The K-9 Orthopaedic Walking Aids - The alternative: wheels in place of crutches for lower leg injuries
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Crutches VS. K9 |
The K9 leg trolley is an orthopedic 4 (four) wheeled walker and is used to aid mobility following a
lower leg injury such as a ruptured Achilles tendon,
amputation, broken ankle, broken foot,
bunions, diabetic ulcer, fractured heel,
sprained ankle and gout. Due to it's double thrust bearing castor wheel base, it increases mobility replacing crutches and helps with circulation and physiotherapy.
Conventional walking aids like crutches are difficult to use. Problems that rapidly become apparent include fatigue and soreness of the
hands, axilla and chest wall. The hands cannot be used for other purposes and occasionally a
carpal tunnel syndrome develops.
The Orthopaedic Trolley can, in many situations, liberate the
patient from crutches. It is a lightweight wheeled walking aid which, with the knee flexed, supports the
shin. It is easily steered with knee pressure, leaving the hands free and it allows far more
mobility than crutch-walking.
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Click here to read what a well known BBC journalist had to say about K-9 |
Other advantages of wheeled walkers include:
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The walker allows hands and arms free for normal use |
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Can be steered with the knee and becomes a kind
of substitute lower leg |
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Scoots 2 or 3 metres at one push due it's four (4) wheels |
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Very manoeuvrable, turns in its own length giving full mobility to the patient |
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Becomes a footrest when seated |
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Adjustable for height in 30 seconds for users
from about 4' 8" (1.42m) tall upwards |
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Weighs only 6kgs and can be dismantled into 4
pieces for packaging |
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Hands free for house work |
A
clinical trial at a British hospital showed that older people
get on well with orthopedic walking aids although they are unable to use crutches.
A mentally handicapped and overweight patient who couldn't co-ordinate crutches used the K9 wheeled walker without difficulty.
Patients are finding when they use wheeled walkers that they have mobility much
sooner and consequently leaving hospital significantly earlier. Also, as the K9 has a four (4) wheel base the user, being able to get about more easily and comfortably,
is inclined to take much more exercise and keep in better physical condition.
When a leg is not used the muscles quickly weaken and waste. By
using an Orthopaedic Trolley the leg is at least weight bearing from the knee up so the thigh
muscles remain normal.
The Orthopaedic Trolley walking aid has proved to be a boon for patients with
the conditions listed below.
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