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Podiatrist wheelchair user advice

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Mbakathir1, Nov 27, 2014.

  1. Mbakathir1

    Mbakathir1 Welcome New Poster


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    Hello

    My name is Mohammad Bakathir and I am a Podiatry student. I am a wheelchair user (paraplegic T2). During my first year placement I had a negative experience due to cross infection due to being in a wheelchair. I was told that touching the rims of wheelchair still produced cross contamination even whilst wearing gloves and then replacing them. My placement coordinator suggested an assistant to push me, this did not appeal to me as I felt it would reduce my independence very much. Secondly he suggested that I purchase an electric wheelchair, I still felt this reasonable. My questions are as follows:

    1) What advice can you give regarding cross infection control and my situation being in a manual wheelchair?

    2) Secondly I am very passionate about specialising in biomechanics and want to know how I can overcome potential difficulties whilst undertaking a full lower limb biomechanics assessment? (bearing in mind I am T2 complete paraplegic)

    Unfortunately I had to take a gap year due to scoliosis surgery and I am unsure of decision whether to return or not due to uncertainty infection control status and in career development into biomechanics

    I welcome any suggestions please
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
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    :welcome:

    Mohammad - I have not looked, but is there anything on the HCPC website about this?
     
  3. Mbakathir1

    Mbakathir1 Welcome New Poster

    No there is not...(not that I can find anyway)
     
  4. Cyberbarn

    Cyberbarn Member

  5. W J Liggins

    W J Liggins Well-Known Member

    I think that you should speak to the Clinical Leader at your school of podiatry. They were obviously aware of any potential problem before accepting you, so they should be able to offer you, and your placement supervisors, informed advice. Frankly, I do not see a problem provided that you wash and re-glove between patients but this would apply to a non-wheelchair user also.

    Bill Liggins
     
  6. Mbakathir1

    Mbakathir1 Welcome New Poster

    Thanks for the advice given. I will check this website provided. The problem which I faced was that the field leader and clinical leader did not agree with suggestions by my placement supervisor (having an assistant or electric wheelchair). I felt very confused and annoyed as I did not know who to trust. I was essential in a battle between the two parties and left uncertain due to fact that placement providers could be my potential employers and that the university would ultimately allow me to graduate ( and obviously taught to the latest regulations among podiatrists to practice.

    I am optimistic that this issue can be overcome regarding infection control, however my main area of concern is the biomechanics. Can you suggest any ways to be able to perform this to the standand required due to being in a wheelchair? My lspinal injury level is T2, therefore trunk stability is limited. How beneficial would a standing wheelchair be in this situation??

    Many thanks

    Mo
     
  7. Tkemp

    Tkemp Active Member

    I think that NWB aspects would be achievable with the patient in the clinical chair - providing it elevates to a high enough level.
    Gait analysis, you can be at a distance back to observe how they walk.
    Standing WB, you might consider a raised platform the patient stand on, so their feet and ankles are at a height you can reach with minimal trunk flexion?
    With running gait, then just position yourself at a suitable distance/angle from the treadmill to observe their whole body movement.
    Or record on camera and then review on your computer.

    Stay optimistic.
     
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