How To Use A Walker With One Leg or After Amputation

You may need to use a walker to move around, if you have had a leg amputated. Using a walker will help you to go anywhere at your own will but you like to use wheelchair at first. It’s normal but as your balance improves, you may start using a walker.

There are several types of walkers; standard, front-wheeled walkers, and 4-wheeled walkers. A physical therapist will help select the best walker for you, and teach you how to use the walker safely.

It’s good to use walker as walking aids help prevents falls which can seriously damage your wound or cause extra wounds. But using a walker in start is not easy so to avoid any bad experience and injury while using walker, you’ll need to learn how to use a walker, how to stand up with walker and how to do all the other things with walker.

We are here sharing tips on how to use a walker with one leg which you can follow.

How to Use a Walker With One Leg

1. First make sure your walker is the right height for you.
2. Now stand in the center of the walker and put your hands on the handles.
3. Shift your weight slightly back, onto your intact limb. Lift or roll the walker forward about 12 inches.
4. Shift your weight onto your hands, pushing down on the handgrips. Move your foot forward, to the center of the walker frame. Make sure your toe does not go past the front of the walker.
5. Repeat to take your next step.

Sitting down

• Position yourself in front of the chair, keeping your residual limb slightly forward.
• Be sure the chair is braced so it can’t slide out from under you as you sit.
• Bend forward at the hip, reaching behind you with one hand.
• Grasp the armrest or side of the chair.
• Do the same with the other hand.
• Lower yourself onto the center of the chair, then slide back.
• To get up, reverse the steps above.

Note: This method can also be used to get into and out of a car.

Moving through doorways

• To push open a closed door, stand facing the doorway with the walker close to the door. Use one hand to turn the knob and push the door so it swings open. Then move the walker into the doorway to keep it from closing. Walk through the doorway, using the walker to hold the door open as you pass through.
• To pull open a closed door, stand to the side opposite the direction the door will open. Use one hand to turn the knob and pull the door so it swings open. Move the walker into the doorway and keep the walker firmly planted to keep the door from closing. Walk through the doorway. The walker will keep it from closing until you are through.

Note: For safety, never remove both hands from the walker at the same time. Don’t use revolving doors when using a walker.

Curbs and steps

Your walker may be used to climb a single step, such as a curb. Before climbing a curb, look for “curb cuts.” These are places where curbs are cut down to street level. Use curb cuts whenever you can. To step onto a curb, position the walker as close as possible to the curb. Step into the center of the frame. Lift the walker onto the curb. Step up and into the frame with your intact leg, pushing down onto the handgrips with your hands. To descend a curb or step, position the walker as close to the edge as you safely can. Place your foot close to the edge of the curb. Lower the walker to the street. (Brace the frame against the curb to keep the walker steady.) Holding the handgrips securely, lower your foot down into the center of the frame.

Note: For a person with an amputation, walkers may not be safe for use on stairs. If you can’t avoid taking stairs, ask your physical therapist for special instructions.

Home safety tips

Making a few changes at home can reduce hazards and help prevent falls. Ask a family member or friend to make these changes before you arrive home.

• Remove objects that could cause you to trip, such as area rugs, thresholds, and loose cords.
• Store supplies between waist and shoulder level. This will help you maintain balance as you reach for things.
• Make sure all rooms are well lit.
• Move all electrical cords out of the way or tape them securely to the floor.
• Pick up clutter. Keep floors clear at all times.
• Prepare a bedroom or sleeping area on the main level if you normally sleep upstairs.

How To Use A Rolling Walker Properly

Rolling Walker or Wheeled walker can be a game-changer for the seniors, if they are recovering from surgery or just having problems because of age.

A good walker helps to increase the mobility for seniors and a rollator (aka rolling walker) will help a person with walking challenges or disabilities to move around easily and safely.

It may seems like using a rolling walker is easy but in actual it is not. It is known that for person with mobility challenges, a rolling walker is more flexible and easier to maneuver than a traditional walker. Because it provides better control and more support than a cane or normal walker.

Check out the safety tips below and it will help you to use the rolling walker in better way without getting hurt.

How To Use A Rolling Walker Properly?

No matter what you are using you always need to be careful while using it and when it comes to use a walker you need to be extra careful. Because a little mistake can give you bad injury, but don’t worry below we are sharing the way proper ways to use a rolling walker.

There are four main activities that you are going to perform with a walker and these are: Walking, Turning, Sitting Down and Standing Up. You can follow the guidelines below to avoid any bad incident while using a rolling walker.

It is highly recommended to seek advice from your doctor or therapist for your unique situation.

Note: If the walker you purchased came with instruction manual then please spend your time to read it. By doing that you will be able to know more about your walker and it’s functions and controls. Keep in mind not all the models are same and they come with unique features, warnings, and safety features.

How to walk with a walker

Now don’t forget this is your first time with a walker and in starting it may feel awkward and tough to walk with a walker, but don’t you quit because it’s all normal.

You can easily control the walker with a little practice and once you learn how to do that it will all natural to walk with walker. Check the process how you can walk with a walker:-

• First without taking any step place the walker in front of you, about a foot ahead of you.
• After doing that make sure you are balanced, stable and standing just between the walker.
• Now grip the handle loosely near the brake levers and gently roll the walker ahead of you as you walk.
• Make sure your steps are even if not then shorten the longer step.
• Maintain the balance and walk normally, keep most of your weight on your legs.
• Keep the walker close to you and control the speed of the walker with brakes.
• If you are in kitchen or bathroom use counters for support and keep the walker within reach.

How to turn with walker

To turn with walker you need to stay within the width of the walker. Keep the walker in front of you and take small steps to turn your body and walker will naturally move with you.

Make sure not to twist your back because it may cause back issues. Again just keep the walker in front of you and turn your whole body and walker will move naturally with you. Don’t twist your back only to turn.

How to sit on rolling walker

Now mostly rolling walker come with seat which you can use to sit anywhere and anytime. But sitting on a walker seat is little tricky and you need to follow the steps below to avoid any serious or funny moment.

• Before sitting push the walker up against a wall or any other heavy object if you see any. It will add stability and walker cannot slide away from under you.
• Now lock the brakes before sitting down to walker movement.
• Turn around and make sure you are steady and balanced and your legs are close to the seat.
• Put your hands on the handles for balance and gently sit down.

How to stand up

• Check if the brakes are still locked if you not then lock.
• Come forward and sit on the edge of the sit.
• Place your feet under you so can stand properly.
• Now lean forward and put your weight on the feet.
• You can put your one hand on the handle and one on the seat for balanced assistance.
• Put your weight evenly so you don’t move the walker or tip it over.
• Do not move forward until your are balanced.
• Now slowly turn around and align yourself center with walker.
• When you are ready disengage the brakes and walk.

Rolling Walker Safety Tips

It is always good to follow some safety guidelines to avoid any bad incident. Let us share with you the best rolling walker safety tips which you can follow:-

1. Always stay inside the walker and your chest should be facing the walker all the time.
2. Make sure to keep the walker’s wheels on the ground all the time. It will help you to maintain the balance.
3. Do not let the walker go far from you, keep the walker close to you even you are taking longer steps. The far the walker is from you, the more risk of falling increases.
4. Always keep your eyes on the track and avoid all the things that can make walker stop.
5. Take shorten steps always, never hurry and take longer steps.
6. Never lift the walker or twist your upper body to turn. Check the steps above on how to turn.
7. Use walker’s brakes to control the walker and it’s speed. Keep the walker close to you.

In the end we suggest you to read the instructions that came with the walker. You will learn about all the controls there and never put all of your weight on the walker. Instruction manual will help you to learn about warnings, so spend your time to read that.