A nurse at a health care facility suggests the use of parallel bars for a client who has recently been fitted with a prosthetic limb. How would parallel bars most significantly help this client?

Question

A) By providing support if the client loses balance
B) By improving the client's lower body strength
C) By helping the client to practice ambulating
D) By enabling the client to increase confidence

Answer 1

C
Feedback:
Using parallel bars as hand rails helps the client gain practice when ambulating. Some clients still need assistance to ambulate independently even after performing strengthening exercises. Support, confidence, and lower body strength are secondary considerations in the use of parallel bars, since the major aim is to help the client practice mobilizing.