Fundamentals Question

[swansonplace]

The client has a cast on the right foot and is begind discharged home. Crutches will be used for ambulation, and the client must manage stairs to enter the house and get to the bedroom and bathroom. The nurse evaluates the client's correct technique in using the crutches on the stairs when the client:

1. advances the crutches first to ascend the stairs

2. uses one crutch for support while going up and down

3. uses the banister or wall for support when descending the stairs

4. advances the affected leg after moving the crutches when descending the stairs.

Correct answer is 4. Why isn't one correct?

[birdie22]

"up with the good, down with the bad"

The crutch always advances with the bad leg, so going up, it would be good leg, crutch, then bad leg. going down, it's bad leg, crutch, then good leg. Hope that helps!

[swansonplace]

Sorry. Still don't understand why one isn't valid. When going up the stairs, one would first have to move the crutches on the stair, then the good leg.

When going down it would be crutches first, and then good leg.

What am I missing.

[Byaggha]

Moving both crutches to the stair first would leave them on a single point - their good leg - on the floor, and then would force them to either put undue pressure on their armpits trying to lift their whole weight, or put pressure on the bad leg as they raised the good leg to the stair. Either one's not really safe for them.

[caliotter3]

Moving both crutches to the stair first would leave them on a single point - their good leg - on the floor, and then would force them to either put undue pressure on their armpits trying to lift their whole weight, or put pressure on the bad leg as they raised the good leg to the stair. Either one's not really safe for them.

This is what I was taught. And if you think about it some, it makes sense.