Walking devices used by community-dwelling elderly: Proportion, types, and associated factors

Publication date: Available online 26 December 2014 Source:Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal Author(s): Patcharawan Suwannarat , Thiwabhorn Thaweewannakij , Supapon Kaewsanmung , Lugkana Mato , Sugalya Amatachaya Advancing age is likely to increase the requirement for walking devices. However, the existing evidence mostly involves all types of external devices used from participants in developed countries with or without medical problems. The findings may be different from the data on the use of walking devices exclusively, particularly for the elderly who live in a rural community of a developing country. Thus this study explored the proportion, types, and factors associated with the use of walking devices in 343 elderly aged ≥ 65 years who live in a rural area of Thailand. The participants were interviewed and assessed for their walking device used and functional mobility. The data demonstrated that 74 participants (22%) used a walking device for mobility. Most of them used a modified walking stick (70%), followed by a standard single cane (27%), and a walker (3%). Although most of these participants used a walking device due to their own determination with only a few of them using it according to medical prescription, their functional ability was significantly poorer than those who walked without a walking device (p < 0.05). Being unable to walk faster than 1 m/s and having a caregiver had the strongest relationship with the use of a walking device. The...
Source: Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal - Category: Physiotherapy Source Type: research