| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Isometric exercises | are used to promote muscle tone and strength |
| strength | the power to perform |
| tone | the ability of muscles to respond when stimulated |
| Debilitated clients | those who are frail or weak from prolonged inactivity |
| Techniques for increasing muscle strength and the ability to bear weight | performing isometric exercises with the lower limbs, performing isotonic exercises with the upper arms, dangling at the bedside and using a device called a tilt table |
| Types of isometric exercises | quadriceps setting and gluteal setting |
| quadriceps setting | the client alternately tenses and relaxes the quadriceps muscles, enables clients to stand and support their body weight |
| gluteal setting | contraction and relaxation of the gluteal muscles, strengthen and tone muscle functions that are essential to walking |
| Clients who will use a walker, cane or crutches | need upper arm strengthening exercise regimen |
| Dangling | helps to normalize blood pressure |
| tilt table | device that raises the client from a supine to standing position |
| Preparing for ambulation | may include isometric exercises, upper arm strengthening, dangling and using a tilt table |
| Assistive devices | parallel bars, walking (gait) belt |
| Ambulatory aids | Canes, walkers, crutches and crutch-walking gaits |
| Assistive devices that help the client ambulate independently | parallel bars and walking (gait) belt |
| Parallel bars | double row of stationary bars, clients use as handrails to gain practice in ambulating |
| Walking belt (gait) | used to assist client to ambulate while the nurse walks alongside the client holding the belt and supporting the client's arm |
| While ambulating, the nurse observes the client for | pallor, weakness or dizziness |
| Ambulatory aids | are used to help with ambulation |
| Canes | hand-held ambulation device made of wood or aluminum |
| Axillary, forearm and platform | are three types of crutches |
| Crutches | ambulatory aid generally used in pairs, constructed of wood or aluminum |
| Axillary | standard type of crutch, have a bar that fits beneath the axilla |
| Forearm crutches | crutches that have an arm cuff, but no axillary bar |
| Platform crutches | crutches that support the forearm, used by clients who cannot bear weight with their hands and wrists |
| Cane height is measured | at the hip |
| Walkers | are the most stable form of ambulatory aid |
| Nurses instruct clients who use a walker to | pick up the walker and advance it 6 to 8 inches then step into it |
| When the client uses a walker | the nurse instructs the client to support their body weight on the handgrips when moving the weaker leg |
| Nurse teaches the client using a cane | to place the cane on the stronger side and move the cane forward at the same time as the weaker extremity |
Combine with other sets
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