Assistive Devices to Improve Independence

Assistive devices for independence are available to aid in mobility/ambulation (ambulatory aids), activities of daily living (ADLs) and self-care, as well as for voice, hearing, vision, and safety. Ambulatory aids (eg, canes, crutches, walkers) are used to provide an extension of the upper extremities to help transmit body weight and provide support for the patient. The image below provides some examples of ambulatory aids.
1: Adjustable aluminum cane. 2: Unadjustable aluminum cane. 3: T-top cane. 4: Quad cane. 5: Walk cane (hemi-walker). Assistive devices for ADLs, as well as for self-care and leisure activities, range from simple objects for daily use (eg, plate guards, spoons with built-up handles, elastic shoelaces, doorknobs with rubber levers) to complex electronic devices, such as voice-activated environmental control systems.

Category

Assistive devices to improve independence

Device details

Canes

• C cane
• Functional grip cane
• Quad cane (narrow [small] based and wide [large] based)
• Walk cane (hemi-walker)
• Visual impairment cane

Crutches

• Axillary (underarm) crutches
• Nonaxillary (forearm [Lofstrand, Canadian]) crutches
• Crutches with orthoses (wooden forearm orthosis, platform forearm orthosis, triceps weakness orthosis [Warm Springs crutch, Everett crutch])

Crutch gaits

• Four-point, 3-point, and 2-point gaits
• Swing-through gaits
• Swing-to gaits
• Drag-to (tripod) gait

Walkers

• Standard (pickup) walker
• Rolling (4-wheeled) walker (with or without a seat)
• Front-wheeled walker
• Reciprocal walker
• Forearm support walker
• Stair-climbing walker
• Heavy-wheeled walker with foldaway seat and removable back

Brain-computer interface/motor neuroprosthetic devices
Cyberkinetics

• BrainGate
• BrainGate 2

Electrolarynges

• Neck electrolarynx
• Intraoral electrolarynx