#using a walker

The surprising thing about walking with a walker is that if you don’t use it properly you could actually become less mobile. The reason is: the more you bend forward with your arms out in front of you, the worse your balance is, and the harder it is to lift your feet off the floor.  This is true even for someone with strong legs.

People who stand or walk with their walker way out in front of them (hips bent, butt out, weight on outstretched arms) make it harder rather then easier to move their feet.  Usually they blame it on weak legs, but the real problem is they count too much on leaning on their arms, no longer trying to balance without support. If you use a walker incorrectly you end up never being able to do without it. When used correctly, a walker can be a training device that will enable you to improve your balance and mobility with the possibility that one day you can walk without it.

The closer the walker is to you and the less pressure you put on your arms and hands the easier it is to lift your feet.  The most important thing is to keep the hands close to the body.  With your hands close to your body, you will be able to keep your spine straight. And the straighter you are, the better your balance will be, and the easier it will be to walk.