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Walkers

Aka: Walkers, Standard Walker, Front-Wheeled Walker, Four-Wheeled Walker
  1. See Also
    1. Mobility Device
    2. Assistive Technology
    3. Canes
    4. Crutches
  2. Indication
    1. Gait disturbance (full weight bearing)
  3. Types (in order of most stable to most mobile)
    1. Standard Walker (4 rubber-tipped legs)
      1. For ataxia (offers full weight bearing support)
      2. Advantages
        1. Most stable device
      3. Disadvantages
        1. Need strength to fully lift walker with each step
        2. Requires slow deliberate gait pattern
        3. Needs most attention of any Ambulatory Device
    2. Front-Wheeled Walker (2 rubber tip back legs, 2 wheels)
      1. For Movement Disorder (e.g. Parkinson's) or ataxia
      2. Allows faster pace than Standard Walker
      3. Less stable for weight bearing than Standard Walker
    3. Four-Wheeled Walker (4 wheeled freely mobile device)
      1. For mild Movement Disorder or ataxia
      2. Intended for relatively high functioning patients
      3. Do not use for weight bearing support (fall risk)
  4. Fitting
    1. Keep elbow flexed at side to 15 to 30 degrees
    2. Cane length: greater trochanter to floor (with shoes)
  5. References
    1. Van Hook (2003) Am Fam Physician 67(8):1717-24

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