Wednesday, July 24, 2019

How Equipment For Paraplegics Can Improve The Quality Of Life

By Edward Cole


People suffering from paraplegia are paralysed in their lower bodies, normally from the waist down. Other than quadriplegics, who are paralysed in both the upper and lower bodies, those with paraplegia can at least still use their upper limbs and they have normal feeling in their torsos. In the past, unfortunate patients suffering from paraplegia and quadriplegia were confined to bed or chair. Nowadays with such a wide variety of equipment for paraplegics, patients can live full productive lives.

Any paraplegic will agree that the most important thing for him is to be able to move around. Thankfully, there is now a very wide range of devices designed to help such patients to be fully mobile. There are wheelchairs that are electrically driven, chairs for use during personal toilet and chairs for standing up in. To improve access to almost any place, an astonishing variety of ramps are available too.

There are also many companies that specialize in adapting existing motor vehicles so that they can be operated by people that are paralysed in the lower body. With these conversions special lifts that can load the wheelchair aboard or on the roof of the auto mobile is normally also supplied. Just about every paraplegic will agree that the ability to drive has given them back an enormous degree of freedom.

Most paralysed people do not want to be dependent upon other people. They want to do things for themselves and they want to cope with the demands of everyday life. Luckily, there are numerous products to help with this aim. Hoists and rails are designed to help patients move from a wheelchair to a bed or a couch and there are special devices that makes it much easier to get in and out of a bath.

Paraplegia patients even have a large choice of devices specially designed to keep them fit, to increase the flexibility of their bodies and to strengthen the muscles. These patients are especially prone to conditions that can develop if the muscles are not used or stimulated. If a paraplegic cannot afford these devices, there are always many gymnasiums that make provision for people with special needs.

Paraplegia patients do not have control over the functions of the lower body. This means that simple matters such as urinating can become a problem. Luckily there are many products such as catheters and other personal devices that can help to avoid embarrassment and to give the paraplegic some measure of control over his own toilet routine. Most medical insurance companies will cover the cost of these products.

It is unfortunate that many of the special devices that can make life so much easier for paralysed people are prohibitively expensive. Many patients simply have to make do without them. There are charities, however, that make a great effort to help paralysed people to gain their independence and to obtain the equipment and products necessary to lead a productive life.

Most paraplegia patients require a lot of time to come to grips with the fact that they will have to live within certain limits. There can be no doubt, however, that the many devices and products on the market today can go a long way in improving the quality of life of a paraplegic. One can just hope that they will become more affordable in the future.




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