How to Choose the Right Gait Belt for Your Needs

In old age, it is common for people to suffer from mobility challenges. Some cannot walk at all while others can move around if proper help is provided. Therefore, a variety of mobility aid options are being constructed and marketed to facilitate this age group. One such product is a gait belt which is tied around the patient’s waist. Once securely fastened, the belt carries the patient’s weight due to its high weight-bearing capacity and thus provides fall prevention. However, most people are confused about how to choose the right gait belt.

In this article, let us go through the factors that need to be considered before learning how to choose the right gait belt for your loved ones so they can participate actively in day-to-day activities.

How to Choose the Right Gait Belt?

For choosing the right gait belt for your patient, it is necessary to keep the following factors in mind:

Estimate the Suitable Dimensions

If you want to understand how to choose the right gait belt for your patient, it is important to consider the following patient-related parameters before making a decision:

· Patient’s waist size

· Patient’s body weight

· Patient’s mobility level

As the gait belts come in different sizes and dimensions, it is essential to know which size will be suitable for your patient. To find out, check your patient’s body weight and measure their waist. Now make a decision based on some of the gait belt sizes given in the following table:

Apart from the sizes mentioned in the table, some smaller options are also available for lean patients. Keep in mind that a suitable waist belt is one that gives the caregiver enough room to hold the belt while the patient is wearing it. If a belt is too small, it can cause irritation and discomfort to the patient. Moreover, the caregiver cannot comfortably hold the belt from the back.

Check the Buckle Strength 

Gait belts come with a metal buckle attached to their one end. This buckle acts as a lock when the belt is worn and does not allow the belt to become loose or open on its own. While learning how to choose the right gait belt, varying buckle types should also be considered. These include:

· Quick-release buckles which are easy to open and close and are ideal for healthcare facilities and nursing homes as they save time.

· D-ring buckles are typically more reliable than the quick-release ones due to their stronger grip but require more time to open and close. While learning how to choose the right gait belt, these buckles should be preferred due to their reliability.

· Tiger-tooth buckles have an even stronger grip on the belt and the risk of belt loosening is minimal. However, it is hard to fasten and unfasten these buckles.

Go for Washable Material Options

As a gait belt is to be used on a daily basis, it gets dirty very easily as it traps sweat as well as dust. As a result, bacteria and other microbes start multiplying in the product. If the belt is still not washed, there is a higher chance that the patient can get an infection.

Therefore, while learning how to choose the right gait belt, it is also essential to learn about their construction materials and how easy or hard they are to maintain. These include:

· Cotton-based gait belts which are soft and comfortable for the patients, particularly for those with sensitive skin type. These can be easily washed by hand or in a washing machine with the help of a mild soap.

· Vinyl-based gait belts which can be easily cleaned and disinfected as well without damaging the fabric.

· Nylon-based gait belts are also one of the most durable products in this domain. While learning how to choose the right gait belt, nylon ones are essential as these are unmatched in their strength so are considered a great option for obese patients.

· Disposable gait belts are also available which fully eliminate the risk of infection but can be expensive considering their extensive use.

Check the Patient’s Mobility Level

Before learning how to choose the right gait belt, it is essential to understand your patient’s mobility level. Typically, gait belts are for those patients who can stand up and walk with some help. If your patient is not able to move at all, gait belts are not your best option. It is important to consult healthcare professionals to learn how to choose the right gait belt or other type of mobility aid for your patient.

Consider the Ease of the Caregiver

While learning how to choose the right gait belt, keep in mind the comfort of the caregiver as well. As the caregiver needs to hold the gait belt from the back while the patient is moving, it is essential to have a product that allows a secure grip. If this grip is not provided, there is a risk that the patient might fall and get an injury or a strain is put on their abdominal muscles.

Considering the importance of this secure grip, some brands manufacture gait belts that have additional loops, grips, or padded handles so that the caregiver can hold the belt with ease. As a rule of thumb, a belt that allows the caregiver to insert two fingers between the belt and the abdomen comfortably is of the right size for both the caregiver and the patient.

Gait Belts at Health Supply 770: Products and Features 

The purpose of a gait belt is to provide necessary support to a patient while he or she is being transferred from one location to another. These products are simple to employ, inexpensive, and do not require the supervision of a healthcare provider to don on.

In addition, it is also easy to learn how to choose the right gait belt. As far as their role is concerned, these gait belts are effective in preventing falls and injuries followed by them. Considering their effectiveness and usefulness, gait belts are manufactured and marketed by multiple medical device manufacturing companies.

Although all of these products vary in their appearance and durability, they serve the same purpose. Some of these products are available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed as follows 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

While understanding how to choose the right gait belt, these gait belts by McKesson should be considered as these are one of the finest products in this domain as the company is known for the reliability of its medical devices. These gait belts are strong in appearance and have the ability to lift heavier weights as well in the case of obese patients.

While learning how to choose the right gait belt, the simple yet strong construction of these products is advantageous. High-quality fabric is utilized for their preparation which is softer on the skin and does not cause rashes or irritation which makes the product suitable for patients with sensitive skin as well.

The color of the gait belts by McKesson is white. On the belt, a metal buckle is affixed which is made up of nickel-plated iron. As this iron is 100% pure, it is less likely to corrode. As a result, the durability of the product is increased.  

For McKesson gait belts, the dimensions have been set at 60 inches which is an ample length suitable for patients with almost all body weights. As for the width, like all gait belts, these products are also 2 inches wide, a width enough to provide proper coverage when the belt is tied to the abdomen.

Once the gait belt is worn, its metal buckle allows its security at its place so the belt does not fall down or become loose when the patient is on the move. Due to their good quality construction material, these gait belts by McKesson are long-lasting and can be easily cleaned using mild soap and water either by hand or in a washing machine. In a nutshell, the gait belts by McKesson are the best in quality, easy to use, reliable, and highly durable.

M2616D72 DeRoyal Heavy Duty Stripped Gait Belts with Tiger Teeth Locking

$10.88

(Per piece)

Product Details

M2616D72 DeRoyal heavy-duty gait belts are also one of the great options when it comes to choosing a good quality gait belt. These products can bear higher body weights as well and thus are ideal for patients who are dealing with obesity.

Heavy-duty gait belts by DeRoyal come in three sizes i.e. 56 inches, 60 inches, and 70 inches versions. All of these versions have a width of 2 inches. This width is suitable for proper body coverage during use while the different length options allow the caregiver to choose a gait belt that is most suitable for the patient.

Before understanding how to choose the right gait belt, its construction material should be checked. These DeRoyal gait belts are made up of high-quality cotton and come in pastel colors with a striped design on them. Because of their cotton-based construction, these gait belts do not irritate the skin at all.

For snugging the belt on the stomach region, a corrosion-resistant metal buckle is also attached to the belt. This metal buckle has a Tiger-tooth design which locks the belt in place and does not let it get loose as soon as the patient starts moving.

M2616D72 DeRoyal heavy-duty gait belts do not possess any percentage of natural rubber latex which renders them safe for use in patients with sensitive skin. Overall, these gait belts by DeRoyal are of good quality, have high durability, and are reliable in their utilization.

Also, learning how to choose the right gait belt is also easy and uncomplicated. Their primary application is in the patients who need to be moved but also in those who need assistance during ambulation.

*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary depending on the vendor.

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.

Bottom Line

Most people in old age require assistance due to their limited mobility. That’s why, in healthcare settings, mobility aid is required by these people for walking. Gait belts are a type of mobility aid that reduces the risk of falling in the elderly. When employed correctly, these help transfer patients from a sitting position to a standing one or move around under the supervision of a caregiver.

Most people are confused about how to choose the right gait belt. The best way to make a correct decision is by estimating the parameters related to your patient as well as the product. Moreover, the comfort of the caregivers should also be kept in mind so that they can lift the patient with safety.

Considering their usefulness, gait belts should be stocked in every healthcare facility, hospice, and nursing home, as well as at homes where elderly relatives stay with their families. After learning how to choose the right gait belt, purchasing them is the second step. Therefore, for ordering different types of gait belts, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.

Uzma Zafar

PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.

Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.

Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.