Have you ever seen someone walk hunched over with a walker?
Hopefully, not you! I'm Dr. Shawn Waller, Your PT Guy. In the above video I show you how to walk with a walker, the right way, so you can stay independent and enjoy your life!
Know This First
The first thing you need to know about walking with a walker is where to stand in the walker. Now, a lot of therapists, a lot of people say, "stand in the walker" "stand in the walker" "stand in the walker!" Well, if you stand in the middle of the walker... yes, your posture does look good. But the first thing issue is it minimizes how far you can stride out with your leg. You can't stride very far out with your leg if you stand so far inside the walker.
Don't Fall Backwards!
The second reason I don't tell people "stand in the walker" is if something like the following happens. Say you're walking along and someone calls your name and says, "Hey, your PT guy! Hey, Shawn!" and I look back..! I start to lose my balance backwards. This is because my feet are in front of the pivot point — the the tennis balls in the back of the walker.
This is very dangerous! That is not where I recommend people stand. So where should you stand? Well, neither should you stand behind the back legs of the walker. If you do this, you hunch over.
This also shortens your steps so you can't pick up your feet. Then your foot may catch and you end up falling.
Where to Stand
So you really want to be right between the back tennis balls (or walker skis).
The arch of your foot and hip should be between the back legs. That's where you want to be when you're standing to use the walker.
That's the number one piece of information you need to know. If you stay there, you're doing great!
You need to put other things into practice when walking. For review:
- First, stand between the back legs the walker.
- Then stride out while keeping your hips at the back legs of the walker.
This is so you have plenty of space to extend your legs to stride out. When you do that, it just looks nice and natural.
Where to Look
The second thing you need to know is where you're supposed to look.
A lot of times people will say, "look up! look up! look up!" Well, if someone is super hunched over and they look up.. it looks ridiculous. It looks worse because it is worse. It's going to lead to neck pain and headaches and all these things. Consequently, not a good idea.
Instead of that, sometimes people say "stand up tall! stand up tall!" If you try and do that, and still still try to walk, you can't do it! Instead, you have to fix where you stand and look ahead. That's the key. Look ahead when you're walking.
So let's review:
- Stand where with your feet they're supposed to go — between the back legs of the walker — with shoulders back and butt tucked in
- Looking out about 15 feet and scan the environment.
As you're walking like this, look out for any risks any threats to falls whatever that case is.. dogs, pets, toys, whatever the case may be.
When you're standing in the right spot, looking out, and striding along, you can turn either way. You stay in the back part of the walker. You're not too far back or not too far forward, and to reemphasize, you're looking out with your shoulders back.
That is the way you walk with a walker appropriately.
Want even more mobility and fall-prevention strategies? Watch my free 3 Secrets to a Fall Proof Life webinar for more information to help you move better and stay independent.