally healthy leg hurts, if the shoulder joints hurt, how to lean on them, how to bear the entire weight of the body, especially if the person has considerable weight? In such cases, help your loved one overcome the psychological barrier and start talking about walkers. Many people think, if you’re already thinking about such a subject, that’s it, I’m disabled, I’m old, I’ll never walk, and stuff like that. Meanwhile, learning to walk with a walker is much easier, because the weight of the body in them is distributed evenly over two handrails, while the legs are free to walk, and often people who have been on a walker for six months or even a year begin to literally “run” after two weeks . Subsequently, relying on the walker, you can even do simple housework, which for many, especially women, serves as an indicator of “recovery and return to duty,” which improves mood, and therefore brings recovery closer. It is better to rent walkers. The scheme for issuing them is such that you can use them for 1.5-2 months, then you “buy back” their value and they automatically become your property. I don’t recommend buying it right away - there’s a lot of choice, and what if these particular ones don’t suit you. Rented ones will definitely be replaced, bought ones - the question is! The cost of walkers is from 1500 to 2500 rubles. It is very important to know that in order to learn to walk after an injury, they must be without wheels, not “walking” - the simplest “sled” that can be moved by hand. But lightness and soft armrests must be present, as well as non-slip tips on the legs.
And the last thing I wanted to say is that when you study the list of items on the Internet, or in the salon itself, you will be surprised how many convenient things there are in the world that people don’t even know about. Many people have been caring for bedridden relatives for years and have no idea what convenient devices exist to make their work easier! Of course, there are very expensive things, such as, for example, a device for lifting and shifting a bedridden patient. But there are also “little things”, for example, linings on the toilet, making it higher and softer, for those who have pain in their legs, handles for support when descending into the bathtub or the toilet, benches in the bathtub, bedside tables that are comfortable there is lying down and much more, which makes it possible for loving relatives, friends and just anyone who wants to make the life of their loved ones, who are temporarily or constantly experiencing inconvenience when solving ordinary everyday problems, easier, simpler, to relieve them of worries about their weakness and dependence on loved ones.
When a patient talks with a doctor and the question of using a support device arises, the decision is not always clear-cut. Moreover, sometimes the doctor himself has doubts, invites the patient to think about what is more convenient for him, and sometimes the patient himself discovers advantages in a device that the doctor did not mention.
Let's try to figure out how one means of support differs from another, and when crutches are absolutely necessary and when they are not.
First of all, you need to understand that support means are used globally in two cases:
Remember who we see on the street with this or that device. If a grandmother sits at the entrance and has a cane in her hands, it seems natural. Did the doctor prescribe this cane? Most likely not. The grandmother just walks with her, “so as not to fall when her head is spinning,” “to rest, leaning on her.” Sometimes she can walk without a cane; often she only takes it outside. That is, the cane does not reduce the load on the legs.
Thus, canes are used either for general support in case of some neurological or cardiac disease, or in the last period of rehabilitation after surgery or injury. Sometimes a cane is used during the transition period from crutches to normal life.
Crutches are a much more cumbersome and serious device. By the way, crutches are a universal means of support, known to mankind for several millennia. An image of crutches was found on the wall of an ancient Egyptian tomb, while the shape of the crutches remained virtually unchanged. The point of crutches is to completely eliminate the load on the injured limb. Most often they are used temporarily after injury or surgery. If the patient has a broken leg and a plaster cast is applied, then you should not step on that leg. Thus, two crutches replace one damaged limb. After an operation, for example, to connect broken hip bones with a rod or plate, the doctor may also prohibit weight-bearing for a certain period, that is, you can only walk on crutches. In other words, there is no alternative to crutches. If exercise is completely prohibited, and the patient for some reason (old age, general illnesses) cannot stand or walk on crutches, then he cannot stand up and can only lie down.
On the other hand, there are conditions when the doctor recommends limiting the load, but in some cases, if the patient cannot walk on crutches, he allows, for example, a walker. So, after hip and knee replacement, it is recommended to walk on crutches for 6-8 weeks. But if an elderly patient, with severe concomitant pathology, cannot walk on crutches, and the doctor is confident in the stability of the endoprosthesis, then the patient is offered, for example, a walker for early activation.
Sometimes, the patient has a misunderstanding of the term “leg weight”. The doctor, after a follow-up examination, informs the patient that “everything is going well, and you can start putting weight on your legs.” To make this term easier to understand, you can walk up to a floor household scale on crutches, put your foot down, and start loading up to 20-30 kg. Having subjectively felt such a load, the patient can move on to the sore limb without weights, thereby gradually turning it into a healthy one.
Elbow crutches or crutches were invented by American Thomas Fetterman, who suffered polio at the age of 8 and was forced to walk on classic crutches for years. At the age of 18, he was already suffering from inflammation of the shoulder joints due to chronic stress. He began to think about improving the design by eliminating the shoulder girdle. In 1988, Fetterman's company began producing elbow crutches, which were recognized by both orthopedists and hundreds of thousands of patients. Thus, Canadians are used for long-term use, as the second stage of rehabilitation, when the doctor has already allowed the load, sometimes immediately after surgery, for example, absolutely stable osteosynthesis or joint arthroplasty. That is, Canadians, in terms of load, occupy an intermediate position between crutches and a cane. Canadian shoes look modern and are easier to use in everyday life. Agree, getting into a car with Canadian women is much easier. Young active patients, given the opportunity to choose, tend to favor Canadian women.
Walkers are most often offered to older patients. Some people find it difficult to understand what a walker is and what its role is. Place a chair with a backrest in front of you and try moving it forward to move. It's the same with walkers. Only more convenient and easier. In this case, walkers can be simple, with wheels or walking - that is, with varying degrees of convenience for the patient, but in terms of load - they are all the same. Walkers are prescribed when the primary concern is not the load, but the activation of the patient. For example, a patient with cerebrovascular accident. Or an elderly patient with a hip fracture who simply cannot lie down due to the risk of complications such as pneumonia and bedsores.
After we, together with the doctor, have chosen a means of support, the second question arises: how to choose the right device.
So, crutches. The roughest calculation of the length of a crutch is the patient’s height minus 40 cm. But it is better to select crutches for the patient in a standing position. If we are talking about a planned operation, it is better to do it in advance. Place the crutches under the armpits, placing the rubber tips at a distance of 15-20 cm from the foot. Straighten your back. After this, the distance between the upper transverse bar and the armpit should be two fingers, that is, approximately 4 cm. The lower transverse bar is installed in a position of flexion at the elbow joint of 30 degrees. Another way is with your arms extended along the body, the bottom bar should be at wrist level (wristwatch level). The final adjustment of the crutches occurs while walking.
Classic crutches are height-adjustable by adjusting the screws in the telescopic design and involve the use of a key or pliers. Modern models are adjustable; fixation occurs due to spring-loaded pins, so adjustment takes no more than a minute.
Modern Canadian women are also adjustable. Fitting doesn't take much time. But there are certain rules. When trying on, you need to insert your hand into the cuff and place the stop at a distance of 15-20 cm from the foot. Bend your elbow to 20 degrees. The correct position of the cuff for average height (170 cm) is 5-7 cm from the sharpest point of the elbow; with increasing height, the position of the cuff increases; with height 180 and above, the cuff is located 90-10 cm above the top of the elbow. If you are short (150 cm and below), the distance to the cuff is reduced to 5 cm.
Agreeing that walkers are used for elderly or weakened patients, we can say that the height can vary greatly depending on the patient’s preferences, that is, to make it comfortable. Modern walkers are all adjustable, so it’s impossible not to choose the right height.
It is worth noting that crutches or crutches are sometimes used for a long time, so it is better to immediately make sure that they are comfortable for you. Do not forget about the importance of therapeutic exercises, because eliminating the load does not cancel the isometric load, passive and active development of the joints.
May the means of support be comfortable, and may you get rid of them faster!
Exercise therapy for a hip fracture is a necessary measure to restore motor activity. Therapeutic gymnastics for such a complex injury is not only “resuscitation” of muscles and tendons. Proper exercises for hip fractures reduce the risk of complications and often prolong the patient's life.
After a hip fracture, the patient remains immobilized for a fairly long period, and the lack of movement means muscle atrophy, the risk of developing congestive pneumonia, the formation of thrombosis and bedsores. This article will highlight the most popular exercise therapy exercises for cervical fractures, which exercise therapy doctor Irina Drozdova clearly explains in her video.
The femur is the largest paired tubular bone in the human body. It bears the main load of the whole body, as it is located in the upper part of the lower limbs. Through its connection to the hip joint, the pelvis and lower limbs are articulated. The femur consists of three sections:
The neck of the femur (femoral neck) is the most vulnerable point. With age, it loses mineral density faster, becoming more fragile and brittle. Against the background of osteoporosis, which is common in elderly patients, the risk of hip fracture increases several times.
A femoral neck fracture usually occurs when a person falls on the hip or receives a strong blow, as a result of which the fragile area of the bone may not withstand the force of the impact.
Symptoms of a femoral neck fracture:
When a hip is fractured, a person feels pain radiating to the hip while moving.
If such symptoms appear, the patient needs urgent medical attention. The diagnosis is made based on examination by a specialist, radiography and computer diagnostics.
A hip fracture has sad statistics: it accounts for more than 6% of all fractures, has a high mortality rate from complications after the injury, and represents a serious medical problem. At risk are the elderly and women during menopause.
Treatment for a femoral neck fracture is often surgical, but sometimes conservative therapy is carried out according to indications. In any case, the patient finds himself without movement for a long time, which in itself is an unfavorable moment. Lack of physical activity leads to the development of complications that pose a certain threat to the patient's health.
The blood vessels of the neck are located in such a way that if it is fractured, they can rupture, and the bone fragment is deprived of blood supply. This situation is extremely dangerous due to complications, including non-union of bone fragments and resorption (disappearance) of a bone fragment.
Treatment for a hip fracture takes several months, during which the patient is completely bedridden. To prevent the development of life-threatening complications, to get the patient back on his feet as quickly as possible, and to teach him to walk, medical rehabilitation is necessary, which includes:
It is not customary to even doubt the benefits of gymnastic exercises for injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This is a common truth, therefore physical therapy (PT) is the most important aspect of physical rehabilitation after injuries and operations on the organs of support and movement.
Treatment for a hip fracture requires several months of bed rest
Complete rehabilitation and recovery of a patient after a hip fracture takes on average a period of three months to a year. The speed of recovery is influenced by several factors: severity of injury, age of the patient, health status and motivation. The patient’s compliance with medical recommendations and therapeutic exercises allows:
Rehabilitation begins with breathing exercises, which are prescribed to the patient from the first days of his stay in the trauma department. The first few days after the fracture, the patient is immobilized, and he urgently needs exercises that improve lung ventilation. Especially for the elderly, whose risk of developing congestive pneumonia is much higher.
Breathing exercises are performed 5 to 8 times a day. The most popular exercise: inflating a balloon.
The complex of therapeutic exercises, intensity and duration of physical exercises differ and depend on the type and severity of the injury, condition and age of the patient. As a rule, a specialist is involved in the development of exercise therapy exercises: an exercise therapy doctor or a rehabilitation physician.
Gymnastics for a hip fracture has its own characteristics, due to the specific nature of the injury and the fact that such fractures are more often the lot of elderly patients.
Together with therapeutic massage, special physical exercises can gradually restore movement in an injured joint and return a person to a full life.
Therapeutic gymnastics is capable of:
Gymnastics is performed on both legs, both the diseased and healthy limbs are trained. The set of exercises is designed so that all muscle groups work.
Therapeutic gymnastics is performed 3 times a day, each exercise is repeated 10-15 times. In case of severe pain, their implementation should be postponed for a while.
In the first time after an injury, perform simple exercises. These include wiggling your toes and tense muscles in your lower extremity. On the fourth day you can:
A month after the injury, the patient is offered gymnastics to restore balance and train the muscles of the lower extremities. Gymnastic exercises become more complicated; various weights and rubber expanders are used to create resistance. Walking with support (walkers or canes), exercises on an exercise bike and half-squats are recommended.
Therapeutic gymnastics begins with a minimal and feasible load, gradually increasing the number of exercises and their duration. The complex consists of flexion, extension and rotation movements in the main joints of the body. On the Internet you can find videos of gymnastic exercises that are performed in a supine position. Among them:
You need to do therapeutic exercises starting with minimal load
As the condition improves, when the patient can already sit on the bed independently, the exercise therapy complex is adjusted. It is supplemented by alternate flexion and extension of the toes, feet and knees, which trains the joints, gradually restoring their mobility.
Standing exercises begin with the use of a walker. The patient rests on his hands, which are holding the walker, and then tries to lean on one leg. The duration of gymnastics is no more than 1 minute, 4 approaches and three times a day.
An excellent set of gymnastic exercises for injury to the femoral neck was proposed by physical therapy doctor Irina Drozdova. Therapeutic exercises are designed taking into account the patient’s condition and can be performed in a supine position, sitting or standing.
An experienced physical therapy doctor offered the public a video of effective practical training in therapeutic exercises. Regular and consistent implementation over time restores the functioning of the hip joint and can soon return a person to a relatively active life.
Rehabilitation after a hip fracture is an important measure to restore the patient’s motor activity. Its success depends on many factors, the most important of which are therapeutic exercises, the diligence of the patient and the desire to recover as quickly as possible.
Fracture of the femoral neck - gymnastics with Drozdova, video of exercise therapy exercises: