Welcome to TheSupportYouNeed.com

Get up-to-date information from a physical therapist about topics including bath lifts for the elderly, adaptive shower aids,  patient lifts, bariatric equipment, compression stockings, discount wheelchair ramps, coping with aging parents, special needs tricycles, lift chairs, ostomy care, sensory integration dysfunction, hippotherapy and the mygo and squiggles seating systems.

Find information on a variety of health care topics so you can make accurate decisions for yourself or for someone you care about. 

Below is a list of topics discussed:

Adaptive Shower Aids - The bathroom and shower are frequent places of falls within the home. As water and soap mix, it causes slippery surfaces on the floor.  People are frequently turning to adaptive shower aids to prevent injury in the bathroom. 

Arthritic Pain Relief - All joints in the body can become arthritic, but are most commonly seen in the hips, knees, wrists and fingers. When individuals have arthritic flare ups, it can be quite debilitating. The pain and swelling make it difficult to move and walk. Normal functional activities at home or work become harder to complete. This can also result in depression for many people. I will discuss some options for arthritic pain relief for those of you that currently suffer from it.

Bariatric Equipment - Individuals who weigh more than 250 pounds are considered to comprise the bariatric population. It is estimated that one-third of all Americans are considered to be obese. This heavier set population frequently suffers from illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and back and joint pain. Many who suffer from these illnesses become unable to walk and require bariatric equipment to help them function in their home and community. 

Bath Lifts for the Elderly - This webpage provides helpful information for adults and family members taking care of their elderly parents.  Webpage information includes bath lifts available for those needing help getting in and out of their bath tubs.

Buy Medical Equipment - If you are looking to buy medical equipment, the computer is an easy resource with which to purchase what you need. When you buy medical equipment from internet sites, you usually can find it cheaper because of not having to pay the overhead prices of your local medical supply store.

Coping with Aging Parents - As individuals get into their eighties and nineties, their health usually becomes more compromised and their abilities decrease. They then become more dependent on their adult children or others to help care for them. This creates a difficult situation for the adult children because they could be taking care of their own children and meet responsibilities at work. Trying to balance caring for elderly parents and young children can cause a great deal of stress on the middle-aged population. Therefore, this web page is dedicated to those coping with aging parents.

Compression Stockings -Compression stockings are a low-cost, non-invasive way to treat venous insufficiecy, varicose veins and edema.  They also prevent embolisms (free floating blood clots) from occurring.

Discount Wheelchair Ramps - This website describes types of discount wheelchair ramps and some funding opportunities that could be helpful.

Hippotherapy - A treatment strategy that uses horses to produce improved physiologic functioning.  Hippotherapy has been used for over 30 years by trained physical, occupational and speech therapist, because of the multi dimensional effects on clients’ gross/fine motor needs, posture, balance and emotional well-being.

Joint Pain Relief - Joints consist of ligaments, bony surfaces, tissue, synovial fluid, blood/nerve supply and muscle attachments. They are pretty complex units and are involved with all our movements and activities. The average person’s day to day activities place a lot of stress on the joints, especially in our legs. Walking and running place stress on the hips, knees and ankles. These activities can cause joint pain, especially if a person is wearing poor fitting shoes. Joint pain is also associated with decreased flexibility and strength of the surrounding muscles. As a person ages, joint pain becomes worse and more frequent. This causes people to be incapacitated, stimulating their need for joint pain relief.

Lift ChairsAs an individual get older, it becomes more difficult to stand up from a sitting position. Individuals with arthritis in their knees and hips can experience a lot of pain when making this transition. It is much easier for elderly or disabled people to transition to and from a sitting position if they do not need to bend down as far. Because of this problem, many companies today are making lift chairs. 

Lightweight Strollers - Lightweight strollers are mechanical mobility devices to transport infants and children. However, there are brands available that can fit small adults. Most lightweight strollers are foldable and are made of lightweight materials.  The frame is usually made of aluminum and the fabric is typically made with a vinyl or mesh material. 

The Mygo Seating System - This seating system is designed to give optimal positioning and function to children between the ages of four and twelve.  This system is most appropriate for children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, scoliosis, mental retardation and Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. 

Ostomy Care - An ostomy is a procedure in which an artificial opening (a stoma) is surgically created in the abdominal wall, which allows discharge of body wastes. Usually an ostomy is completed when an injury or disease has caused impairment in the excretory system.

Patient Lifts - Patient lifts are mechanical devices that are used to lift a person by means of a hydraulic mechanism.  They can be activated by means of electric power or a manual pump.  In each type, a mesh or canvas sling is placed under the patient and it is then anchored to at least four points so that it cradles the person as they are lifted.  Patient lifts are often referred to as hoists and come in a variety of styles.

Special Needs Tricycles - This webpage gives information about adapted tricycles and handcycles for the disabled population.  Tricycles and handcycles from Rifton, Freedom Concepts and Invacare are discussed in detail.

Squiggles -  This webpage discusses an amazing new product to help toddlers with disabilities.  This seating system offers top of the line positioning and adjustablility.  This device is liked by therapists and is very family friendly.   

Karen Taylor, PT, MS, ATP is the author of this website.  She has practiced as a physical therapist for over 13 years.  She has also worked as a durable medical equipment vendor and received her credentialing as an assistive technology practitioner.  This experience has given her the knowledge base she draws upon when discussing these medical topics.

 

Any information received from emails, will not be shared or sold.  Only the author of this website will have access to the emails.
 
 
SpinLife.com, LLC

Last Update:  2/19/08

 To contact us, please e-mail GlobalRehabTech@roadrunner.com


 
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor or any other health care provider. Global Rehab Technologies, LLC disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.