People with limited mobility find ladders a real struggle to use.  At first glance, you might think that people with lower limb problems would avoid any situation in which a ladder is required, but very often these same people need to do certain types of exercise to improve their mobility or to recover following an operation.  Swimming and hydrotherapy exercises are commonly prescribed by physiotherapists, as the water supports the joints as they move, taking the strain off and making movements far less painful.  Getting in and out of a public pool, however, can prove very difficult for people that have lower limb mobility issues, as the ladders are steep and offer no assistance for people who are not be able to bend their knees far enough.

Although some pools have step access at one end, allowing people to gently enter the water, some do not and domestic swimming pools are often not designed with stair access.  Several companies have addressed this problem by designing and building plastic pool ladders that looks more like stairs.  They are removable so can be installed when needed and stored at the poolside when not in use, or fitted retrospectively to domestic and public swimming pools.  The easier access allows people with limited mobility to safely enter and leave the water without exacerbating their injury or increasing their pain levels, thereby enabling them to complete a program of rehabilitation with any unnecessary barriers.

Injury, surgery and health conditions such as arthritis, all make knee bending very difficult or in some cases impossible, but in the modern day there is no reason why people with these problems should not have access to alternative types of ladders that they can use.  Last year we reported on a new design of ladder which raises a single rung up and down the stiles through battery operation.  This virtually eliminates any climbing as the user need only get on to a low rung and let the machine do the work.  This prototype design is not available to the general public yet, and it will not be cheap when it is released, so although there is a solution out there, it is a long way from being affordable.

Plastic moulded steps are a great alternative option.  These are normally used in schools, equestrian centres and hospitals, as they are easy to see in their bright colours and easy to use for all people.  For those with limited lower limb mobility, they offer a practical and more affordable option for reaching high shelves or light fittings in the home and allow people to retain as much independence as possible.  Although they are more expensive than a step ladder and take up more room, for people who don't have the option of using a step ladder they represent great value for money, in terms of the extra freedom they bring.  The four-tread model is also available with a handrail, which affords extra stability for users who may experience knee collapse or weakness.

Our moulded plastic safety steps are safe to use, both indoors and out, and have non-slip grip strips on the treads, to ensure a solid footing in any weather.  Food grade plastic is used, along with a UV stabiliser to ensure that the steps will not degrade or discolour even if left outside for prolonged periods of time.   They can take a maximum load of 260 kilos, which means even people carrying extra weight can use these safely.  As people often put on weight following surgery and a period of bed rest, it is important that any height access equipment used is capable of taking that weight so that further injury does not occur.  This high weight capacity also means that if several children want to sit on the steps there will be no damage, and children just love anything brightly coloured that can be climbed on!

If you, or someone you care for, is in need of an accessible step ladder alternative then please get in touch today as we can help you bring a smile to their face and some independence back into their lives.  These steps make a great Christmas present for people who need them, which is worth bearing in mind at this time of year.