Independent Living Specialists have some of the best walkers in all their stores Australia wide. Use of a walker depends on a person’s height, weight, environment and mobility requirements. Although a simple and strong walking cane may provide minimum support for controlling your balance, it is preferable to use a walker or seat walker if you need more support while walking. Walkers available at ILS have been selected from a large range of reputed manufacturers for their varying features and benefits including safety with minimum risk of injury and excellent comfort.
A walker can be used to help reduce the stress on a painful joint or limb and also assist as a backup when there is a decline in your strength, stability in joints and limbs.
A walker comes in helpful when you need to start walking after a surgery or leg injury. It is the best source of support to start walking again while your leg is healing.
Types of Walkers
There are many types of walkers available at ILS and it is important to choose it according to your surgeon or physical therapist’s recommendation.
The Leia is lightweight (7.5kg ) and is very easy to manoeuvre whilst also offering maximum stability and a SWL of 150kg
Best Walkers at ILS
Rollator four-wheeled seat walker, seat walker with a basket, travel lite portable outdoor seat walker with bag and crutch holder and carbon fire nitro elite super lightweight seat walker are four of the most popular walkers.
This heavy duty quad seat walker comes with a max safe working limit 130kg, and is Australian standards certified.
Important Mechanics
- A walker without wheels has to be lifted and placed in front in order to move forward and walker with wheels needs to be pushed forward.
- Make sure all four wheels are on the ground before your place your weight on it.
- Always look ahead when walking and not at your feet.
- Adjust the walker to your height and ensure handles are on level with your hips and slightly bend elbows when holding the handles.
Precautionary steps
- Ensure your house is fall proof by making necessary changes to prevent falls.
- Clear messy litter and always ensure floors are clean and dry.
- To begin walking use the leg you had surgery or injured.
- Use the good leg to start climbing a step or stairs and use the injured leg to start descending a step or stairs.
- Keep a distance between the walker and you with the toes inside the walker. Getting too close to the tips, front or wheels might affect your balance.
- Refrain from wearing shoes with heels or leather soles and wear rubber-soled shoes or slippers or other soles that are non-skid.
- Ensure cords, loose rugs or corners of rugs that stick out are held down to the floor to avoid getting tangled or tripping over them.
- Replace worn out tips and wheels of the walker.
Health and Social Benefits
Using a walker will definitely improve a person’s health as the main aim is to encourage the use of the injured leg to get back to normal. Further, being able to move independently in an upright position paves the way to interact socially leading to a higher sense of well-being. It also improves a person’s self-image and self-esteem with the ability to communicate and interact in a natural manner.
