Stair and perch lifts – a mobility solution

Getting up and down a flight of stairs gets more difficult as people get older. Accidents, illnesses and other health issues can additionally make ascending and descending steps challenging and even dangerous.

The solution to getting from one level to another, particularly in a house, can often be a stairlift.

Stairlifts come in many forms including one where you are transported whilst still standing. Lifts of this type are called perch stairlifts and are ideal for those who find standing up and sitting down hard. This means that anyone who uses a riser recliner chair may find a perch lift easier to use than a regular stair lift.

More conventional stairlifts use a seat which will have a backrest and often armrests. A seat belt or security strap will be compulsory in some countries and this secures the “traveller” in place during the transition.

Stairlifts can travel up and down straight flights of steps or move around corners. Turning or curved stairlifts are more expensive as the curved sections need to be “made to measure” for the stairway in question.

If the curved section simply deals with a landing, then it will be combined with straight elements which will keep costs down, however, if the stairway is a spiral one it will have a much greater cost.

There are limitation to where and how a stairlift can be fitted.

Naturally the width of the stair needs to be sufficient to accommodate the lift and chair and the adjacent wall must be a structural one that can take the weight and fixings of the track and chair mechanism.

Certain spiral stairs can be too narrow and/or too curved to receive a stairlift installation, however this kind of occurrence is unusual.
When not in use the stairlift chair usually comes to rest just around the top or bottom bend of the stair. This means that it does not obstruct the stair and prevent more mobile people from climbing it.

Most stairlift installations can be fitted in a single day, however the manufacturing time may result in a delay between ordering and fitting. This delay will depend on how busy the supplier is and how many sections of made-to-measure tracking are required.

Once fitted a stairlift can be expected to function without problems for many years. The motors are normally robust and reliable and, although occasional servicing is required, they prove cheap to run and maintain.

Though once very expensive, this kind of mobility apparatus is now common place in many homes and it can keep a two storey house easily accessible even if personal mobility becomes an issue.

Five fingers shoes

A rather strange title for a blog and a very strange and unusual type of footwear.

Five fingers shoes are the latest fad in shoe design and they throw everything that we normally associate with shoe design out of the window.

What they are – These strange looking shoes are more like gloves for the feet. They don’t have a toe box, but instead have a separate compartment for each and every toe, five for each shoe. The upper of these shoes is light and made of fabric and the sole pretty much duplicates the appearance of the underside of a human foot, right down to the toes. This sole is also very flexible.

All told this means that these shoes act to cover and protect the feet, but they do nothing when it comes to supporting the feet, providing a sturdy sole or supporting the foot’s natural arch.

So what do they do – What they do is allow the feet to work in the most natural way possible. This means that once you get used to wearing them you will start walking as if you had bare feet. This means that all of the muscles in your feet will start working, you will feel the ground and its contours, and your toes will spread and distribute your weight as you walk. This helps balance and it good for the muscles from the legs right through to the back. Indeed, one of the claims of these five fingers shoes is that they can alleviate back pain.

What do they look like – The only sensible answer to this is odd. They look a little bit like you borrowed your feet from a character from “The Planet of the Apes”. The shoes mimic the feet, so they look like feet, but in whatever colour of shoes that you select.

What are they used for – They were developed for running, but they can be used for any activity and all of the indications are that they can improve posture, foot comfort and a range of other human conditions.

Are they a gimmick – They look like one, however the scientific evidence behind them means that they might just be the start of a footwear revolution.

Are they expensive – Yes
With a bit of luck the price will start to drop, but these beauties cost as much as a serious pair of hiking shoes, and they are not cheap.

You can find out about these and some other unusual shoe types by performing a search.

Thinking about buying a bed!

Having mentioned about changing my content I am going to start by revisiting an old and frequently written about topic, namely beds.

Beds and mattresses are very important because we spend around one third of our lives sleeping and recovering from the exertions of the day. This means that a bed is the most frequently used item of furniture in everyone’s life and it also means that it gets a lot of wear and use.

For these reasons the purchase of a bed requires considerable thought and it should see a fair sum of money being spent on it.

A bed has two key components, the bed frame and the mattress and these can be purchased separately or, more commonly, as a single “all-in-one” unit.

When it comes to the frame, this needs to be strong and sturdy and, if independent of the bed, it may outlast the life span of two or more mattresses.

Divan beds tend to be sold with the frame and mattress as a single package where both are fabric covered and match one another. However, if the mattress is bought separately it can be selected independently of the frame and this “can” offer more options.

Best type of be and mattress

There is of course no best type. It is a matter of personal choice and individual preference, however getting the right bed “for you” requires a bit of research.

Today there are many different types of bed and mattress and this provides a lot of potions for the prospective buyer.

The first choice is probably whether or not to get a divan, with its extra drawer space, or select a standard frame – which can allow the bed to be lower.

The mattress is the big choice though, and this should take priority over every other consideration. The first thing that you need to do is choose the largest sized bed/mattress combination that will fit into your bedroom. If you can squeeze a king size rather than a regular double, you should do so. The result will be that two sleepers can sleep independently of their movements affecting the person in the bed and that is always a good thing.

The next big choice is one of mattress filling and there are many options. Spring based mattresses remain the best sellers, but you should consider some of the foam based materials like memory foam and latex and look at the composite mattresses where tow or more systems are combined.

Finally, if you want an orthopedic quality mattress you will have to pay more money. These beds have a higher build quality and use the best materials and workmanship, but this comes at a cost.

The other thing that you should try to do is to try out some mattresses in advance of making a decision. All stores should let you lay down on a mattress and this is a good way of determining if the bed works for you. Don’t do this for 30 seconds or a minute. Try to lay down in a stationary position for a least 20 to 30 minutes and see if you start to feel like going to sleep. If you do not, or if you feel a need to change your position, it suggests that the mattress may not be ideal for you.

Changing my content

Because what can be described as an orthopedic product is very open to debate I will be expanding the scope of some of the products that I describe in this blog.

Up to now most of the posts covered things like beds, mattresses, chairs, shoes and other “obvious” orthopedically related items. What I will now do is expand that limitation to include other useful and health related aids.

My main reason for doing this is that it gives me more to write about and a broader scope of product types. However, since many aids, services and devices are used by similar people with different challenges there remains a connection between my original intent.

Exactly what I will cover in future is something that I am unsure about, but I think that all manner of different health and mobility related aids, from wheelchairs to utensils that assist in the kitchen, will be included. I will still make posts about ergonomic chairs, comfort shoes, memory foam mattresses and the like, but there will also be some other interesting things thrown into the mix.

Without formulating any definitive ideas, here of some thoughts of products to be covered.

Sauna and hydrotherapy treatments and equipment.

Mobility scooters, strollers and wheelchair.

Different types of bathroom aid from rails to seats.

Supports and strapping for injury and recuperation.

Chairlifts and other means of transportation like evac chairs.

Easy hold devices that could include cutlery or other kitchen devices.

The list can go on and on, so I will just have to see what I come up with over time.

Healthy shoes - what to look for

Very few people wear good fitting healthy shoes. There are a number of reasons for this and they range from a general ignorance about foot health through to prioritizing fashion and style above comfort and wear-ability. Price is also a factor with short lived fashion shoes often being cheaper than the less fashionable comfort style footwear.

What is and is not a good shoe will always be open to debate, however there are a number of design traits that ensure that some shoes are superior to others. To find out what the different parts of a shoe are called and how they work together you need to look at the anatomy of a shoe. You can find lists and pictures of the different shoe component compositions by searching online. These lists/pictures of the various parts of a shoe describe what they do and how they interact with the rest of the shoe or boot. This will give you an understanding of how much thought and attention goes into designing and manufacturing a good shoe.

Paramount to being a good shoe is having a good build quality. This relates to the materials used and the way in which they are put together. Not too many years ago manmade fabrics were seen as inferior to leather and suede, but modern synthetic materials can be waterproof, breathable and stylish and many comfort and orthopedic shoes are made from materials of this type. Even tough walking and hiking shoes use manmade fabrics that keep the water out whilst letting water vapour escape.

Good linings and plenty of supporting padding are very important for any good shoe. Parts of the foot like the arch need to be adequately supported and the heel needs to have a strong high counter that does not bend or flex. The padding plus a good insole will act like a suspension system evening out poor surfaces and preventing shock waves shuddering up the body.

The inside of the shoe should also be smooth and free of seems and any other projecting parts of the construction. Having a shoe that rubs or is abrasive towards any part of the foot is not only uncomfortable, but also potentially damaging. Good linings are very often a measure of a high quality pair of shoes and good shoes should never make your feet, legs or back ache.

Most quality shoes, particularly those tagged as being orthopedic, will have the upper made from many separate sections. Each of these parts has a particular function and combining one or more of these parts can dilute the shoes overall performance. As an example, many fashion shoes do not have separate toes boxes and this can result in the important toe box losing its shape and contorting or constraining the toes in an unnatural way. Toe boxes need to give the toes adequate space to move.

Ultimately the best way to select a pair of shoes is to try them on, test them and make sure that they still feel good after several hours of wear. Regrettably this is of course never possible, so arming yourself in advance with as much information as possible about well designed and made shoes is the next best alternative. Good shoes never come cheap!

Rollator and walking aids

Getting around under our own steam is something that most of us take for granted until age, and accident, or some kind of illness turn mobility into something that we no longer take for granted.

However, when walking starts to become a problem there are a number of options available.

The first is to use a simple aid like a walking stick, but this may not suffice and then we are left with a number of options that range from using a wheelchair or mobility scooter to walking with the aid of a frame.

Not too many years ago these walking frames, commonly called “zimmer frames” in Britain (after the main manufacturer of the product) were primitive. They also had a reputation associated with “immobility” – the opposite of their intended use.

Over the intervening years many advances have subsequently taken place. These changes have seen these walking frames adopt wheels and even brakes and now they are a genuine mobility aid that can be used outside the home every bit as much as within it. Here are the main choices.

The old style four legged frame that you lift and move forward is still going strong. But there is a slightly more advanced version that has small wheels on its front legs which allow it to be pushed rather than lifted forward.

Today this type of frame has though been largely superseded by the new style “rollator” walking frame.

The rollator has either 3 or 4 wheels on each of its (3 or 4 legs) and these wheels mean that the rollator can be pushed with ease. Large tyres mean that this type of walking aid can be used outdoors and on a surface that is not perfectly even.

Brakes allow the rollator to be stopped, or for its speed to be controlled, and handlebar grips give it a feel of control and stability. Other attributes that set it apart from the old style frames are carrying compartments and a seat area that lets the person using it stop and rest at any time.

The time to buy a bed

With the holiday season now over the next couple of months tend to be one of the boom periods when it comes to buying or replacing furniture and household goods.

By November, people are thinking about Christmas, but September and October tend to see increases in the sales of sofas, chairs, tables and of course beds, mattresses and other items of bedding.

For this reason prices are often down, the manufacturers and retailers “up” their advertising and promotion, and importantly there are many good deals to be had.

Right now memory foam is the big seller. There are a number of reasons for this that range from its fashionable popularity to some very cheap prices, but these should be reasons to make you think twice rather than to buy impulsively.

Visco elastic memory foam has a number of very valuable sleeping properties, however these properties are rarely found on the budget mattresses that you see in clearance sales. A good memory foam mattress will cost you hundreds of dollars or pounds Stirling, so don’t be fooled by a $99 or £99 price tag. A mattress of that quality will not be true memory foam.

If want a memory foam mattress. Look for something that gives you a foam density and check out the manufacturer and even the country of origin. The quality of memory foams varies massively and in the world of bedding you usually get what you pay for. In other words, if you buy cheap you will end up with a low quality sub-standard product that will quickly lose its ability to recover and its lifespan will be limited.

Also, don’t assume that memory foam is best, this is a fallacy. Some people like the unusual feel of memory foam, but others (like me) hate it.

Spring based mattresses have been around for a long time and there are many good reasons for this. They recover well, have long trouble free life spans and importantly they have a tried and tested existence. This means that they are well developed, available in all forms and price ranges from the budget to the executive and they remain the overall best seller in the bed industry.

When it comes to buying a new bed the best advice is to research before you buy. Look at the different types of mattress and bed frame that fall within your budget. Then evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. If you can test any out then do so, but don’t just lie on a bed for 2 minutes, this will tell you nothing. You need to spend at least 30 minutes on a bed to get any idea of its suitability and even this amount of time will only give you the most obvious of guides (e.g. if the bed is too hard or soft).

Back support

For anyone who has problems with their back, the thing that they are constantly aware of is a feeling that some kind of support is missing. If you do not have a back problem then this is a hard sensation to imagine, but if you do you will appreciate this description.

Many people who suffer from lower back discomfort often sit with one of their arms bent round behind their back and “slotted” into the lumbar zone. In effect they are creating a lumbar roll or bolster with their arm. This has the effect of reinforcing the important inward curve that a healthy back should have at this position. Even so, it makes a restrictive and awkward sitting position and one that can lead to a “dead arm”.

The alternative is to buy a lumbar roll back support cushion. This is a cushion, often semi-circular in profile, that sits comfortably in the space that is created between the base of the back and the backrest of a chair. By doing this it helps maintain the natural curve of the back and in so doing it can alleviate back discomfort for a lot of people.

Other types of back cushion can work for other complaints and seat cushions in the shape of a wedge can adjust the angle between the thighs and the body. This type of support can sometimes help those who suffer from sciatica which can be worsened by having too acute a angle between the back and the legs.

To find out more about back supportive cushions you can check online, see your GP or go to specialist store.

Orthopedic supports - sleeves and braces

Once upon a time when you injured a hand, wrist, elbow, ankle or any other joint, you were either wrapped in plaster or bandaged up.

Both of these options still have their place, but there are many purpose designed supports and braces that can take the place of, or supplement, these “old style” treatments.

Modern elastic supports can be used to offer compression and warmth to damaged knees and shoulders whilst still allowing them to have a degree of motion. Many of these aids can be used for recovery from some kind of injury, rehabilitation from medical treatment or, increasingly, for use in sport as an active way of reducing the occurrence of strains, sprains and stress injuries.

The variety of these aids is now vast and you can explore some of the many sleeves, pads and braces that available online.

Basic supporting aids include elastic sleeves, but more complex and rehabilitative options have frames that include hinges and different ways of setting the allowable range of movements that a joint can have. This results in a very large number of support-type options being available.

To make matters even better, these sleeves can be removed, washed, and many are made from none itch antibacterial fabrics that are comfortable to wear and do not irritate the skin.

These supports have become so popular that many high level athletes wear these contraptions all the time when they are performing. Partly to protect themselves and partly because they can make a joint or collection of muscles feel protected and secure.

The most common of these aids are the numerous sleeves that can be worn around the knees and the thigh compression versions that keep hamstring muscles warm and feeling secure.

Medical supports include those used for the neck after, e.g. whiplash damage, and hernia belts that can keep everything in place whilst a patient waits treatment in hospital. These aids not only help in recovery, but they significantly reduce patient pain which can be quite severe.

Selecting the right kind of mattress

Selecting the right kind of mattress or bed has never been easier and harder.

Easier, because the variety and options of choice make it far easier to get exactly the right kind of mattress for any individual.

Harder, because the choice is so wide with so many differing alternatives that you are literally spoilt for choice.

This poses the question, “which type of mattress is best?”

The answer of course is different for everyone. Some people like firm beds whilst others like soft cushiony ones. Some like natural materials and others are happy with synthetic.

So how do you decide on the right mattress for you and your body, your sleeping positions and the inclusion or exclusion of a partner.

The best solution is to start by researching what is available. You can start by going into bed retailer and acquainting yourself with what is available and what the various options are.

Nest you need to narrow things down a little. There are a lot of choices and you need to exclude or dismiss some of them.

Once you are down to some real possibilities you can go to a store and check them out. The way to do this is by laying down on a bed in the same position that you would at home. Stay there for as long as you can. 5 minutes will tell you nothing, but 30 or more minutes should indicate if the bed is genuinely to your liking. If it is not, try something else.

This is very much a trial and error process that is all about eliminating some mattress types and favouring others.

If there are two of you this needs to be a joint process and you may need to make a compromise if you both have different favourites.

Other than that, do not get influenced by a sales person, or the technology that goes into a bed. Ultimately all you want to do is sleep on it. If it feel right then buy it, if it does not then move on.

Revitalising a mattress with a topper

This heading may be slightly misleading because you cannot turn an old and lumpy mattress into a new and bouncy one. However, mattress toppers can improve mattresses and change the way that they feel. Here is what a topper “is” and “can do”.

Firstly, a topper is placed over the top of a mattress – hence its name. It can be held in place by straps or elastic corner bands and its position is secured when the cover sheet is placed over it.

Toppers can be made of all kinds of fillers and this is where their advantages come to the fore.

Most people buy fairly cheap beds that use springs, normally open coil springs where each spring reacts with its adjacent counterparts.

Adding a topper to a mattress like this can add an additional bedding performance material to the bed.

Many toppers use one of the memory foam materials as a filler, with their slow recovery springyness and unique trait of shaping around whoever is sleeping on them.

The outcome of this is that a spring based bed can be transformed into something more like a multi material bed composed of both springs and memory foam. Beds like this cost a lot of money and the use of a topper can make this transformation very cheap indeed.

The reason why you would do this is not to make your mattress last longer, but to give it the qualities of a superior bed, but at a fraction of the price.

Toppers are not only filled with memory foam. They may have fillers of feathers and down, regular foam or organic materials like wool. This opens up a lot of choice and it means that you can really customise the way that your mattress feels.

Back support chair

In the UK at least, the reverse side of the rear page of many magazines like TV guides are covered with advertisements for what are described as “back care” chairs.

Like the term “orthopedic chair”, “back care chair” can mean a number of diverse and vague things, but what it is really suggesting is a seating system that offers the best type of support to the back. For this reason these back-care chairs are often straight backed with a high seat, good supportive arms and bolster either side of the backrest.

This kind of design is comfortable, it reduces stresses and strains on the back and the higher height of the seat makes them easy to sit into or stand up from.

Most back care chairs have visible legs. This is primarily because of the slightly higher seat height. By having open legs (and not a completely solid base) the chair looks lighter and its extra height is disguised.

Variations on back supportive seating

Most of these chairs look pretty similar, but some will have recliner features. These may see a padded leg rest project out from beneath the seat, or a “full recline” where the backrest tilts too. When this is the case there as subtle levers hidden in the arms or on the outside of the chair’s main body.



The riser recliner chair is the other popular option. This type of seat is motorized and tilts the padded seat forward in an angled way that helps someone stand up or sit down. This kind of chair is great for those who find standing and sitting hard, but they are comfortable into the bargain. Chairs of this design can be called lift and tilt chairs and this page http://www.riseandrecline.co.uk will tell you more about them. This site has pictures and descriptions of how these aids work and may be useful to the elderly or those who have trouble getting around.

The final type of back chair is the high backed model which is normally an aspect of all back-care chairs. The high back gives superior support to the upper back, neck and head and can help avoid a stiff neck if someone falls asleep whilst in a seated position. If offers greater purchase when getting up or sitting down and, in reality, is a good feature of any and all chairs, be they designed for health or comfort.

Healthy Shoes - what to look for

There are many different takes on healthy shoes. Some people call them orthopedic shoes – although this description may be reserved for special needs shoes, whilst others call them “comfort” shoes.

Ultimately what these shoes are really about is having a design, build and fit that is aimed at doing a job rather than looking good. Shoes of this type will have a roomy fit, no internally projecting stitching or junctions of material, low heals, breathable fabrics and good adjustable fittings to guarantee that the shoes “do” fit comfortably.

Most healthy, comfort-fit, or orthopedic shoes will come in varying width fittings. This is important as it is not only the length, but the width of people’s feet that vary in size. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause discomfort and abrasion injuries, so getting the right width of shoe is very important.

Other features of these shoes include good soles with plenty of padding to cushion the feet. Ultimately the soles of the feet, although small in area, take the entire weight of the body and this makes a resilient well padded shoe sole absolutely vital.

Removable and replaceable insoles are another good attribute of healthy shoes. A removable insole makes it possible to replace an older insole as its functionality starts to fail, or to obtain an insole with particular properties, for example being made of gel.

The variety of orthopedic type shoes that are now available has increased dramatically over recent years, as has the aesthetics of these shoes. This has been helped by the current fashions that regard a chunky, heavy looking shoe as being modern and stylish.

The down side to this is that there are now many “comfort” stylized shoes that look healthy, but are simply designed to look that way and lack the real traits of this kind of shoe.

Always look for what a health product actually does rather than being persuaded by its visual appeal, or its fashion credibility.

Full body pillows

These are special pillows that are intended for the whole body rather than just the head. This type of pillow is long and narrow, typically about one to one and a half feet wide by 4 feet to 6 feet in length, although bigger and smaller sizes may be found.

Most body pillows are rectangular in shape, although some are shaped like a snake in a figure “S”. Some people find this shape more comfortable to sleep on (or around).

Body pillows can slept on in a number of different ways and by different styles of sleeper. However, they are most popular with people who sleep on their side. For these people the pillow helps to support the side of their body and it acts like a bolster.

Exactly how this kind of pillow is used for a normal sleeper is really a matter of personal choice, however many people do find them beneficial to their sleep.

Body pillows can be a great asset for any woman who is pregnant because the pillow will help to support the body and relieve pressure whilst in a lying down posture.

Other users

Other people who may gain from using a body pillow are those who suffer from muscle or bone pain, those who are very overweight and anyone who has had surgery (or is recovering from an injury) and wishes to be propped/supported in a specific sleeping position.

Because a body pillow is more cushioned and softer than a mattress it can prove very comfortable for those who like very soft beds, or easily suffer pressure sores etc.

Wheelchairs and sport

Not too long ago the expression “disabled” started to become politically incorrect - for one thing many people who were pigeon holed under this title were not fond of it, and for another many felt that they were more than capable of doing anything that a “so called able bodied” person could do.

Superficially the last statement sounds somewhat optimistic, however, taking sport as an example, with adaptations, some simple changes in rules, and Hi-Tec equipment, someone in a wheelchair can play pretty much any and all sports.

Developments in wheelchair design

Some 30 to 35 years ago wheelchairs were generally all the same, the only real difference was that some were motorized and powered by battery, however times, and wheelchairs, have moved on.

In the 21st century you can buy not just a range of different sports wheelchairs, but wheelchairs designed for specific sports like badminton, tennis or track racing. Wheelchairs like this have strong lightweight designs with unbelievable dexterity, manoeuvrability and handling. In short, they have a range of features that make them perfect for playing all kinds of different sports.

There are many different wheelchair sports and they range for static sports like archery and shooting to high speed impact sports like basketball. You can even get wheelchairs for participation in dancing!

An example – basketball

The wheelchairs that are used for basketball are light, strong and protective with leg and lower body guards that wrap around the front section of the wheelchair. Their large rear wheels slant outwards (from top to bottom) and this gives them better stability and balance. They will usually have one (or a par of) additional castor wheels at the rear of the chair to prevent it from tipping during impacts and direction changes.

Interestingly, wheelchair basketball has become a popular sport in its own right and it is now played by able bodied teams who use wheelchairs only when participating in the sport.

Basketball is of course just one of the many sports that now have specially adapted wheelchairs designed for them and you can easily find out more about the different chair types and the sports that they allow someone to play at. This page has (now removed) links to sections covering track racing, static sports and even extreme wheelchair sports. It will also tell you abut standard and motorised wheelchairs and provide some information about obtaining a wheelchair through the British National Health Service.

Bathroom aids and utilities

Some of the more interesting, ergonomic and cleverly designed people-use products are those produced for mobility disabled people.

These may be individuals whose age, state of health, or injury due to an accident have either incapacitated them, or reduced their independence. Products designed for these people are aimed trying to ensure that everyday activities, challenges and pleasures can be enjoyed without the assistance of a carer, or a third party.

Some of the most innovative products of this type can be found in bathrooms as the bathroom is an essential part of everyday life. It is also a challenging and potentially dangerous room, and one which can benefit greatly from some of the many aids that are currently available.

Examples of special bathroom facilities include toilet lifters, or toilets that rise, descend, and even have a shower cleaning and warm air drying function.

Shower seating, which can be foldable, dismountable or mobile, can remove the need to stand up whilst in the shower and grab rails, located in strategic positions, can make this cubicle a safer place.

Steps, seats and plinths can be added to a bathroom to make sitting and standing less of an effort, or to reduce the height that needs to be ascended when, e.g. getting into a bath.

When it comes to bathing, walk in baths with their own water tight doors and fast filling and emptying tubs can make getting into and out of a bath easier. You can even get lift chairs or hoists that can lift someone in and out of a bath with ease.

There is a massive array of bathroom gadgets available and you can get a better idea of what some of them are by doing some online searches. Even for those with a limited budget, rails, bars, cushions and soft non-slip floor covers can make the bathroom an easier place for the less able person to negotiate.

Other possible aids include moveable toilets (commodes), transfer lifts and wash basins with ergonomic taps that can be operated without the need to grip or twist them.

Some further feedback on a gel bed

I have added a further feedback review of the “Kaymed gel nest ultra 1800” bed and mattress that we bought almost one year ago. You can see my latest observations and feedback on this sub-blog - http://gel-beds.blogspot.com/2010/03/kaymed-gel-nest-ultra-1800-latest.html.

Unfortunately (for me) my general conclusion is that this is perhaps not the best buy that I have made, however my experiences of sleeping (or not as the case may be) on this mattress are subjective. Regrettably I think that a medium to firm contouring mattress like the Kaymed gel version is not suited to either my body or my sleeping habit! Why I do not know, but it has been an expensive lesson to learn.

Orthotics

Here is a summary of what orthotics are about taken primarily from wikipedia.

Orthotics is is concerned with the design, development, fitting and manufacture of orthoses. These are fittings that support or correct musculoskeletal deformities and/or abnormalities of the human body.

The word orthotic is frequently used as an adjective (e.g. an orthotic insole) or equally as a noun (the orthotic) to describe or name a foot-supporting device or insole. It can also be used to describe a more complex device used to control joint motion.

The term “orthotic” is derived from the word "ortho", meaning to straighten. Sciences such as materials engineering, gait analysis, anatomy and physiology, and psychology contribute to the work done by orthotists, professionals engaged in the field of orthotics.

Those who benefit from a complex orthosis may have an orthopedic condition such as scoliosis or an injury like a fracture - or they may have sustained a physical impairment, or have a congenital abnormality such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy.

Differing orthoses may directly support the lower limb, upper extremity, or the spine. Orthotics proper involves devices made by technicians and fitted to the patient usually by a specialist in foot health such as pedorthist, orthotist, podiatrist, or chiropodist.

An orthotist, for example, is a professional who works by prescription from a physician to ensure the proper application of an orthosis to an individual who might benefit from the orthosis; this is essentially the practice of orthotics.

Care in the proper fit of any device that applies force to the body must be taken to ensure good results and to prevent unwanted problems from an orthosis that is too tight or otherwise uncomfortable.

Some nations require professionals engaged in orthotics (or those manufacturing and fitting orthoses) to be licensed or acredited.

There are of course simple orthotic inserts (in the form of insoles) that can be bought over the counter or online.

Buy an orthopedic product

With Christmas out of the way and the excesses of the season leaving many overweight, now is an ideal time to buy some kind of supportive product, be it a contouring bed or a pair of good orthopedic shoes to walk that extra weight off.

Now is also a good time to buy because the sales are on and it is possible to get some great deals on healthy lifestyle products like supportive mattresses, beds, chairs and shoes. These products always experience a lull over the Christmas period, so retailers are always keen to sell at this time and have lots of offers.
Another reason to think orthopedic

Putting on extra weight and getting older are two realities of life. One you can do something about directly, but the other is an inevitability of living. Even so, you can look after your body by making an effort to stay in shape and to keep your walking, sitting and sleeping postures as healthy as possible.

One way to do this is to buy ergonomic furniture that works with (and not against) your body and encourages a healthy alignment of bones and muscles.

Chairs that keep you in an upright yet comfortable posture are ideal and beds that use one of the more recent technological materials like visco elastic memory foam are also good. These beds are cheaper than ever at the moment and their benefits to good sleep and a refreshed start to the following morning are well documented. Check out the internet for the best deals.

Finally one way of getting into shape, encouraging good posture and getting some pleasure at the same time is by walking. Good walking or hiking shoes make walking easy on the feet and have ergonomic designs that support, cushion and assist the feet in the bending and weight bearing motions of walking. Now is a good time to buy.