Electric Mobility Scooters

Even with the best treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can slow you down. That’s why a good treatment plan doesn’t stop with just medicine and exercise. If you start to have trouble with everyday activities, help is available.Assistive devices are products and tools that can make life with rheumatoid arthritis easier. These simple devices let you continue to cook, clean, get dressed, bathe, and move around with relative ease.Assistive Devices to Help You Get Around

• A cane or crutch used on the opposite side of a painful knee or hip makes walking easier and makes the joint last longer.
• Braces and splints provide support to joints and decrease strain.
• Reachers are long rods with a grip handle on one end and pincers (like a claw, used to grab) on the other. They let you pick up small objects without having to bend over or reach uncomfortably.
• Elevated chair legs make it easier to get in and out of your seat. The chairs you have can usually be fitted with extenders.

Assistive Devices for the Bathroom

• A tub bench or shower seat lets you bathe more comfortably and reduces the chance of falls. Nonskid shower mats will make the tub safer, too.
• Grab bars make it easier to get in and out of the bath.
• A raised toilet seat with side rails reduces the strain of getting on and off.
• Long-handled sponges help you to wash your legs and feet without bending. Also, large sponges are easier to grip than washcloths.
• Easy-to-pull shower curtains are better than heavy shower doors.
• An electric toothbrush with a fat handle is easier than a regular toothbrush.
• By putting a seat in front of your sink you can avoid leaning forward; the same with using a freestanding mirror for grooming.

• Cane or walking stick: The key here is getting the cane fitted to the right height. Measurements are crucial to having the best fit possible. Ideally, when you hang your arm by your side, your hand should hang just over the top of the cane, your wrist lining up with the very top of the cane. An adjustable cane is easiest for ensuring the correct height, but if you are a long-time user, you may choose a custom cane, cut to your specific height, or even a walking stick to add a little style.
When you grasp the top of the cane, your elbow should bend at about
30 degrees. If you are using a cane because of weakness on one side of
your body, place the cane in the hand of your stronger side.

• Crutches: There are basically two types of crutch styles––under the arm
(auxiliary) or cuffed to the forearm (Lofstrand or Canadian crutches). A
proper fit and some instruction on safe use is important. Seek the
assistance of a health care provider when first using crutches. Long-time
crutch users have found the style tip (the rubber tip on the bottom of the
crutch) and the grip style for your hand can add to overall comfort for
long-term use.

• Walkers: Walkers are currently available in many styles––pick-up walkers,
which have no wheels; sliders, which have small skis or tennis balls on
the rear legs; or “rollator” walkers, which employ four wheels. Some
walkers use three wheels, are triangular in shape, and offer somewhat
less support, but are not as bulky; four-wheel walkers are primarily
designed for indoor use. More robust walkers that employ four larger
wheels and a full basket are also available and may even include a fold-
down seat.

 Being as mobile as our abilities allow is essential for the independence of all people.  Wheelchairs Abound has a wide selection of products to help people with mobility challenges keep moving.

Whether you or someone you love needs a quad cane, a walker, a scooter, or a wheelchair, Wheelchairs Abound has whatever it takes to stay engaged in life and on the go!