Improving Coordination and Step Length

How to Improve Step Length and Lower Extremity Coordination

We are always looking for creative ways to improve step length and LE coordination while continuing to provide skilled care.  

I am working on improving this patient’s balance with emphasis on LE coordination. She has difficulty with executive functioning so using different colors to step towards and adding the step height incorporates dual tasking into the activity.

Technique

For this activity, I will call out a color for the patient to tap with LE, one side at a time. This activity can be modified to document skill and show progression. You can easily upgrade the activity by decreasing UE support or calling out both side and color simultaneously.  Ex. “Right blue, Left green, Left pink, Right green”

This is a good treatment technique for patients who have festinating gait or foot drop. It is also useful for implementing safety strategies for patients with impaired cognition.

Showing Your Skill

To document skilled care:

• Add or subtract colors
• Upgrade one side at a time to calling out alternating Left and Right
• Decrease or Increase UE support
• Report verbal cues for heel strike, sequencing, etc.
• Monitor vitals signs
• Report patients reaction to activity