You Have Been Working with a Patient Who Had a Stroke

Multiple Choice

You have been working with a patient who had a stroke 3 weeks ago. He has made excellent progress with gait recovery and is now walking on level surfaces with a single-point cane, but he occasionally loses his balance when negotiating obstacles. Which of the following represents the best guarding position for this patient while he is practicing negotiating obstacles during gait training?

A) Maintain your grasp on the gait belt with both hands at the back and center of the trunk.
B) Maintain your grasp on the gait belt with one hand hovering near the shoulder.
C) Maintain your loose overhand grasp on the gait belt with one hand.
D) Maintain your position close to the patient with neither hand on the belt.