Just a Quick Question
 

I have a member of our PD support group who is having a lot of balance problems. There is a belt used to help the care person help control the PD patient. What is the name of this belt so I can to tell them what to get?

GregD

don't know ........
 

but try; Banner Therapy Products, Inc.
891 Broadway St.
Asheville, NC 28804
Fax
Local (828) 277-1189
Toll-Free (888) 277-1189

they would either have it or know where to get it or have it made. Your local harness maker should be able to make one in short order.

Charlie

Banner Therapy Products
http://www.bannertherapy.com

I'm not positive...
 

...but I think what you are looking for is called a transfer belt. Here is a website that has information on a particular brand.

Transfer Belt

michael b.

I'm not positive...
 

...but I think what you are looking for is called a transfer belt. Here is a website that has information on a particular brand.

Transfer Belt

michael b.

I've used lots of transfer belts at work, and what you need most is one that is easy to put on and off. The easiest has a clasp where you slide the two ends together and it snaps shut, then you just squeeze the clasp to undo it. You initially set it to the length you need and it stays that way. I also liked a belt made of harness leather (it softens with use) and a regular (strong) belt buckle. The one I use most right now is made of webbing with a clasp where you slide one end into the buckle and a row of little teeth grip it, then into the other side of the buckle. (I'm sure there's proper names for these kinds of buckles, I just don't know them!) It's easy to adjust the length for the various sizes of waist I encounter. I don't like nylon webbing - it has a little sharper edge than leather or cotton webbing and can dig in a little as you're hoisting the person up.

If you're the caregiver, make sure you don't block the person's knees with your knees to stop them from giving way, as is often taught. We normally move our knees forwards as we rise to standing, and if you block that part of the movement, it makes it more difficult. You can use your knee(s) to help control their knee(s), but let their knee come forward a little as they rise. My patients learn "feet back and lean forward". For some reason, people who are having difficulty rising will do the opposite - put their feet forward a little and try to rise straight up. It doesn't work! If they're especially weak, they really have to lean forward to sort of counter balance the weight of their bottom, and get the movement started. One man I worked with today had to put his "nose past his toes" - another trick phrase they learn - before he could get up off the bed.

Thanks everyone, at least now I know what to tell them to get. Thanks Wendy for your knowledge and experience using transfer belts.

GregD

Greg:

The belts should be available at any medical supply store - the kind that sells wheelchairs, walkers,inhalations, oxygen tanks, and such. Both of our local ones do, as do a couple that I have visited on the other side of the state.