HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Elmamoun, M. Articles by Mulley, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Elmamoun, M. Articles by Mulley, G.

Walking sticks and frames for patients with neurological disorders

¹ Senior House Officer in Elderly Medicine Department of Elderly Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
² Professor of Elderly Medicine Department of Elderly Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor G MulleyDepartment of Elderly Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; Graham.mulley@leedsth.nhs.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

We begin to crawl on four limbs and progress to two as we assume the erect posture. In time we may use three "legs" (adding a stick to our two legs) and later six (a walking frame). Many neurological conditions affect mobility and balance. The use of mobility aids can restore confidence, often by signaling to others that the user is unsteady. They can compensate for weakness, alleviate pain, improve posture, correct abnormal gait patterns, and enable people to walk further and more safely. Yet simple mobility aids are rarely described in neurological texts and doctors, including neurologists, may feel inadequately prepared to recommend or examine them.

In this article, we will focus on the various types of sticks and frames, the indications for their use, and how to assess them. We will also cover wider issues that the clinician might consider when managing someone with impaired balance or mobility. . . . [Full text of this article]