The foot care device is basically a long handled sponge with a mirror attached. This particular piece of adaptive equipment can help patients in the areas of occupation ADLs personal hygiene and grooming and the IADL health management and maintenance. The device can help patients inspect the bottoms of their feet or other hard to see areas on their body. This device can play a key role in early detection of pressure ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. The mirror on the equipment can help address several client factors. Visual function is addressed with the mirror. Patients may not be able to see the soles of their feet or other parts of their body very well by just using their eyes for skin inspection. The client factor of skin and related …show more content…
Skin inspection is a very common thing that must be performed regularly with these diagnoses. Inspection of the skin is extremely important as pressure sores and infections can occur very quickly. Ideally skin should be inspected at least once a day. Patients will need to look for reddened areas, scrapes, cuts, bruises or any kind of discoloration. Areas that need special attention are the groin area, behind knees, the areas around the ankles and elbows, and posterior areas on the hips and tailbone. The only way for your patient to know if their skin is healthy and intact is to look at it regularly. In areas where sensation is decreased or impaired, skin inspection is a must and should become a habit. Encourage the patient to plan it as a part of their regular routine. For example, during a time when you are undressed anyway, like after a shower, before dressing in the morning or after undressing in the evening. Also when working with some of these diagnosis or patients that are in wheelchairs the therapist needs to educate the patient on position changes.
Pros of using the foot care device are that it can be used as a one handed device and it has a long handle to help decrease trunk flexion. The device is fairly light weight, easy to maneuver, and can be fit to accommodate your patient by adjusting measurements. I would say that the length of the handle side can vary due to the size of your patient. This device could really benefit patients that do not do their skin inspection daily. The device could make them become more compliant since it is easier for them to check their
Examination is the process of gathering a history, going through a systems review and choosing test and measures to obtain data about the patient. This initial comprehensive exam helps lead Physical Therapists to a diagnosis classification. With this data the Physical Therapist will then decide whether the problem can be addressed through PT interventions or need additional referral to a physician. 1 The authors use the examination element, with observations and special tests they performed, during the initial evaluation and throughout treatment. The special tests used in this case were myotome and dermatome screen, ODI score,
You may have a physical exam. During the exam, the health care provider may check for damage to nerves and blood vessels. This may include checking the pulse in your foot, checking for numbness, and checking your ability to move the foot.
use a range of equipment including surgical instruments, dressings, treatment tables, orthotic (innersole) materials, lasers, grinders, shaping equipment, x-ray and video gait-analysis equipment (which allows for analysis of patients' walking or running problems)
4. Assess all areas of the skin to look for pressure ulcers and pay close attention to foot care
Perhaps the one part of our body we take for granted is our feet. Most people are on their feet all day long, and they can eventually become a source of pain and discomfort. While we don't often ignore pain in other areas of our bodies, our feet tend to get neglected. A podiatrist can help with overall foot health as well as treat any pain or discomfort a person may be having.
If one gets checked by a doctor, then they might review of the patient's medical history and a focused physical exam, which will show where the tenderness is in comparison to the shin and lower legs.
And as a nurse, following the instruction on how it is done, applying the right medication and doing it on schedule are very important for a quick wound healing process and a quality patient care (Waugh, 2014, p. 354). Not only that, wound and total skin assessment at least twice a day, good documentation and multidisciplinary collaboration are essential (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010, p. 209). Prompt notification to the doctor for any wound progress, collaboration with the dietitian regarding the proper diet to help speed up the healing process, a clear instruction to the nursing aid that frequent patient turning and repositioning, and changing the diaper timely will aid in the wound healing and prevent further skin damage and the development of a new one (Smeltzer et al., 2010, p.
Another challenge would be that the patch risk being damaged while placed at the sole of a foot because the patient may accidently applies excessive force. The patch is to be located in places where the patient is likely to feel uncomfortable therefore they may end up abandoning the process.
Specifically inquire about exercise for type, frequency and duration and any complaints of physical limitation for exercise. Equally important, perform a visual inspection of the foot and shoes, coupled with an inquiry as to history of neuropathy or its symptoms, and presence or history of foot ulcerations. As a result, this portion of the exam offers an opportunity for education regarding proper foot care and type of shoes suitable for the diabetic patient. Of great concern, neuropathy development is directly linked to glycemic control and presents as the leading cause for disability due to foot ulceration, amputation gait disturbances and fall related injuries in diabetic patients (Juster-Switlyk, & Smith, 2016). ADA 2017 standards require completion of a comprehensive foot examination and inspection, to include palpation of dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses, assessment for the presence/absence of patellar and Achilles reflexes and determination of proprioception, vibration, and monofilament
From the ward you are practicing in choose a patient with any type of equipment/device which is used to treat the patient’s orthopaedic condition. Describe its indications for use and the key function and use of this equipment.
Upon admission to a hospital, a patient may be at risk for numerous hospital-acquired conditions. Pressure ulcers, also known as pressure sores or “bed sores”, are a type of hospital-acquired condition that may develop during a hospital admission if proper risk assessment is not performed by a registered nurse (RN). Pressure ulcers form over bony prominences, such as the back, heel, ischium, sacrum, and elbow, when circulation of these prominences is impaired (Jarvis, 2012). Pressure ulcers may develop when a person is confined to a bed or immobilized, which impedes proper delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin resulting in cell death (Jarvis, 2012). Pressure ulcers are divided into four stages. In stage I, a nonblanchable redness of intact skin appears that does not disappear for 24 hours after pressure is relieved. In stage II, there is partial-thickness erosion of the epidermis or the dermis layer of the skin. Full-thickness pressure ulcers are a stage III ulcer, which extend into subcutaneous tissue. Lastly, stage IV pressure ulcers involve all skin layers and may expose muscle, tendon or bone. Pressure ulcers can be prevented if risk assessment is performed and at-risk individuals are identified (DeLaune & Ladner, 2011).
Prevention interventions include risk assessment, repositioning, frequent skin inspections, pressure relieving devices, nutrition and hydration, and caregiver education. Risk assessment should be on admission to the home health services, as as often as needed such as whenever the patient condition declines. Similar to hospital policies, the Braden Scale can be used in home settings along with nurse’s clinical judgment.
Detailed evaluation of feet is mandatory. Assessment of digital pulses, temperature and appearance of feet, and quality and integrity of feet should be made. The coronary band should be checked for the presence of edema, sinking areas, or tender areas. The shape and position of the sole should be assessed for any abnormalities. All of these should be summed up and assessed to come up with the best podiatry program.
Generally our population sees diabetes as a disease for people that can’t eat sugar, but, those with diabetes know it comes with some life changing events. Diabetes effects an estimated 29.1 million Americans each day. Diabetes develops in one of two forms, Type one and Type two. Type one is insulin dependent diabetes, where the body lacks production of insulin (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Type two diabetics are insulin resistant, affecting mostly adults (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Diabetes is a chronic illness that accounts for many comorbidities and complications to those suffering from the disease. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death from conditions including, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations (American Diabetes Association, 2016). Management of these complications can occur with proper education, health promotion, and prevention from the patient. Foot care and ulcer prevention can reduce or eliminate complications suffered by diabetics; leading to infections requiring hospitalization and the most serious amputations. Teaching this population or any population about their healthcare needs and requirements can be difficult. Establishing the best way to education will be explored within this paper. Throughout this paper the author will take a look at daily foot care and prevention of ulcers. The paper will
The diabetic foot disease is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation and results from three common pathologies: diabetic peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and infection. Late complications include foot ulceration, Charcot neuroarthropathy and amputation (Turns, 2013, p.422) though another specialist like, Iraj who wrote Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcer, added to the most common facts: deformities and minor