Walkers and Walker Use

Start out using walkers the correct way and you won't develop bad habits. It should be adjusted appropriately for your height. Your elbows should have a slight bend while standing in your walker. This is a good fit.

When walking, you should be close enough to your walker so that your posture is straight and tall. You shouldn't be bent forward, nor should your arms be stretched way out in front of you. This puts strain on your back, arms, neck, and shoulders. It also makes your balance less stable. But, don't walk too closely to the front of your walker. If your legs touch the front of the walker, you're at risk of falling forward. Follow this sequence when walking: first, push your walker forward. Next, take a step forward with your surgery leg. Then, take a step with your good leg. You don't need to take big steps. Take normal stride lengths.

WALKERS

There are several different types of walkers/rollators:

Pick-up walker (four legs with no wheels): This walker needs to be lifted off the floor with each step you take. It can be a bit difficult to manuever right after surgery and requires more of your energy. If you used this type at home prior to your surgery and you're comfortable with it, then continue to use it. In most cases, it's not recommended immediately following hip or knee replacement surgery. It's just not as efficient as a front-wheel walker.

Front-wheel walker (four legs, front two have wheels): This is the type of walker used routinely with patients right after surgery. The front two legs have wheels. The wheels allow you to walk while pushing it in front of you. There's no need to lift it while walking. Most front-wheeled walkers come with optional rear leg attachments that look like tiny skiis, or gliders. They allow the rear legs to glide more easily, especially over rough surfaces. Some people attach tennis balls to the bottom of the two back legs, which helps to cut down on friction on thick carpeted surfaces. Most walkers can be adjusted for your height. They come in different sizes (short and tall), so make sure you get the right size. Then adjust it to your height. Here's a quick way to make sure your walker is correctly adjusted to your height: stand inside your walker with both hands on the hand grips. Stand with good posture, tall and straight. Remove your right hand from the walker and bring it down toward your side. Make sure your arm is straight and on the outside of the walker . The inside of your wrist should be touching the hand grip of the walker. If your wrist is lower than the hand grip, your walker is too high. If your wrist is above the hand grip, your walker is too low. Another quick measuring method: while standing inside the walker with both hands on the grips, both elbows should be slightly bent for a good fit. Adjust your walker to the appropriate height, otherwise you may experience pain or discomfort in your arms, shoulders, or back. Your posture will suffer as well. Your therapist will adjust the walker to your height.

Four-wheel walker (all legs have wheels): These are rarely used during hospital rehab immediately after surgery. But they're quite popular with senior citizens while out and about in their daily lives. The more expensive ones are often equiped with a basket, or shelf, and a seat. And they usually have brakes. The brakes are a safety measure that prevent the walker from moving while you attempt to sit down or stand up while using the walker. During your first days of rehab after surgery, this type of walker may be difficult to manuever because the four wheels make the walker less steady. It tends to roll ahead of you too quickly. They're sometimes wider than standard two wheel walkers and may not fit into tight spaces (bathroom, doorways).

Three-wheel walker (three legs, all with wheels): These walkers have three legs, with a wheel on each one. The base has a triangular shape with two legs in the rear and one leg in front. It's often equipped with a basket, seat, and brakes.