A walker can help you get around safely while your foot or leg heals. Be sure the walker is adjusted for your height by an expert and a health care provider shows you how to use it. These instructions are for people who have been told not to bear any weight on the foot or leg that's healing. That means your foot should never touch the ground when you're standing or sitting. To keep things simple, we'll call the foot or leg that's healing your "bad leg." That's because it's bad to put weight on it. We'll call the other leg your "good leg."
Move the walker forward, then push down on the handgrips to support your weight as you step forward. Move the walker, take a step. Don't get ahead of the walker; stay inside "the box." Be especially careful on slippery surfaces or area rugs. When you're using a walker, don't carry anything. Don't sling a bag over your shoulder or hook it in the crook of your arm. Instead, you can get a bag or a basket designed to go on the front of a walker.
Some people find it more comfortable to extend their bad leg in front of them. Either way, be sure you don't even touch any part of your foot to the ground. It can delay your healing if you do.
While you're using a walker, only sit in sturdy chairs that aren't going to move under you — no rolling chairs, no swivel chairs, no rockers. Four legs planted on the ground — and if the chair has armrests, it'll make getting up and down a lot easier.
Back up until your good leg touches the seat. Put your bad leg slightly forward. Keep one hand on the walker as you reach back and grab the armrest on your good side. Slowly lower yourself onto the chair — don't just drop into it — and scoot yourself back. Again, it's very important not to let your foot touch the floor, even for a moment.
If possible, once you're seated, lift your leg onto something that will keep it off the floor. You'll use the same technique to get into bed. A bed doesn't have armrests, but it's usually higher than a chair, which helps. By the way, when you sit down or get in bed, keep your walker within reach and use it. No hopping around the room, holding onto furniture. You're liable to lose your balance and either fall or catch yourself on your bad leg. Either way, it's not good. Don't take a single step without your walker.
To get up, take your leg off of what it's been resting on, but keep your foot off the floor. Put your walker in front of you. Scoot forward to the edge of the seat. Don't reach forward to grab the walker. Instead, push yourself up using the armrests. Remember: Don't let that foot touch the floor. Once you're standing and you have your balance, take hold of the walker.
Getting into a car can be a little tricky. You need to be able to open the door all the way. The safest place for you to ride is in the back seat. Make sure that the front seat is all the way forward. Ask the driver or another passenger to stand by and help you. And, yes, there has to be a driver. You may not drive at this stage of your recovery.
Back up until your good leg is touching the car. Your helper moves the walker away and you grab the car. Lower yourself slowly. Use your good leg to push yourself back. Be careful not to bang your foot. Get your foot all the way into the car. Remember, your foot must not touch the floor. Be sure the door won't hit your foot when it's closed. And then buckle up.
To get out, lift your leg out of the car. Scoot to the edge of the seat. Have your helper put the walker in front of you. Take hold of the walker on your bad side and grab the car with your other hand. Get your good leg on the ground, then push yourself up. Once you're standing and have your balance, put your other hand on the walker.
When you're crossing the street, you can often find a "curb cut," so you don't have to step up or down. If you do have to step down, the walker goes first, then your good leg. Keep your bad leg out in front of you.
Going up the curb is a little trickier. Put your heel and the back legs of the walker against the curb. Step backward with your good leg, then bring the walker up. Make sure all four legs are on the sidewalk before you turn around. Here's an easy way to remember which leg goes first. It's "Up with the good, down with the bad."
When you step up, the good leg goes first, then the walker. "Up with the good."
When you step down, the bad leg goes first, then your walker. "Down with the bad."
You can usually find an elevator in a public building. You absolutely cannot use your walker on an escalator. If you have to go up- or downstairs, here's how to do it.
Turn your walker to the side. Going up, you lead with your good leg and the walker follows, one step higher. Good leg up, walker up higher. Good leg up, walker up higher.
Going downstairs is a little different. This time, you lead with the walker and your good leg follows. Walker first, then one step down. Walker first, one step down. Your bad leg is extended in front of you, so even though it's not touching anything, the bad leg goes first.
Once again, it's "Up with the good, down with the bad."
When you go upstairs, the good leg goes first. "Up with the good."
When you go down, the bad leg goes first. "Down with the bad."
As you can see, this is tricky. If you have to use stairs, try to be sure you have a helper. Your helper stands behind the walker to brace it. Your helper should also put a hand on your back or hold onto your belt.
Good leg first, walker up higher. Good leg first, walker up higher.
On the way down, your helper gets in front of you and braces the walker. Your helper should also hold onto your hip or belt.
Walker first, one step down. Walker first, one step down. Try to always have a helper if you need to use stairs.
Ask your health care provider any questions you have about how to safely use a walker, because using your walker properly can help you heal as quickly as possible.