What to Do
Recognizing Problems
A walker provides needed support and stability to allow a person with a weakness or injury to walk and move about safely. However, at times a person has difficulty using a walker. This may be due to fear of falling, pain, upper body muscles are too weak to use the walker, or the legs are too weak to support the body.
When a person tells you they are having trouble using a walker or if you observe them having difficulty, check the following:
- Are there obstacles in their walking path making it hard to move about? (eg. Furniture, piles of newspapers, children’s toys)
- Is the person using the walker incorrectly as they walk, sit, or stand from a chair?
- Are they showing signs of fatigue or unsteadiness as they walk?
- Does the person have difficulty lifting the walker?
If the person continues to have difficulty, call the physical therapist or responsible doctor.
Keep a Walker in Good Condition
Routinely check the condition of a walker to be sure it is safe to use.
- Look closely at the frame each day.
- Look for any signs of bending or deformation of the frame.
- Are there any loose or missing screws that will weaken the joints of the frame?
- Are there screws that stick out?
- Take a close look at the handgrips.
- Handgrips are plastic, foam or soft grip.
- Look for signs of cracked or loose grips.
- You want a grip to be secure so that it fits the hands and won’t slip during use.
- If a person has trouble grasping a grip with the fingers, it might help to have a larger grip.