Assistive devices for the adult patient with orthopaedic dysfunction: Why physical therapists choose what they do

The more common types of assistive devices seen in the orthopaedic setting are described. Also included are descriptions of patient factors that guide the physical therapist in deciding which of these devices to try for which patients. Examples of typical patient problems are also included to help the nurse understand the decisions that therapists make. A simple decision tree contained in this article helps further this understanding.