What is a Hip Kit?

What is a Hip Kit?

June 26, 2015 at 4:21pm

More than 332,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People who need hip replacement surgery typically have severe joint damage from osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis. The patients have either failed to respond to conservative treatment or the disease has progressed to the point that conservative treatment is no longer adequate.

A total hip replacement prosthesis is surgically implanted to replace the damaged hip joint. A traditional hip prosthesis has three parts: a plastic cup that replaces the hip socket or acetabulum, a metal ball that replaces the femoral head, and a metal stem that is placed in the shaft of the femur.

Hip Precautions

To prevent dislocation of the hip prosthesis after surgery, patients must follow certain precautions. Basically, certain movements are restricted, such as crossing your legs or bending too far forward (i.e., beyond 90 degrees). A physical therapist and/or an occupational therapist will teach you about hip precautions. They will also make recommendations for continuing with usual activities while being mindful of the necessary precautions.
There are assistive devices that will help you tremendously during the time that you must follow hip precautions. One such assistive device is a raised toilet seat-- a 2 to 5 inch plastic seat that allows you to sit higher on the toilet, making it easier to sit down and get up.

  
Elevated Toilet Seat with Handles

Another necessary item is a hip kit. Primo Medical supply have bundled all the necessary the items together in a "hip kit."

What's in a Hip Kit?

There usually are six items in a hip kit: sock aid, dressing stick, reacher, shoe horn, long-handled bath sponge, and elastic shoelaces. Some hip kits may not contain all six items, perhaps to keep the cost down.

A sock aid is designed to help you put on your socks without bending over to reach your feet. The sock aid has two main parts -- a flexible or semi-flexible part that the sock slips over and two long handles so you can drop the sock part to the floor, slide your foot into the sock opening, and pull onto your foot.

A dressing stick is a lightweight, thin rod with hooks at each end. The stick is about 27 inches long to help you get dressed without bending or reaching for your clothes. The hook at one end helps you pull up pants or pick clothes up from the floor. The opposite end has a smaller hook that can be used to pull up zippers.

A reacher is an assistive device, commonly available in lengths ranging from 24 to 32 inches, that allows the person using it to reach or pick up objects that otherwise would be difficult to grasp without bending or extending the body. One end of the reacher is usually a pistol-style handle and the other end is a claw that is triggered to latch onto an object.

The shoe horn found in a hip kit is an extended version of a normal shoe horn. They can range from 18 to 32 inches. The extended length allows a person to slip on shoes without bending over.

A long-handled bath sponge is an assistive device that allows a person who is showering to reach their feet, back, or other body parts without over-extending or bending. The long handle is usually plastic and approximately 2 feet in length with a bath sponge attached.

Elastic shoelaces are a great solution for people who want to continue wearing their tie shoes but are limited in their ability to bend down to tie them. The elastic shoelaces are stretchable, allowing you to wear the tie shoes as if they were slip-on style shoes. The shoes stay tied and you slip the shoes on and off.

#primomedicalsupplies #medicalsuppliesinsanantonio #medicalsupplystore #durablemedicalequipments #medicalstoreinsanantonio #medicalequipmentsstore #sanantoniomedical #elevatedtoiletseat #toiletseatinsanantonio #medicalsupplies #toiletseatwitharms #dme

UV Shoe Sanitizer / Sneaker Deodorizer / Boot Sanitizing Treatment / Kills Organisms that cause Athletes Foot and Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis)

Our feet sweat up to ½ a pint per day and every step we take squeezes the sweat and germs from our socks into our shoes and feet. This sweat causes your shoes to become breeding grounds for the fungus and bacteria that cause toenail fungus, athlete's foot, and odor. Our shoes are the only article of clothing that we do not clean, and the ultraviolet shoe sanitizer changes that.

Using germicidal ultraviolet light (UVC) to sanitize shoes, is clinically proven way to sanitize shoes. It is doctor recommended and the Pedifix sanitizer was even awarded a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association. In 15 minutes, it kills up to 99.9% of the germs in your shoes.

UVC works when there is direct exposure to microorganisms; even clear plastic will block its effectiveness so the Pedifix sanitizer is designed to not block the UVC light. You should not look at UVC light so the Pedifix sanitizer has safety features that prevent it from working when it is not inside a shoe. UVC has been used for decades to disinfect air and surfaces in hospitals and in water treatment systems to make water safe to drink.

An article in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology stated "it appears to me almost futile to attempt to treat a patient's feet without doing something about his shoes, which...serve as potential reservoirs of reinfection." The Pedifix sanitizer is therefore designed for people who have athlete's foot (tinea pedis), toenail fungus (onychomycosis), diabetes, chronic shoe odor, and people who are concerned about general hygiene.

What Is the Difference Between a Transport Chair and a Standard Wheelchair?

One of the things you’ll notice when you start shopping for a wheelchair is that there are basically two different types: transport wheelchairs and standard or lightweight wheelchairs. The main difference between these two types of wheelchairs is the size of the rear wheels. On the transport chair, the rear wheels are the same size (or only slightly larger) as the front casters, ranging from about 6 to 12 inches. On a standard wheelchair, the rear wheels are much larger than the front casters, with the most popular size being 24 inches in diameter.

There are several points you may want to consider when deciding between a transport chair and a standard wheelchair, including chair weight and size, how you will be using the chair, and your budget. Below is a list of basic differences between these two types of wheelchairs.

Transport Wheelchair

Transport Wheelchair

• Small wheels
• Pushed by companion
• Smaller wheels prevent user from rolling the wheelchair without assistance – this is good in cases where the patient requires close supervision
• Very lightweight (14 to 28 lbs.)
• Ideal for occasional use and short trips
• Folds for storage and transport
• More compact (smaller wheels, folding backrest)
• Cheaper, which makes it good for use in churches, senior centers, malls, airports, clinics, and hospitals
• Widely universal fit makes it good for use with multiple patients

Standard or Lightweight Wheelchair

Lightweight Wheelchair

• Large rear wheels
• Self-propelled by user or pushed by companion
• Good for independent users (can push it themselves)
• Lightweight (28 to 36 lbs.) or Standard (36+ lbs.)
• Ideal for frequent or everyday use
• Folds for storage and transport
• Easier to push on outdoor terrain because of the large rear wheels
• Larger wheels offer greater stability than transport chairs
• More options and adjustments for a custom fit

#medicalsupplies #medicalsuppliessanantonio #wheelchair #transportchair

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling, weakness, and other problems in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.

The median nerve and several tendons run from your forearm to your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel . The median nerve controls movement andfeeling  in your thumb and first three fingers (not your little finger).

                            

Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller. Many things can cause this swelling, including:

• Illnesses such as hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.
• Making the same hand movements over and over, especially if the wrist is bent down (your hands lower than your wrists), or making the same wrist movements over and over.
• Pregnancy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers or hand. Some people may have pain in their arm between their hand and their elbow.                        

Symptoms most often occur in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. If you have problems with your other fingers but your little finger is fine, this may be a sign that you have carpal tunnel syndrome. A different nerve gives feeling to the little finger.

                     

You may first notice symptoms at night. You may be able to get relief by shaking your hand.

Your doctor will ask if you have any health problems—such as arthritis,hypothyroidism, ordiabetes—or if you are pregnant. He or she will ask if you recently hurt your wrist, arm, or neck. Your doctor will want to know about your daily routine and any recent activities that could have hurt your wrist.

During the exam, your doctor will check the feeling, strength, and appearance of your neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands. Your doctor may suggest tests, such as blood tests or nerve tests.

Mild symptoms usually can be treated with home care. You can:

• Stop activities that cause numbness and pain. Rest your wrist longer between activities.
• Ice your wrist for 10 to 15 minutes 1 or 2 times an hour.
• Try taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
• Wear a wrist splint at night. This takes pressure off your median nerve.

                        

The sooner you start treatment, the better your chances of stopping symptoms and preventing long-term damage to the nerve.

You also may need medicine for carpal tunnel syndrome or for a health problem that made you likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome.

Surgery is an option. But it's usually used only when symptoms are so bad that you can't work or do other things even after several weeks to months of other treatment.

To keep carpal tunnel syndrome from coming back, take care of your basic health. Stay at a healthy weight. Don't smoke. Exercise to stay strong and flexible. If you have a long-term health problem, such as arthritis or diabetes, follow your doctor's advice for keeping your condition under control.

You can also try to take good care of your wrists and hands:

• Try to keep your wrist in a neutral position.
• Use your whole hand—not just your fingers—to hold objects.
• When you type, keep your wrists straight, with your hands a little higher than your wrists. Relax your shoulders when your arms are at your sides.
• If you can, switch hands often when you repeat movements.

                                 

#carpaltunnel #primo #primomedical #medicalsupplies