Walking Aids Buyers Guide

A walking aid provides excellent convenience and service to a person with disabilities or injuries. These devices allow people to maintain a degree of independence when moving from one place to another or carrying out simple tasks. With strained muscles or fractured legs, it’s challenging to get around, and that’s why walking aids are essential.

 

What Are Walking Aids?

These are assistive devices that an injured patient requires to improve the ability to walk again after suffering a severe injury. In addition to restoring balance and mobility, they help relieve pressure from injured muscles by transferring weight from the limbs to the ground. As a result, these devices allow patients to recover fast as they reduce the stress on the lower limbs.

 

When Should I Use Walking Aids?

If you’ve been involved in an accident or twisted your leg in a slip and fall injury, it’s virtually impossible to move freely. Depending on the severity of your injury, you might have to resort to a wheelchair.

Luckily, walking aids not only prevent you from being incapacitated but also allow you to move independently or with a little help. Once you find the right type for outdoor and indoor use, you don’t have to miss out on catching up with friends and family.

 

What Are the Different Types of Walking Aids?

With so many options in the market, it’s imperative to do your homework and consider your physical disabilities so you can find a walking aid that suits your requirements. Following are some of the most common walking aids.

1. Canes

Walking canes come in handy for those who need more support in one leg, foot, or knee. Allowing you to shift your weight to the other foot helps avoid straining other parts of your body like your back or arm.

If you have a limp, you need to get a cane before your injury worsens or gets more pronounced due to the extra pressure you put on one foot. A doctor may prescribe a walking cane to restore balance, aid recovery, and give you the additional support you need to walk comfortably.

Depending on your injury, you might choose a single-point or multiple-point cane. Quad canes allow you to walk independently and safely by offering stability on slopes or stairs and prevent you from falling over.

But a cane might not be helpful if you’ve just had knee surgery as it won’t provide the support you require. During the first few weeks of your rehabilitation, you might have to use crutches to relieve pressure from the sore muscles. A walking cane provides minimal support, and you’ll only use it a few weeks before you’re ready to walk again.

2. Crutches

Crutches suit people with permanent or temporary mobility problems. For instance, if one of your limbs is injured, but you have the upper body strength to carry your body weight, crutches will help you move quickly.

You might need crutches if you have a broken ankle, sprained ankle, or fractured leg. The crutches can help you to maintain mobility and keep weight off your injured leg while you recover.

If you’ve never used crutches before, they can cause pain on your arms and shoulders or even bruise your armpits. Remember that your torso and arms need to compensate for your injured leg, and you’ll be putting immense strain on them.

Fortunately, your doctor can ease the pains by helping you to choose the cushioned crutches that match your specific needs. By positioning the crutches a few inches below the axilla and flexing the elbow in the right way, it’s possible to bear weight gradually as you recuperate.

3. Walkers

If you have trouble bearing your weight while getting around, a walker might be the ideal solution for you. Not only do walkers improve posture and stability, but they also reduce aches and pain. In addition, with so many customizable options available for indoor and outdoor use, people with mobility issues have lots of options at their disposal.

Standard walkers also suit people with severe injuries as they might need to rest often. Most walkers come with height-adjustable aluminum frames as they are sturdy and light. Before choosing a walker, make sure you have the upper body strength as you’ll need to lift them occasionally.

Each swiveling wheel allows them to turn quickly in a tight space. Knee walkers provide more freedom of movement to patients with knee injuries while fully supporting the injured leg. Also, they elevate the leg and eliminate the chance of putting weight on the wounded foot.

4. Rollators

A rollator is a walker that consists of three or four wheels, a handlebar, and a built-in seat. Some rollators come with a basket that helps you to carry water and other necessities. If your current condition requires you to rest occasionally, the chair comes in handy too.

A rollator is helpful if your arms are weak and you’re struggling to lift a regular walker. It even suits children with walking difficulties by giving them the independence they need to go out with their friends or attend school.

It’s best to choose a height-adjustable rollator. The ergonomics help you to modify the handlebars and seat to your needs. Before using a rollator, learn how to stop with the handbrakes and avoid steep slopes that could be significant safety hazards.

5. Stairlifts

Seniors who live in storied houses consider stairs as their first enemy. Fortunately, stairlifts provide the ultimate solution for seniors and everyone with mobility issues. These mobility aids eliminate the daily hassle for such people as they don’t have to downsize to single-level homes or even consider moving to retirement homes.

Stairlifts provide a quick and cost-effective remedy while preventing injuries at home. Since stairs present a high risk for falls that could aggravate your injuries, they help you avoid missing steps or injuring your legs, hips, and other body parts. With motorized stairlifts, you only need to press the rocker switch, and you’ll be on your way up and down the stairs.

 

How Do You Choose the Right Walking Aid for Your Needs?

Asking your doctor to recommend the right walking aid for you is the best way to avoid frustration. The process starts with a thorough diagnosis of your current mobility problems, as you don’t want to end up with something that doesn’t facilitate your recovery.

Remember that you also need to get accustomed to the temporary walking profile that might take months.

Most importantly, remember that exercise is a critical factor in your recovery process. So, you need a walking aid that helps you remain active while allowing your legs to bear weight as you restore your gait gradually.

 

Why Ergoactives?

If you need help from a family member while moving around the house or enjoying outdoor life, any walking aid that restores your independence is critical. However, some mobility aids pose some injury risks and can lead to strained muscles and bruises.

All Ergoactives walking aids come with sturdy materials for extra support and soft cushioning to protect your muscles and facilitate your recovery process. Plus, they are customizable. These walking aids allow a user to adjust various parts to guarantee comfort, whatever the height or weight.

Are you looking for the ultimate walking aid to improve your mobility as you recover? Contact Ergoactives today, and we’ll help you find the ideal solution.