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How to Use Adaptive Equipment Use and Its Effectiveness

April 2, 2024 | Tips & Trends
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Person sitting in chair and using adaptive equipment to assist putting on socks.

 

Adaptive equipment is designed to help ease the strain on individuals needing extra support while completing their self-care tasks. Adaptive equipment can be useful for patients struggling to reach their feet and legs to complete dressing. It can also help with putting on socks, shoes, and pants, as this can also be quite difficult if one is having trouble bending or with one’s balance, whether that is from a back injury/pain, balance issues, a stroke, a chronic condition, etc. One of the many benefits of adaptive equipment is that it can help extend your reach, reducing the bending and reaching forward required to put socks, shoes, or pants on.

Here are several other examples of adaptive equipment that may be able to help you:

  • A reacher is a device with a trigger that’s used to pick up items. It’s also used to hold pants to extend down to the foot, remove socks, or to place shoes on the feet. The reacher can also be used to hold a washcloth or towel to wash/dry the legs/feet.
  • A sock aide helps a person put on socks by placing a sock on the device, using the straps to extend the device down to the feet, and pulling on the cords. The sock is then removed from the device and placed on the foot.
  • A long-handled sponge allows for bathing of the lower extremities and back.
  • Grab bars can help with stability in the shower or bath
  • Canes can help with overall general stability and help with gait issues.
  • Shower and Bath chairs can make showering easier as you recover from an injury or surgery.
  • Button hooks can help with buttons

A study was conducted of chronic lower back pain patients seen at a major hospital to determine the effectiveness of nine types of adaptive equipment prescribed.

The effectiveness was evaluated using frequency of use and perceived benefit. Of the adaptive equipment in possession by these patients, 87.5 percent were still in use and 85 percent were considered to be of some benefit.

The number of occupational therapy sessions was significantly associated with an increased frequency of use and perceived benefit of the adaptive equipment.

Occupational therapists prescribe assistive devices and adaptive equipment to enhance independent performance of activities of daily living.

This article was written by Melissa Jaworski, MOTR/L. Melissa is the Occupational Therapist practicing at the Phoenix Physical Therapyilitation in Mount Pleasant and Latrobe, PA. She has been practicing occupational therapy for 21 years.

References: The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, Volume: 10 issue: 2, page(s): 111-121

Issue published: March 1, 1990

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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