How to Use a Rolling Walker Properly

Tips
/ By Anthony

There are a lot of little things that you need to understand before using a rolling walker. By having a basic understanding of how to properly use one, you can prevent potential injuries and aggravation of your pre-existing conditions. There are four fundamental activities you will perform when using your walker— walking, turning, sitting, and standing.

In this article, we will go into each of these in detail with tips and ways you can take advantage of your walker.

How to Use a Rolling Walker Properly – Per Activity

Every activity you take with a rolling walker has a set of directions to get the most from this mobility aid, so we have broken them down below so that you will be able to maneuver with ease.

Walking

For certain individuals, strolling with a walker will be the most common thing on the planet. For other people, it will take some getting used to. Don’t give up if you feel clumsy from the outset, you are not alone. With a couple of short practice sessions, you’ll be zooming around and wonder how you could possibly do without it.

Here is how you walk with your roller.

Start with the walker placed in front of you.
Hold the handles freely with your fingers close to the brake switches.
Be sure you are standing in a position that offers good balance, stability, and has you in the center of the walker before you take your first step.
Then, start walking the way you typically do. Keep the majority of your weight on your legs and use your hands on the walker for stability.
Use the brakes to control the speed of the walker and to keep it close to you.
If one leg has a longer stride than the other, you’ll see it is easier to abbreviate your more drawn out stride so both left and right steps are similar in the distance.

Sitting

One of the best features of this roller is the seat. Some walkers can be somewhat questionable to sit on, particularly in the case of individuals that don’t have as much mobility as they used to.

Here is how you sit with your walker.

Lock the brakes by pushing down on the brake switches. This will keep you from having a horrible accident by preventing the walker from rolling out from under you when you go to sit.
Try to situate the walker near a wall or object that doesn’t move easily for additional security.
Pivot so your back is positioned in front of the seat with your legs near the seat.
Ensure you are stable and are balanced before sitting.
Use your hands on the walker’s seat or handles for balance. Ensure you disperse your weight equally to keep from tipping the walker over.
Sit down carefully, bending your knees and using your legs to support the movement of bringing yourself down onto the seat in a moderate and controlled way.
Make sure to keep your arms inside the handles so they don’t get caught up in the action.

Standing Up

Standing up from a sitting position on the walker is fundamentally the inverse of the sitting process. Just switch where you disperse your weight.

Here is how you stand up from your walker.

Check the brakes are still in a locked position.
Scoot forward until you are sitting near the edge of the seat.
Your feet should be positioned facing straight in front of you, so you have a steady base to get up from.
Lean forward to move your weight from your base to your feet.
Use your legs to get up with your arms being used for stability and equilibrium.
Use your arms to help with your balance, either on the seat or the handles of the walker. Make a point to distribute your weight uniformly so you don’t topple the walker.
Gradually pivot and position yourself between the handles of the walker. Make sure you are balanced and feel solid before beginning to walk.
You will want to make sure that you are ready before withdrawing the brake by lifting up on the brake handles. Then start to walk.

Stairs

Try not to use a rolling walker to go up or downstairs. Sometimes, though, you have to climb or descend stairs when there are no alternative means like a ramp or lift. At that point, you ought to use either a cane or have somebody help you up or down the stairs.

Using it to Get Up From a Chair

Your walker can give you additional help with getting up from a seat, bed, or other low-lying surface, as well. However, it’s vital that you push up from the surface you are on and don’t pull down on the walker. Pulling on the walker can make it tip over and potentially end with you falling causing more damage.

Here is how you stand up from a chair with your walker.

Move your walker near you, but off to the side so that you have enough space to stand.
Ensure that the brakes are locked tight and the walker is secure.
Scoot forward to the edge of the seat.
Your feet should be placed under you, pointing straight ahead for better stability. Lean forward to move your weight from your base to your feet.
Push through your legs and use the walker for balance.

Final Thoughts

These kinds of walkers are extremely secure and offer enhanced portability that can significantly upgrade your freedom. However, they can take a little practice to get used to.

Take your time and have a couple of practice sessions and you will eventually begin to feel like you are ready to conquer the world. They tend to be a bit of difficulty at the beginning, but we promise it is well with it once you get rolling!