Gait Belt
Purpose
Gait belts are tools used by caregivers when an individual is walking or transferring. Gait belts can benefit both the person with FOP and the caregiver by improving safety and reducing the risk of falls. Gait belts also give caregivers a secure place to hold on to when assisting someone with FOP so that they don’t grab or pull a persons arm/hand/shoulder.
Description
There are two main types of gait belts. Basic gait belts are made of a cloth and do not have handles. They are inexpensive and roll up small for travel or storage. Other types of gait belts are wider and have a variety of handles for a caregiver to hold on to. I prefer the wider model as it distributes the pressure from the help more evenly and the handles improve user safety.
Tips
Never leave a gait belt on when a person with FOP is sitting or laying for extended periods of time. The gait belt should be removed following use and reapplied before the person transfers or walks again.