There are a total of 360 joints in a human body. Joints connect bone to bone. So, if your elderly face any discomfort in any of the joints, you need to take care of them. Any kind of wear and tear, sprain or strain which causes pain is a threat to the body, creating discomfort. So, to help you know the essential orthopedic aids for the joints, read further.
Wrist Brace:
Wrist brace helps protect the wrist where it requires extra support. Like in weight lifting or bodybuilding, it creates pressure around the wrist. So, you need to prevent sprains and strains.
A wrist brace helps you keep the wrist straight and in a neutral position. Arthritis patients or a patient suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome find this as a relief to their wrist as it helps support the wrist.
Elderly have weak muscles and so picking up things can get difficult for them if done repetitively and worsen their wrist joints even more. So, you need to take care that the movement of their wrist is light and is not straining. You need to give time to the joints so that it can heal properly.
There are many types of wrist brace. You need to figure out which one is required by your elderly, and according to their condition, you need to choose an ideal one.
Ankle Support:
One of the most used body parts of a human body is the ankle. It comes with a whole range of wear and tears. With age, the joints start becoming weak and thus, prone to injuries and natural wear and tear.
Even the weight of the elderly affects their ankles. Being on the heavier side of the scale puts more pressure on the ankles, leading to swelling, tenderness, acute pain or just bruises.
Any kind of pain in the ankle is a whole lot of discomfort. To help you support your ankles from injuries, fractures, sprains, and strains, an ankle support is your go to solution. It also helps patients suffering from arthritis and tendonitis, by locking down the joint so that they have limited movement.
Elbow and Heel Protector:
Elbow and heel protector includes sleeves and pads to protect it from shearing. It helps prevent pressure ulcers for patients with limited mobility and for those who are confined to bed. Heel is one of the most common places to develop these ulcers because there are more chances of skin breakdown.
A heel protector helps prevent the friction that is caused against the skin. It is ideal for daily use and is a quick solution for reducing pressure while protecting the skin. It is one of the best ways to prevent sores, irritation, and pain. It also helps your elbows and heels from not getting any knocks.
Neck Collar:
Aging affects the spine, neck, shoulders, arms, and upper back. This does not mean that everyone at that age develops neck pain. But everyday wear and tear degenerates the condition of the spinal cord. Also, patients with bone diseases, or arthritis are more prone to such conditions.
Neck collars are also called cervical collars that help support the spinal cord and head. It is one of the most used aids for the treatment of any kind of neck injury or neck pain.
Knee Support:
A knee support is required to support the damaged knee joint. It helps relieve pain and protects the knee from getting injured again. It can be worn for stability and while healing from an injury as well. There are many different types of knee supporters, especially for the elderly. You need to know the exact medical condition of your elderly and figure out which one is an ideal choice for them.
Conclusion:
It is important to understand that even a small discomfort in any joint disturbs the person. So, you need to have these orthopedic aids handy. Also, you need to consider the condition of the elderly before buying these. You need to ensure that it is being used as in when needed. You also need to ensure that the aid is helping, and supporting the joints, rather than degrading the condition of the damaged joint further.
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