Mobility Equipment Supplies

People who suffer from arthritis understand how difficult everyday tasks can be if their joints and muscles constantly ache even with slight movement. Fortunately, there are household aids that can help make their life easier.

One household task that can be quite difficult is cutting food. However, it does not have to be complicated anymore. There are several knives that you can use to cut food with one hand. Some of these knives are the Angled Ergonomic Fork Knife, Angled Ergonomic Fruit Knife, and Angled Ergonomic Chefs Knife among others.

Having arthritis gets in the way of doing what may seem to be an easy undertaking. One example is using scissors. Most people are not aware how difficult it can be to use scissors when you are suffering from arthritis in your hands. Good thing that there are Self-Opening Scissors that can make cutting easier. Another product that you can use for eating is a Utensil Holder, which is like a strap that you can wear on your wrist and hold utensils for you. This is very helpful to those who have difficulty holding on to a spoon or fork.

Getting dressed also becomes a challenge when you have arthritis. To make this easier, you need Dressing Aids, such as the Button Aid that can be used to button blouses, shirts, and skirts, and the Shoehorn that makes putting on shoes a breeze.

Another one of concern among arthritis patients, especially old people, is turning keys. Since keys are basically tiny, they can be difficult to grasp when you have arthritis. You can use a special Key Holder that you can attach to the key to better grasp it.

Having arthritis does not have to interfere with your everyday life. Check out DoAbility UK today to avail of these wonderful products.

There are several reasons why a loved one in your life can only use one hand. Nevertheless, no matter the reason, the fact of the matter is that having only one hand to use makes it difficult to do what other people perceive as easy, everyday tasks. If you would like to help your elderly parents or grandparents, you might want to consider getting one-handed products designed for the elderly and people who can only use one hand. One of the most helpful products is the Angled Ergonomic Fork Knife. They are designed to combine a fork and a knife so they only have to use one utensil whenever they are eating.

Many of the one handed products will come in handy when your loved one tries to dress themselves. This is one of the tasks that old people try to do without any help for as long as they can because they feel that not being able to do so is unacceptable. There is a Dressing Aid that helps put on and remove coats, jackets, and trousers. There is a Button Aid that helps people attach even the smallest buttons on their clothes. If you want to make your loved one feel as if they still have their independence, consider getting them these products.

However, if your loved one frequents the kitchen, there are also tools to help them there. Various One-Handed Cutting Boards that make cutting food still possible even if they can only use one hand. Another tool they might find valuable is a Rolling Pin that only needs one hand to roll over the dough.

Being able to use only one hand is extremely difficult for many old people because they are used to doing everything with both hands. If you are not born with this disability, being forced to use only one hand can be a hard adjustment. This is why using one-handed products can help maintain freedom in your own home. Even if you can only use one hand and/or have weakness in one of your hands, one-handed products can help make life easier for you and your elderly loved one.

Check out a wide range of these One-Handed Products at www.DoAbility.co.uk.

A disability charitable organisation stated how the brand new Routemaster bus is totally inaccessible with regard to users of huge electric wheelchairs. The bus has been built in Northern Ireland, along with full scale mock-ups, which are currently being examined. However, pressure group Transport for All, which was able to check out the bus, desires more room for wheelchairs.

Transport for London stated that the new bus had a lot more than the actual lawfully needed room with regard to wheelchairs. Nevertheless, wheelchair user Yousef Bey-Zekkoub, who is associated with Transport for All, asserted that when he visited the new bus, he had been totally disappointed. According to him, the wheelchair room is actually small compared to the bus he frequently rides in. It is completely inaccessible for electric wheelchairs. He further stated that one lady, who had been looking to get on the bus in a recent testing session could not get on board whatsoever.

With the 2012 Paralympic games coming, TfL has got the chance to show to the world how much accessible this bus is. Buses ought to be accessible for everyone, and not only for the able-bodied.

Mike Weston, TfL’s operations director for London buses, said that because the mock-up had been delivered this past year, they have been holding sessions with user groups who have been trying out the bus. Based on all of the information given by these users, he explained that they have made a few modifications to the wheelchair bay. He says that a number of rails, as well as seats have been relocated, however, he was adamant that they might not really get rid of some of the seats completely because seniors require lots of seating on the lower level.

The first five buses are due to ply the streets of London first quarter of 2012.

by Jon Graham, Clinical Director, PhysioFunction

Many people with dropped foot find that they catch the toes of their affected leg as they swing it forwards. This is often because they are unable to lift the foot up at the ankle. The technical term for this is drop foot (or foot drop). It is caused by weakness from the stroke iof the muscles at the front of the shin. Tightness or spasticity in the calf muscles can add to the difficulty of lifting the foot.

The most common solution for this is the use of a plastic splint worn in the shoe called an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO), or a metal calliper attached to the shoe. These fix the foot at a suitable angle so that the toes can clear the ground.

In the USA in the 1960s, researchers found that it was possible to stimulate the nerves supplying the foot lifting muscles using tiny electrical currents. This was termed Functional Electrical Simulation (FES). In the mid 1990s, the Medical Physics Department at Salisbury District Hospital produced the Odstock Drop Foot Stimulator (ODFS) which enabled this technology to be used practically outside of the laboratory. The ODFS uses a small footswitch placed discreetly in the heel of the user’s shoe. When the weight comes off the heel, the switch triggers the stimulator which then conveys the electrical current via sticky electrode pads to the muscle and the nerve supplying it. The muscle is then activated and the foot lifts up at the ankle.

Not only does FES reduce trips and falls, it can also make walking faster and less effortful. Overtime the muscles can even relearn how to lift the foot without the stimulator. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has declared FES as a safe and effective treatment for drop foot.

The ODFS has been further refined and is now called the PACE. It still relies on wires: one from the foot switch to the stimulator and one from stimulator to the electrode pads. Users have to position the pads for themselves.

Recently two wireless stimulators have become available in the UK: Walkaide and Bioness L300. Both these devices contain the electrode pads in specially shaped anatomical cuffs that fit just below the knee. The Walkaide has a built in movement sensor that is trained to trigger the stimulator as the user starts to swing their leg forward. The Bioness L300 uses a wireless footswitch to ensure effective triggering with every step. The absence of wires and the housing of the electrodes in the cuff makes these devices easy to put on with one hand – which is so important for many FES users

Many PCTs will fund the PACE FES at the National FES Centre at Salisbury or at one its UK-wide satellite clinics. Walkaide and Bioness L300 are generally funded privately. However, PCTs have responded favourably in some cases to funding applications for these devices. The government-backed Access to Work Scheme has also assisted in providing funds for these as mobility aids.

For further reference:
ODFS/PACE:/NHS FES Services www.odstockmedical.com
Walkaide: www.walkaide.com
Bioness: www.bioness.com

For independent information and advice on all THREE FES systems:
www.physiofunction.co.uk (East Midlands, Yorkshire, Oxford, London)
www.fesnorthwest.co.uk (Cumbria. Lancashire)

These days, there are many websites offering mobility equipment and supplies. However, for people who are serious about the safety of those who will be using these equipment, I strictly recommend premium quality products.

Many people wonder why they should pay more when they can get something cheaper. Nevertheless, the explanation is quite easy. In almost every case, the higher the price, the better the quality.

There is no doubt that slightly expensive mobility equipment can provide its consumers with more competitive advantages. The latest and most advanced technologies are used to manufacture high quality products. If we are to compare them with cheaper products, a more expensive device made use of quality materials. It should be pointed out, too, that high quality products last longer than cheaper ones. Thus, if you think you were able to save money by buying a less costly item, you are definitely mistaken.

In general, cheap low-quality equipment uses low cost materials that may be unsafe. Aside from the fact that they have a tendency to break down easily, continuous use may harm the user.

Hence, if you really want to save on a piece of mobility equipment, go for a slightly expensive high-quality product. You might have spent a little extra, but you can be assured that it is safe and secure, and that it will last for a long, long time.

The DoBuggy Stroller for kids with special needs can be most useful when it is time to venture out with your child. This stroller can make it easier for you and your kid to enjoy a day around town, at the beach, along a jogging trail, or at the park.

When shopping for a stroller for your child, it is important to do some preliminary research, as well as an evaluation of your child’s needs.

One of the first things you should do when you have committed to the idea of buying a stroller is to make sure that you know the child’s height and weight. Fortunately, the DoBuggy Stroller can accommodate different height and weight requirements.

Knowing where you will be taking your stroller and what you will be doing with it is another essential part when shopping for strollers, and the DoBuggy Stroller has some special features that may be used in any type of environment and activities that you will be involved in.

If you are planning to take your kid on a nice run down a nature trail, the DoBuggy’s large wheels can handle the rough terrain. If you are going to take your kid along for a stroll around town to run errands and see the sights, the compact and lightweight DoBuggy can manoeuvre around buses, cars, ferries, and stores.

Confined spaces like narrow aisles, crowded streets, and elevators require parents of special kids to look for ways to take up as little space as possible. For this purpose, the DoBuggy was designed to squeeze in and out of small spaces.

With the DoBuggy Stroller, you do not have to buy different strollers for different activities. The extra durable DoBuggy is everything you need in a stroller that also promises to last for many years.

To order your DoBuggy Stroller, visit DoAbility UK today.