Stool for home visits

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Hello, just wondered if anybody could give some advice about a stool they have found to be useful for home visits.

At the moment I just use a folding camping seat and put the feet on my lap. I am finding that I am splaying my feet outwards to allow for lower elevation for patients that are unable to lift their legs too high.! Not ideal especially if they are pretty weighty and its not doing my back any favours!

Have looked at the pedistool but it looks clumsy to carry as it doesn't fold down and the Darley I am unable to source for some reason.

I really dont want to be carrying my back, footstool and my own chair as it is becoming ridiculous!

Does anybody have any ideas?? Thanks ??

 

Hi MS
Ive used the solid plastic 'step' stool that children use to reach the toilet (Mothercare) plus I use the foldable tri-pod stand with adjustable plastic cushion to hold patient's leg and carry both in ruck-sack and use pull-along trolley for instruments etc. to minimise carrying too much.

Balancing their leg on your lap is not good for your back and/or it might slip off whilst you are debriding (?) Sometimes Ive sat on the floor to debride the heel callus. I used to use a fishing stool but it was far too high for patients with hip problems.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your studies.

Regards

 

I find the same problem, I'm 6ft 3 and it can be a challenge to elevate patients legs high enough.

I find foot stools leave me having to stretch out putting strain on my back. I have a low camping stool which I find ok though not perfect. Sometimes I find if you extend one leg out straight it allows people to elevate their leg a little easier, again not perfect.
Also i ask patients to sit in their lowest chair or sometimes if they are not very mobile I have some patients who sit on their bed.

I try to avoid sitting on floors as it kills my legs. My advice would be get in a clinic as soon as you can! Also general stretching exercises can help and also revise what you are wearing, clinical trousers can be restrictive. I now wear a different uniform for doms, Canterbury style joggers are fantastic very comfortable but also fairly smart matched up with a good quality polo shirt eg golf.

Hope you find a solution and if you come across any good hints please let me know.

I feel your pain,

RossPod

 

I just use a normal foldaway stool and ask the patients if i could have a dining room chair to rest their leg on works quite well and you can cut the lower part of the foldaway stool away cost about £5 from argos. if you do saw the bottom of the chair off then make sure you put rubber feet on the bottom.

hope this helps.

 

Hi,

I use a child size folding camping stool. They only last about 7 months as they are not meant for 10 stone adults, but they are the perfect height for me (and only about £3.99 from value shops,) along with a footrest for the patient. Using the knees just does not work, how do you do the heels?

A word of advice about the footrests, get a chunky one, my last lightweight one snapped off at the top when an obese patient put her foot on it a bit too heavily.

 

I have a foot stool with a seat for me and a foot rest for the patient so they can lay back in their favourite chair whilst I tend to their feet. It is slightly adjustable, there's no way i'd be putting their feet on my lap or utilising their furniture. I do however get on my knees occasionally if they can;t raise their foot. I bought stool off ebay, only cost me £20.....wouldn't be without it

 

I use a Zucca trolley bag , which actually incorporates a seat.. They are great. I found the company by default really because they are actually ice skating bags.
I am mobile but I do not drive and needed something that would be hardy, serviceable, able to cope with the weather, be able to get on buses, compact etc etc.
A zucca trolley bag has its metal skeleton on the outside and the top of the bag is actually a seat. I can fit 40 sets of instruments in my blue trays inside, a box for my dirty instruments and a notebook computer. The front of the bag opens like a door so you dont have to empty it to get something out. There are pouches at the side to put in gloves etc and there are 4 sections inside the trolley bag that hold my scalpel blades and little mobile drill. I also have a bag that fits on top of the bag which holds my foot stool, debris trolley and medicine book.
The bag/trolley has double wheels at the back which makes it able to climb stairs and on top of all of this the bottom wheels light up with kinetic electricity.
Believe me, once you have tried one you will never go back to a podiatry bag. I have been using my bag for well over a year to date and it shows no sign of wear and tear.
They have a website for you to look at. I have the zucca sport but they also have a new one out called the zucca pro.
I have recommended the bag to loads of my colleagues who all agree that it is great.

 

Thank you everybody for your replies. It is interesting to see how everybody else is getting around the tricky home visits. I have tried the small folding stool but found it too short and my legs just splay out. I have just purchased a darley stool of ebay but it came today and just looks a bit cumbersome to be lugging around so not sure will give it a try though. The zucca trolley bag sounds good Cecilia so will look that up. Thanks again everybody.