1. Why a Walker Helps
A walker is a common, widely used piece of home healthcare equipment. It provides a frame for stability, support and weight bearing when you're walking. Walkers are used by people with leg or ankle injuries or who have recently had hip or leg surgery; walkers are often also used by senior citizens that need help walking and being steady on their feet.
2. Find the Right Walker for You
There are many types of walkers and it's important to find the right model for your specific mobility needs. Basic walkers have four legs with rubber feet. These walkers are useful for people recovering from injuries or surgery that need temporary help bearing weight and added stability until they recover. Wheeled walkers have rubber feet on the back legs and wheels on the front legs, helping elderly people or people with limited mobility easily move forward. Some walkers are rigid and maintain their shape but folding or collapsible walkers are also available and make traveling easy.
3. Walking Correctly With a Walker
Proper walker use is important to make sure you get the most stability and support from your walker. To walk with your walker, hold it close to you by its handles. Adjust the walker so your arm is at a 45-degree angle with your elbow slightly bent when you hold the walker. Move the walker forward so the legs closest to you line up with the tips of your shoes, then step into the walker. This allows you to walk with the walker at your regular pace. Do not place the walker so far in front of you that you have to stretch your arms or take more than one step to move with it.
4. Weigh Your Walker Options
All walkers have weight capacities, meaning that they can only safely support a certain weight. Walker weight capacity for the average adjustable aluminum walker is between 250 and 300 lbs. Most walker manufacturers also make heavy-duty or bariatric models capable of supporting people who weigh up to 500 lbs. Adjustable walkers also adjust to accommodate people up to 6 feet 4 inches, but extra-tall models are made for taller people. Using a walker that you are too heavy or too tall for can be dangerous so take your height and weight into consideration when choosing your walker.
5. Get Financial Help
Depending on your insurance coverage, your insurance company might pay partially or in full for your walker. Contact your insurance company to find out if medical equipment like walkers are covered under your policy. If a walker is covered, contact a local home healthcare supplier for information about the requirements and procedure to get your walker paid for by your insurance company. Most walkers are fairly priced and affordable, but a little assistance from the insurance company always helps.
