photo courtesy Evolution Walker
Too many people wait until they have fallen and hurt themselves before they get a walker. But how do you know when you or a loved one is at risk of falling? After all, each step that we take starts out as a fall, broken only by our next step. It’s a complex combination of moves requiring balance, agility, and ability to bear weight.
1: Check Your Balance
Simply standing up and closing your eyes can tell you whether you have the necessary balance to walk unassisted. If you feel less than confident maintaining your balance, you may find that a walker provides the stability that you need.
2: Consider Your Medical History
Muscle weakness, stroke, foot disorders, degenerative joint disease, even bladder dysfunction can make people unsteady.
3: Note When/If You Fall
If you’ve fallen already, ask yourself what caused the fall. It may have been a fluke, or clumsiness, but more likely its an indication of an underlying issue, and the possibility is strong that you will fall again.
4: Evaluate Your Sight
Reduced vision, caused by glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts, makes it hard to see obstacles. With a walker, even if you run into an out-of-place object or uneven pavement, you’ve got something to hold onto and help you stay erect.
5: Monitor Your Fear of Falling
This may seem simple, but if you are afraid of falling, perhaps you should listen to that inner voice. In our showroom we see people every day who walk in very cautiously as they protect themselves against a fall. Once they test a walker, their confidence, safety and speed all surge. Often they look as mobile as they did 10 – 15 years earlier.
When fitted and used correctly, a walker increases your mobility, helps you to correct your posture and your gait, and protects you from falling. If you know someone for whom walking has become difficult, drop by and try out some of the latest models.
