Introduction to Gait Belts: What Are They and Why Are They Important?
With the advancing age, one thing that is experienced by almost all elderly individuals is the inability to move around without getting hurt. To solve this issue, different kinds of mobility aids are manufactured and marketed by several companies. In this long list of products, gait belts are an essential item. These effectively support a patient’s weight and help them move with minimum risk of injury.
Let us go through the details regarding what gait belts are, why they are important, and which problems they can cause.
What are Gait Belts?
Gait belts are also called transfer belts. These are the products that are worn by the caregiver around the patient’s waist. As these belts help bear the patient’s weight, moving the individuals from a sitting position to a standing one or vice versa becomes easy.
Construction Material of Gait Belts
As gait belts are to be used on a daily basis, it is essential for them to be comfortable and made up of non-irritant material. Keeping this in mind, several brands use cotton or cleanable vinyl as construction materials. Both of these are easily washable so they can be put into the machine whenever they get dirty. Some gait belts also have handles which further makes it easier to hold the belt by the caregiver.
Importance of Gait Belts
Gait belts or transfer belts are important for several reasons. Some of their uses and advantages are as follows:
· When a gait belt is worn around the waist, these immediately bear the patient’s weight. As a result, the pressure on the lumbar spine is reduced. This way, the patient is transferred from one location to another with little to no risk of spinal injury.
· With their use, the patient is provided with better control, enhanced stability, as well as improved body balance.
· When a gait belt is employed for every transfer, the patient is less likely to suffer from hip, arm, or back strains in the long run.
· A gait belt has extensive uses in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, as well as in home settings as these are easy to use and do not require the assistance of a trained healthcare provider.
· It is possible to employ a gait belt for one-person or two-person pivot transfer. In addition, if the patient is being transferred with a slider board, a gait belt still comes in handy.
Problems Associated With the Use of Gait Belts
Despite their vast uses, this simple product has still been associated with some serious health issues. Among these, the primary one is the collection of microbes within the gait belt.
Although a gait belt should be worn on top of the gown or clothes the patient is wearing, these can still become sweaty and dirty very soon. As a result, an environment is created which is most suited for the microbes to harbor. Some of the strains of bacteria found in gait belts include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).
MRSA and VRE are responsible for a number of organ-specific infections including:
· Skin infections
· Emphysema
· Lung abscess
· Meningitis
· Surgical wound infections
To prevent the incidence of these infections, it is necessary to clean your gait belt thoroughly as per the instructions given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How to Clean Gait Belts?
To avoid possible infections from the bacterial buildup in the gait belt, it is best to wash them often while following the given instructions:
· A gait belt should be washed gently to prevent the fibers from damaging.
· Hand washing the gait belt is often preferred. However, these can also be put into a washing machine running in a mild wash setting.
· While hand washing a gait belt, the product should be rinsed after applying mild soap and water. Once washed, the belt should be put on a clothesline until completely dry.
· As the buckles of a gait belt are made up of metal, these should be dried with a soft and clean cloth after the belt has been washed.
Precautionary Measure
To increase the life of your gait belt, the use of either abrasive cleaning agents or scouring pads on any part of the product must be avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following section focuses on some of the frequently asked questions regarding gait belts:
1. What are Gait Belts Used for?
Gait belts are employed for the ease of the patient as well as of the caregiver. When used, a gait belt enables the patient to have better posture and more control over their body while moving. In addition, the patient can also enjoy enhanced stability. Moreover, gait belts with handles are easier for the caregiver as well as they can hold the handle and make sure the patient does not fall.
2. What is the Purpose of a Gait Transfer Belt?
Being an assistive product, a gait belt is employed for transferring a patient from one place to another. These belts also help the patients when they need to stand up from a sitting position or sit down after standing.
3. When Not to Use a Gait Belt?
Despite their vast application, gait belts are not to be used in every case. Their employment should be discouraged in the following circumstances:
· Recent chest surgery
· Recent abdominal treatment
· Recent surgical treatment of the back
· G-tube hernias
· Serious respiratory problems
· Severe cardiac issues
· Pregnancy
· Breakdown of the skin tissue
· Abdominal aneurysm
· Fractures
In addition, gait belts should also not be employed if ports and drains are being used in a patient.
4. What are the Disadvantages of Gait Belts?
Gait belts can be dangerous if not used in the appropriate way. These need to be put on correctly to bear the patient’s weight. If their placement is improper, the risk of falling increases. As a result, the patient can experience severe injuries. In addition, some gait belts also cause discomfort to the patient because of the associated skin irritation.
5. Where is the Gait Belt Applied to the Patient?
A gait belt is applied around the waist. After putting on the product, it can be secured in its place with the help of the metal buckle attached to it.
6. Is there a Difference between a Gait Belt and a Transfer Belt?
No, a gait belt is also known as a transfer belt. This is because the purpose of the product is to help transfer a patient from one location to another. These are called gait belts as they help improve the patient’s gait by providing the necessary support.
7. Do Gait Belts Reduce Falls?
Yes, the use of gait belts does effectively reduce falls. These are designed in a way to support the patient while changing position so that the risk of falling or tripping can be minimized.
8. Can You Wash a Gait Belt?
Yes, gait belts can be washed either by hand or in a washing machine. For this purpose, the use of mild soap and water is recommended. Gait belts should not be bleached and must not be dried at a temperature above 180°F or 82°C.
Gait belts are an excellent and inexpensive option for walking assistance
Gait Belts at Health Supply 770: Products and Features
Gait belts are products that are used by patients to ease movement. These are effective in bearing the patient’s body weight and thus are employed to assist them while walking and moving around. Owing to high customer demand, different brands ensure the availability of the product. In this regard, many different kinds of gait belts are available at the Health Supply 770 which have been detailed below along with their prices and purchase links:
Gait Belt McKesson 60 Inch Length White with Metal Buckle
$824.88
(Per case or for a 48 pieces)
Product Details
Gait belts by McKesson are one of the most reliable products in this domain. These are white in color and are made up of strong and reliable construction materials. The length of McKesson gate belts is up to 60 inches. Moreover, to secure them in place, these gait belts are affixed with a metal buckle which is made up of 100% iron and is therefore unlikely to get rusted.
The size is adjustable and the product is comfortable for the patient to use. The McKesson gait belts are machine washable and therefore convenient to handle during long-term use. This easy washing also prevents the product from contamination due to prolonged employment.
These are also completely free from natural rubber latex. Furthermore, the gait belts by McKesson are ideal for aiding patients with regard to their mobility issues.
M2616D72 DeRoyal Heavy Duty Stripped Gait Belt with Tiger Teeth Locking
$10.88
(Per piece)
Product Details
M2616D72 DeRoyal heavy-duty gait belts are stripped and have a beautiful pastel color. The length of these gait belts is up to 70 inches and their width is up to 2 inches. However, other 2 versions of the product are also available with dimensions of 56 inches length and 2 inches width as well as with 60 inches length and 2 inches width.
The construction material is soft cotton which is non-irritant and durable. A metal buckle is attached to the belt in order to secure it in its place while the patient is wearing the product. Moreover, the Tiger-tooth locking system provides maximum hold.
The product is completely free from natural rubber latex which means it does not cause any issues to the skin. These M2616D72 DeRoyal heavy-duty gait belts can be employed for transferring patients as well as for ambulation assistance.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
All types of gait belts mentioned in the article, along with many other medical supplies, can be ordered from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the links given in the article to check out the wide range of gait belts.
Takeaway
While walking, elderly patients often trip or fall and hurt themselves. This is because, with old age, many problems come including poor eyesight, weaker bones, painful joints, etc. As a result, the patients often experience both severe and not-so-severe injuries due to falling.
As a preventive measure, the use of gait belts is often prescribed. It is one of the mobility aids which can be employed easily and is extremely effective. Being a simple product, it is not complicated to put it one. With the help of a caregiver, the gait belt can be donned on a patient around the waist.
Despite being simpler products, these gait belts perform a bigger role in protecting elderly patients against possible injuries. Therefore, for purchasing different kinds of gait belts, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
