In life, we have to cope with the cards that are dealt to us with the absolute best of our ability. With injuries and diseases, a part of the coping process includes using tools such as durable medical equipment, or DME. We have a generous amount of durable medical equipment and supplies, and we would love to share some facts about them. We also want to give one example of each type of DME that might be what you need.
You should also remember that there is no such thing as the perfect card in a deck, and likewise, there’s no ideal medical product. Each kind of DME has it’s own weaknesses and strengths, so it ultimately falls on you and your physician in determining which one is most beneficial to your medical condition.
1. Knee Walkers
A knee walker can be viewed as a “smoother” feeling alternative to devices such as crutches. Like crutches, a knee walker is designed to ensure that you can walk around without much fuss.
One Example of a Knee Walker
2. Walkers
A walker is another alternative to crutches, but it can offer sturdier support compared to durable equipment such as the knee walker. The walker was first patented in 1953 by, William Cribbes Robb, and a new type known as the Rollator was created in 1973 by Aina Witalk.
One Example of a Walker
ProBasics Sure Lever Release Folding Walker
3. Canes
The assistive cane is among the most common medical equipment on the market. In the United States alone, there are as many as 10% of adults older than 65 that make use of assistive canes.
The cane can be your staunchest ally when in comes to providing a way for your weight to redistributed following a leg or knee injury. The specific type of medical cane pictured above is called a quad cane and it is made of aluminum.
One Example of a Cane
Quad Cane
4. Bariatric Commodes
Bariatric Commodes, also known as Bedside Commodes, are meant to be used near a bed for individuals incapable of going to a restroom. The commode can also be in baths or showers.
One Example of a Bariatric Commodes
Bariatric Drop-Arm Commode
5. Wheelchairs
Next to canes, the wheelchair is the longest known example of medical equipment in history, with examples that date back to 5th and 6th century Greece.
There are many different examples of wheelchairs and they include:
- Manual Self Propelled & Attendant Wheelchairs
- Standing Wheelchairs
- Mobility Scooters
- Smart Wheelchairs
One Example of a Wheelchair
Wrangler II
The Takeaway
The human body isn’t as impervious to pain as we want it to be and perhaps it will never be. Humanity has done everything in it’s power throughout countless cultures, and the generations within those cultures to overcome our shared limitations. Just look at how this collective sense of ingenuity drove us from developing basic canes or wheeled devices in ancient Greece to the cutting edge, durable medical equipment and supplies that are in high demand today.
Humanity is highly stubborn and self-interested, which has brought much pain and joy in equal measure, and one of those joys is our tendency to fight against our limits. Battling against human limitations can include being involved in the medical profession, such as being a physician or nurse, or creating and selling knee walkers and bariatric commodes to those in desperate need of them.
With this list of DMEs, we hope that you gain some appreciation and understanding, even if it’s small, of how we and other reliable medical equipment suppliers and manufacturers aid those in need.