BODY FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL USE OF A PIVOT DISC:

·       Intact lower extremities (LE’s)

·       Ability to bear weight through both lower extremities (LE’s)

·       Ability to maintain an upright position against gravity in sitting and standing

·       Ability to achieve at minimum a partial stand from a seated position and lift buttocks high enough to clear chair arms

DEFICITS PIVOT DISC COMPENSATES FOR:

·       Decreased standing tolerance

·       Decreased ability to bear weight on one leg when the other leg is lifted off the ground to take a step

·       Inability to lift leg or legs to take a step(s) to transfer

·       Inconsistent ability to lift leg or legs to take a step(s) to transfer

·       Back pain making it difficult or unable to lift leg or legs to take a step to transfer

·       Lower Extremity (LE)/leg pain making it difficult or unable to lift leg or legs to take a step to transfer

·       Knee(s) buckling when standing making it difficult to take a step to transfer

·       Decreased sensation in lower extremity/lower extremities making it difficult to bear weight and take a step to transfer

·       Foot pain making it difficult or unable to lift leg or legs to take a step to transfer

·       Neuropathy causing pain in lower extremities and/or feet making it difficult to bear weight and take a step to transfer

·       Fear of falling

DIAGNOSES PIVOT DISCS ARE COMMONLY USED FOR:

·       Seizure Disorder

·       Lower Extremity (LE) Edema

·       Lymphedema

·       Burn injuries

·       Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

·       Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

·       Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Blood Clot(s)

·       Arthritis (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gouty Arthritis)

·       Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)/Stroke

·       Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

·       Cerebral Palsy (CP)

·       Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

·       Parkinson’s Disease

·       Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – Incomplete

·       Muscular Dystrophy

·       Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig’s Disease

·       Guillain-Barre’

·       Huntington’s Disease

·       Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

·       Congestive Heart Failure

·       Dementia

·       Confusion

·       Obesity

·       Lower Extremity (LE) Fractures such as:

o   Hip Fracture

o   Femur Fracture

o   Tibia Fracture

o   Fibula Fracture

o   Tibia & Fibula Fracture

o   Ankle Fracture

o   Foot Fracture

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES FOR USING A PIVOT DISC:

·       Ensure that both feet are firmly positioned on the pivot disc before attempting to stand and pivot

·       Keep a pivot disc in the car to make transfers from a wheelchair to the car/car to wheelchair safer and easier.

·       Using a pivot disc can eliminate or ease strain on caregivers any time a transfer must be completed