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Using a Walker

Table of Contents


Overview

Using a walker can help you move with less pain and more stability. A walker can help you be more independent and safe as you do your daily activities.

Be sure your walker fits you. When you stand up in your normal posture and relax your arms at your sides, the walker's hand grips should be level with your wrists. Then, when you rest your hands on the hand grips, your elbows should be slightly bent.

Being safe

A walking aid—a walker, crutches, or a cane—helps if you have limited strength, range of motion, joint stability, coordination, or endurance. Using a walking aid can help you be more stable, safe, and independent in your daily activities. It can also reduce the stress on a painful joint or limb.

Here are some ideas to make using your walking aid easier and safer.

How to use a walker

Figure 1

Put the walker in the correct position before you start to walk.
  1. Set the walker at arm's length in front of you, with all four legs on the floor.

  2. If your walker has wheels on the front legs, push the walker forward so it's at arm's length in front of you.

Figure 2

Use this pattern for walking.
  1. Use the handles of the walker for balance as you move your weak or injured leg forward to the middle area of the walker. Don't step all the way to the front.

  2. Push straight down on the handles of the walker as you bring your strong leg up, so it's even with your injured leg.

  3. Repeat.

Figure 3

Use this pattern to go up and down a curb.

The first few times you try this, have another person nearby to steady you if needed.

  1. Stand as close to the edge as you can while keeping all four legs of the walker on the surface you're standing on.

  2. When you have your balance, move the walker up or down to the surface you are moving to.

  3. Push straight down on the handles for balance and to take weight off your injured leg.

  4. If you are going up, step up with your stronger leg first, and then bring your weaker or injured leg up to meet it. If you are going down, step down with your weaker leg first, and then bring your stronger leg down to meet it. (Remember "up with the good, and down with the bad" to help you lead with the correct leg.)

  5. Get your balance again before you start to walk.

Figure 4

Use your body to sit down and stand up from a chair.

Don't use your walker to help you sit down or stand up.

  1. To sit, back up to the chair. Touch the back of your legs to the chair.

  2. Support most of your weight on your strong leg, and reach back for the arms of the chair.

  3. Slowly and carefully lower yourself into the chair.

  4. To get out of a chair, use both hands and push against the arms of your chair. Then put both hands on your walker.


Credits for Using a Walker

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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