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 they can bear some weight on the foot or leg that's healing. Ask your health care provider how much weight you can bear and be sure to follow those directions. 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 too much weight on it. We'll call your other leg your "good leg."
Move the walker forward, then push down on the handgrips to support your weight as you step forward with your bad leg. Bring your good leg up to meet it. Move your walker, bad leg, good leg. Don't get ahead of the walker; stay inside "the box." Don't put any more weight on your bad leg than your health care provider has told you is safe. It can delay your healing if you do. 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.
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 with your good leg. 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 put too much weight on your bad leg. Either way, it's not good. Don't take a step without your walker.
To get up, 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 armrest, putting your weight on your good leg. 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. Move the seat back as far as it will go. It helps to recline it, too. Ask the driver or another passenger to help you. Do not drive yourself unless your health care provider has told you it is safe to do so.
Back up until your good leg is touching the car. Keep your bad leg slightly in front of you. Your helper moves the walker away and you support yourself by holding onto the car. Lower yourself slowly, keeping your weight on your good leg. Use your good leg to push yourself back. When you swing your legs into the car, lift your bad leg to support it. Be careful not to bang your foot. 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, keeping the weight on your good leg. Once you're standing and have your balance, put your other hand on the walker.
When you're crossing a 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 bad leg, then your good leg.
Going up a curb is a little trickier. Put your heels and the back of the legs of the walker against the curb. Step backward with the good leg, then your bad 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, your bad leg goes first. "Down with the bad."
You can usually find an elevator in a public building. You should not 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 bad leg follows. Then move the walker one step higher. Good leg, bad leg, walker up higher. Good leg, bad leg, walker up higher.
Going downstairs is a little different. This time, you lead with the walker. Your bad leg goes first, then your good leg follows. Then move the walker one step lower. Walker first, bad leg, good leg. Walker first, bad leg, good leg. Don't put any more weight on your bad leg than your health care provider has told you is safe.
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, then bad leg, then walker up higher. Good leg, bad leg, 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, then bad leg, then good leg. Walker first, bad leg, good leg. 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.