How to Prevent Post-Surgery Injuries With Access Solutions

Several surgical procedures may leave you with some mobility challenges, and realistic expectations are crucial for the recovery process. Preparing for your return home after surgery is a responsibility you should take seriously to ensure you heal well and have fewer complications. This preparation includes access solutions like ramps and other fall prevention measures that keep avoidable accidents from interfering with your return to health.

Why You Need Access Solutions

Getting discharge papers comes as a relief to many patients, no matter what kind of surgery they had. However, evaluate whether your discharge procedures are thorough enough — will you be a fall risk at home? Answer these questions to determine if your recovery will benefit from access solutions.

• Steps: Are there steps inside or outside your home? Consider entrances and whether you have handrails to help with safety.
• Access: Can you easily access your bathroom and kitchen with your mobility device? For example, you might need to install grab bars or invest in a tool to help you reach items on high shelves.

If your surgery involves a procedure that will limit your mobility for a significant period, access solutions will be crucial for a few reasons.

• Safety: Ramps and grab bars decrease your risk of falls or other accidents, especially when you are healing and have less balance and mobility than usual.
• Independence: Easy access in and around your home empowers you to maintain independence while healing. 
• Mobility: Grab bars, ramps and stairlifts simplify moving around the house, especially if your home has a lot of stairs and uneven surfaces.
• Comfort: Recovery can be physically taxing, making it necessary to have as much ease and convenience as possible at home. Minimizing the need for strenuous movements will also help recuperation.

Wheelchair Safety Fall Prevention

Stick to these wheelchair safety tips during your recovery period.

• Ensure your wheelchair fits your body comfortably, including the armrests, seat height and backrest.
• Use the brakes when you are stationary to avoid falls as you move in and out of the chair.
• Learn to steer safely over rugs, thresholds and through narrow doorways. You may need to adjust your home to achieve this level of maneuverability in a wheelchair.
• Keep pathways in your home clear of furniture and other obstacles, so you have plenty of room to move around independently.

Types of Access Solutions for Post-Op Surgery

Access solutions promote independence, mobility and safety for people who need them when recovering from surgery.

Ramps

Ramps are an ideal solution for short-term use, helping with wheelchair, walker or crutch safety and fall prevention in and around your home. You can install them at entrances and between different levels in various rooms to eliminate the need for stairs. Ramps prevent accidents in the following ways.

• Safe entry and exit: Ramps enhance your entrance and movement about the house, as stairs can be challenging to climb with walkers or crutches and impossible with a wheelchair. 
• Caregiver accessibility: If you have a caregiver or medical professional helping with your recovery, ramps can ease their tasks, offering a safe, efficient way of assisting you in and out of your home.
• Less physical strain: Walking on a gentler incline can reduce the physical strain on your muscles, joints and surgical sites if you have pain, weakness or mobility issues.

Other Fall Prevention Measures

Depending on your needs, you may need to make extra changes to your home. These can include lower tabletops, nonslip treads on steps, accessible appliances for your comfort and the following safety measures.

• Bathroom safety: Install grab bars in the shower, by the bath and beside the toilet, supporting stability while you maneuver in these areas. Raised toilet seats can make it easier to sit down and stand up comfortably if you have limited mobility. Handheld showerheads can simplify bathing, and nonslip bathroom mats keep slick surfaces more stable.
• Stairlifts: A motorized chair that tracks along the staircase in your home can help you move between floors.
• Accessible furniture: You may need to move furniture out of the way to give yourself enough extra room to steer your wheelchair, walker or crutches around the house.
• Door threshold access: The ridge in a doorway connecting the gap between flooring in two rooms can be an obstacle when you have limited mobility. An entry ramp helps you avoid tripping.

Factors to Consider When You Choose an Access Solution

Preventing falls post-surgery includes focusing on recovering faster and taking preventive measures like wearing non-skid footwear, resting to regain your strength or asking for help when you need it. Remember these factors when evaluating access solutions to help with your post-surgery recovery process.

• Your mobility needs: Determine if you will need help walking or climbing stairs and if you will use a wheelchair or crutches to simplify your life as you heal. 
• A building permit: Many cities and counties require people to obtain a permit for building a wheelchair ramp, as this is often an extension of your home.
• Your home layout: Evaluate your house’s interior spaces, entrances and restroom configurations, finding ways to improve your accessibility and safety.
• Ease of use: Choose access solutions you and your caretakers can use easily, including ergonomic handles and ramps inside or outside the house.

Enjoy More Freedom Now With National Ramp

Access solutions are also helpful tools for long-term accessibility, whether your recovery time demands it or you need more assistance as you age. Ramps can significantly prevent many post-surgery injuries related to your mobility challenges, like falls and strains. 

Live your life and stay indpendent even during post-operative recovery. At National Ramp, we have been leaders in the ramp business for over 30 years. We understand how valuable your mobility is to you. All our ramps comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and our aluminum ramps come with a lifetime warranty. We are ready to install maintenance-free modular ramps within 48 hours of your inquiry. Contact us today to prepare your home for your post-surgery injury prevention strategy.