tips for walking with walker

colin13

Got walker from physio,used it first time ,yesterday,I was very tense when using it,and when going down a hill nearly fell,will I get less tense as confidence grows ,or have I height set wrong?any advice good advice

Errata

Discuss with the physio, they know you, your mobility problems and the type of walker you have. We don't.

Torry_Quine

Errata wrote: »

Discuss with the physio, they know you, your mobility problems and the type of walker you have. We don't.

that's what I thought. There are zimmers with and without wheels for starters, nvr mind all the other variations Very surprisd though that he went outside on the first use, in fact you rarely see people use them outsied.

belladonna13

colin13 wrote: »

Got walker from physio,used it first time ,yesterday,I was very tense when using it,and when going down a hill nearly fell,will I get less tense as confidence grows ,or have I height set wrong?any advice good advice

Hi colin,

I have a wheely-walker and at first I was not very confident using it, but over time my confidence grew and I am sure yours will also. I did suffer with bad shoulders and arms at first and someone made it higher for me, which helped some. I have now discovered though that the pain is just a further deterioration of my OA.

My wheely-walker allows me to go shopping without feeling unsteady and the little seat allows me to sit whenever I wish and this lets me pace myself. I love the way the seat lifts up and I can safely tuck my shopping and purse in there and have no need to carry any bag at all. I also hook bags on my handlebars, if needed.

I depended on it totally when I did not have a car for several months and could manage to get to the local shops although it took me a long time, due to having a few sit downs on the way.

I now put it in my car boot and know that I can drive to the shops take my walker out and not be worried about needing to find a adequate place to sit down due to pain.

It is getting more and more difficult to lift in and out of my boot and there are many days I cannot even attempt it, but I would not be without my wheely-walker, to me it is the best disability aid I have and keeps me walking.

I do think going down an hill would be quite tricky for me and I know without a doubt I could not do so with my walker, so perhaps for you all that is needed is practice if you need to be going downhill on a regular basis.


Hope you soon get use to it, it is so worth it.

colin13

Thanks for. The positive,reply I will get it adjusted up ,and I will gain confidence as I use it ,Ty

mazza111

Maybe better to try it around the house first until you gain your confidence.

margaretclare

You should have been shown how to use this, but ......

I see a lot of people out and about with these things, and one thing that always strikes me is that 'it is meant to help you to walk so you walk erect, walk 'into' it if you like. It is not meant to be pushed like a wheelbarrow'.

The number of people I see out in the town pushing their walker as if it was a wheelbarrow, I'm sure this is not helpful to the user and not meant to be used this way.

colin13

Was at super market with wife,I pushed. The troloy,I noticed I was leaning on it,that is what happened to me with walker,I think I need to relax,and gain confidence

sunnyone

margaretclare wrote: »

You should have been shown how to use this, but ......

I see a lot of people out and about with these things, and one thing that always strikes me is that 'it is meant to help you to walk so you walk erect, walk 'into' it if you like. It is not meant to be pushed like a wheelbarrow'.

The number of people I see out in the town pushing their walker as if it was a wheelbarrow, I'm sure this is not helpful to the user and not meant to be used this way.

Like the stick and crutch users who just drag them along like a fashion accessories, why bother with (normally bought and not issued) mobility aids if they make life harder instead of easier?

Ebay crips are the worst, trying to buy validation for their "disability"

colin13

been shown,it was first time on an uneven surface in the big bad world,and i wish i was trying to justify things,but im trying to help my self stay a bit mobile before i get told i need a wheel chair,,the joys of MS