Patients · 12 March 2026
How to Read Your Rehabilitation Equipment Prescription: A Patient Guide
Your prescription is a clinical instruction, not a shopping list. Here is how to read it so you get exactly the item your doctor intended.
If a doctor or physiotherapist has written you a prescription for a brace, walker, collar, or wheelchair, that piece of paper is the most important thing you will bring to MediQuest. This guide explains what the words on it usually mean — and what to do if anything is unclear.
What a rehabilitation prescription usually contains
- The item name — for example “hinged knee brace”, “lumbar sacral belt”, or “elbow crutches”.
- Laterality — right, left, or bilateral. This matters for OA knee braces and some wrist splints.
- Size or a measurement — sometimes written as S/M/L, sometimes as a circumference in centimetres.
- Duration of use — “6 weeks”, “while mobilising”, or “night only”.
- The prescriber’s name, qualification, and stamp.
Words that look similar but are not the same item
A soft cervical collar is not a Philadelphia collar. An elastic knee support is not a hinged ROM brace. A standard walker is not a wheeled walker. Substituting one for the other can slow recovery or, in some cases, be unsafe. If the prescription is specific, we supply that specific item.
What to do next
Take a clear photo of the full prescription — including the stamp — and WhatsApp it to MediQuest. Within 60 minutes during business hours we confirm whether we stock the exact item, the correct size, the price, and when it will be ready. If a measurement is missing, we will tell you exactly what to measure at home.
Need the equipment on your prescription? WhatsApp a photo to MediQuest on +256 792 457725. Same-day service for in-stock items in Mukono.