Skip to content

Mobility Aids and
Assistive Devices

Call our head office on (021) 506 5680

Please remember we care about your privacy.

Chin and Partners Branches

Christiaan Barnard Hospital
D.F. Malan St, Foreshore

TEL (021) 824 1634

Vincent Pallotti Hospital
Dick Williamson Medical Center

TEL (021) 531 7232

Life Orthopaedic Hospital
Ground Floor Life Orthopaedic Hospital Alexandra Rd l Pinelands

TEL (021) 506 5680

Pinelands Business Park
New Mill Rd, Pinelands

TEL (021) 531 0841

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ― Nelson Mandela

Mobility aids and assistive devices are task specific items designed to make your life easier and in many cases, offer you stability when you need it, allowing you to continue doing what you want and need to do. They can be used at home while you are recovering from an injury or for permanent use. They are simple  to use,  making your life easier. 

When faced with mobility complications there are many options to consider; do you need assistance getting up? Do you need support when stepping up a pavement? Do you enjoy holding on to your shopping trolley when you shop and miss this support when you go for a walk? Do you need to reach objects while seated? Would you benefit from having a grab rail in the bathroom, either to get up from the toilet or to provide support when stepping into the showerDo you have a seat in your shower? Do you have a non-slip mat in your bath?  

Keeping yourself mobile after a medical procedure or maintaining your mobility as age sets  in, there are options available to assist you. Our team at Chin and Partners can l assessment of your physiology, medical history and environment to formulate a comprehensive plan to provide you with options of appropriate assistive devices.    

There are many different types of assistive devices, below are some of the more commonly used items. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to know about other available products for your specific needs. 

Grabrail

A safety rail used for getting in and out of the bath/shower

Anti-slip mat 

A rubber mat used for the bath or shower to help prevents slips and falls

Shower Chairs

fold up or wall mounted seat used when you have difficulty standing in the shower or if you have trouble getting out of the bath.

Toilet seat raise

Placed on top of a standard toilet bowl if you have difficulty with the low the height of your toilet, may be for post-operative or other conditions. There are two different types available:

  • Toilet seat raise with handles
  • Mounted to floor toilet seat raise

Commode

A commode can be placed beside your bed if you cannot get to the bathroom unassisted. They do not require water and cannot be flushed; they have a removeable bucket or container underneath that can be taken away to be cleaned.

Bed Pan

This slim pan is designed to slip underneath the user for allow for defecating in a lying down posture

Urine Bottle

This specially designed bottle allows men to urinate into the bottle while in a lying position and can then be placed on a table next to the bed.

Crutches

Aluminium elbow crutch: – open and closed cuff  

  • Standard
  • Ergonomic moulded handles- side specific
  • Smart Crutches – these specially designed crutches spread the load over a larger surface area resulting in less pain, discomfort, and reduction of potential injuries.

Walking frames 

They have four points of contact with the floor offering increased stability. They are height adjustable, are either fixed or more common is a folding frame making storage and travel easier. They can be fitted with wheels or without.. The standard version without wheels must be lifted up and moved forward.

Rollators 

These are lightweight 3- or 4-wheel walking frames that usually have a basket for putting small items in to move from point A to point B. The 4 wheels versions have seats that can be used for sitting when tired. They also have the option of easy to use push down brakes to lock the wheels to stop it from moving when sitting or resting.

Kneeling scooters:

If you have anInjury the below knee that requires, non weight bearing.

A Knee scooters is mobility aid with three to five wheels. It allows you to take the weight off your injured leg by resting it on a padded knee support while using your uninjured foot to propel you. The steering handle allows the user to steer the scooter.

iWalk 2.0

This device is a good alternative to traditional crutches and knee scooters for all below-the-knee injuries. The iWalk attaches to your thigh and lower leg, allowing for a hands-free operation.

Walking sticks 

These mobility aids may be folding, to fit into a small bag, designer rigid versions or simple height adjustable walking sticks. A walking stick is an effective device to improve balance.

Easy Grabber

They are a great help following   surgery that limits your movement or should you just need a little bit of extra help reaching objects around the house or on the go. These tools can reach items that are on the floor or too high for you to comfortably and safely reach  without constant bending and stretching.

Wheelchairs

We have access to wide range of wheelchairs, ranging from basic wheelchairs which are available for rental, allowing mobility for the short term to highly advances wheelchairs for long term users. A wheelchair does not have to be an invasion or limitation to your everyday activities. For everyday or full-time wheelchair users, or users who require a more customized seating system, there are many options, including 3D scanning, carving and computerized simulations. Our priority is to get you as mobile as possible while ticking all the boxes of your physiological requirements.

  • Temporary wheelchairs: Rentals
  • Every day- part time wheelchairs
  • Every day- full time wheelchair users
  • Sport/ Active wheelchairs

See a list of frequently prescribed chairs lower down on this page.

Indications for requiring a mobility aid

Post operatively

Following a surgical procedure, you might require getting a mobility aid to assist with your rehabilitation. For this requirement we have rental options available

Paralysis 

Hemiplegia – paralysis of one half of the body

As a hemiplegic you might need assistance to get from point a to point b. Your Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist may suggest certain mobility aids or Orthotic devices to help you with your rehabilitation. Items may include the following:

  • KAFO/ full legcalliper or a Drop foot splint
  • Wheelchair – entry level for short term use
  • Crutches
  • Walking frame
  • Walking Stick
  • Grabrail
  • Knee brace: OTS or custom
  • Easy Grabber
  • Wrist brace: custom or OTS
  • Elbow brace
  • Shoulder brace

Paraplegia – paralysis from the trunk- downward  

As a paraplegic you will need assistance to get from point a to point b. Your Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist may suggest certain mobility aids or Orthotic devices to help you with your rehabilitation. Items may include the following:

Wheelchair: every day full time use  

  • Customized wheelchair seat
  • Customized or specialized cushion
  • Specialised back rest for postural support (depending on the level of paralysis)

Ramp – to help you get in and out of your house or different rooms if there is height difference between the two rooms.

Hoist   – especially useful if you have limited upper body strength, e.g. to help you move from your bed to top your chair or vice versa.

Quadriplegia

Quadriplegia is paralysis of the body from the cervical spine or high thoracic spine downwards.

As a quadriplegic you will need assistance to get from point a to point b. Your Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist may suggest certain mobility aids or Orthotic devices to help you with your rehabilitation. Items may include the following:

  • Full time wheelchair
  • Motorized wheelchair
  • Customized wheelchair seat
  • Customized or specialized cushion
  • Specialized back rest
  • Bed pans

Ramp – to help you get in and out of your house or different rooms if there is height difference between the two rooms.

Hoist – especially useful if you have limited upper body strength, e.g. to help you move from your bed to top your chair or vice versa.

A list of chairs that are frequently prescribed:

Manual chairs

The Quickie:

  • Folding frame as well as backrest-foldable
  • Flip up footplate
  • Optional extras and 27 different colour options

CE Lightweight Local:

  • Weight: <10kg
  • Sizes: 14”-20”
  • Folding frame
  • Quick release wheels
  • Tension adjustable backrest (TAB)

A well-designed TAB consists of three pieces, namely two side panels and a separate cover. The tension adjustable straps are individually adjusted to provide LIGHT to MEDIUM trunk and pelvis support.

*Anti-tippers: These are optional addons on wheelchairs that are attached to the frame of the wheelchair to prevent a user from flipping over backwards under certain circumstances, these are typically easy to remove to allow for larger ramp ascend.

Cruiser   

  • Sizes range up to 22”
  • Puncture proof tires
  • Padded upholstery

Panthera 

  • Seat angle at seven degrees
  • Adjustable backrest angle
  • Adjustable backrest height
  • Rigid frame; light weight
  • Carbon fiber

Motorised Chairs

These wheelchairs require a full physical assessment and clear understanding of your medical history. Motorised wheelchairs are usually combined with seating solutions such as specialized cushions and padded back supports.

Mini Scooter:  

  • 4-Wheeler
  • On board charger: Plug and charge
  • Two 12Amp batteries thus it is maintenance free
  • Speed control and hooter
  • Front basket

Q100 Series: 

  • Adjustable backrest angle
  • Max user weight 125kg
  • Folded height 640mm
  • Overall chair weight 95kg
  • Max range 31km

Rental Items

We also offer rental services for the following mobility aids:

  • Kneeling scooters
  • Wheelchairs

Please speak to us for our rates and terms and conditions. 

Care & Advice

  • Hygiene is the number one carinstruction for all medical assistive devices 
  • Cleaning your assistive device can be done by using a damp cloth to wipe it clean   
  • On items like crutches and walking frames there are rubber or PU ferrules that will need to be replaced once they get worn out. Once you feel that the walking aid is losing grip on the ground it is time to replace the ferrules 
  • Wheelchair tires should be replaced as soon as they start losing grip   
  • Always ensure wall mounted assistive devices are securely mounted, there should be no movement present  
  • When using a grab rail ensure that it is securely fixed to the wall and that  surface you are stepping on is  dry and not slippery   
  • Transferring to- and from a wheelchair should be a controlled movement.If you have any feeling of insecurity or hesitation, rather regroup and re-start the transferring process   
  • If there are any unfamiliar sounds or rattling on any of your assistive devices, have someone assess it as a safety precaution   

Frequently Asked Questions

You might need an assistive device if you feel unsteady or unsafe when performing certain tasks  

After careful assessment we will first make sure that you know how to use the mobility aid by having you try it out in a controlled and safe environment. 

You can re-use assistive devices if they are in good condition and structural properties has not been compromised  

Due to hygiene issue not all mobility aids are available for rent. We do however rent out the following:  

  • Wheelchairs 
  • Walking frames 
  • Kneelingscooters 

Conveniently Located

We have four practices across Cape Town and cater to international patients as well

Licensed Professionals

Our healthcare professionals provide the highest quality care and are fully licensed

Cost-Effective

We provide solutions for all prosthesis, orthotics, mobility and bracing

Please call (021) 506 5680

Or contact us via email form below