The 7 Best Mobility Aids for Walking
If you're starting to have some trouble walking due to age, illness, an accident, or surgery, a walking aid can help you get around safely without needing to rely on others. With so many walking aids on the market, it should be fairly easy to find a mobility aid to suit your needs, budget, lifestyle, and home environment.
After informing yourself about the options available, be sure to consult with a physical therapist to ascertain the best option for you and learn how to use the device. The right mobility aid, used correctly, can keep you active and independent long into the future.
Walking Sticks
Walking sticks, also known as canes, are wooden or aluminum sticks with a rubber tip and a round or contoured handle. Canes help people with balance issues or a slightly weaker side by transferring some of the weight to the user's upper body. In the United States, about 16% of older adults use a cane.
There are several kinds of canes available, including regular canes with a single tip and quad canes with four tips that offer greater stability. Popular walking stick handle configurations include round, Derby, offset, and ergonomic. Some cane handles are coated with rubber to assist with grip.
Is a Walking Cane Good for Me?
You might benefit from a cane if:
You can still walk independently but have a weaker side, a minor injury, or mild balance issues.
You need to navigate small spaces and rough terrain.
You want to stay as active as possible.
You like the distinguished look of a cane.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Cane
When choosing a walking stick, make sure it's the right length. Your elbow should be bent at a 15° angle when holding the cane or 20° if using the cane for balance.
When walking, always hold the cane on your "good" side, stepping with the cane and the weak leg together and landing on the good leg.
When using a cane to walk up and down stairs, hold on to the handrail and use the cane on the side opposite the handrail. Lead with the stronger leg going up and the cane and the weaker leg going down.
For easy transport, you might benefit from a folding cane. Many of the canes at Mobility Plus Colorado in Denver, for example, fold up small enough to fit in a bag.
Crutches
Crutches keep the weight off one of your legs if you have a foot, ankle, hip, or knee injury. These days, they are usually made from aluminum with an adjustable length, hand grips, and underarm padding.
As incorrect or extended use of underarm crutches can lead to crutch paralysis, this mobility aid is generally recommended only for short-term use. To avoid pinching the underarm nerve, bear the weight with your hands rather than your armpits.
Is a Crutch a Good Option for Me?
Crutches may be appropriate if you have a temporary non-weight-bearing order from your doctor (a few days or weeks rather than months) and have good upper-body strength. They are also helpful if you don't have enough space for maneuvering a larger device like a wheelchair or mobility scooter or need to navigate stones and stairs.
Tips for Choosing and Using Crutches
When choosing crutches, look for a lightweight model that is height-adjustable and has padded armrests. You can add more cushioning under the arms using a sponge, foam, or even a clean dish towel. But remember, no matter how much padding you have, always put the weight of your body on your hands—not on your armpits.
Walkers
Walkers are frames with four legs that can be helpful for people with balance issues. They are especially popular with older adults who are starting to need more support.
To use a walker, the person picks the walker up and places it one step ahead. Then, they walk toward the walker before picking it up again and moving it forward. Many walkers are foldable for easy storage and transport.
Is It for Me?
A walker could be right for you if you mostly need assistance with balance but still have good upper and lower body strength. It could also be a good choice if you need to walk over terrain that is flat but too rough for wheels, such as grass or stones.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Walker
Using a walker improperly can lead to falls and injuries, so it's essential to have a physical therapist indicate the proper technique. For safety, keep the walker close to your body, remove obstacles from the floor, and make sure the walker is firmly balanced before taking a step.
Rollators (Wheeled Walkers)
Rollators (also referred to as wheeled walkers or rolling walkers) look similar to a standard walker except that they roll forward on four wheels and don't need to be picked up and placed down. This makes them a popular option for older adults who lack the upper body strength to lift a device.
Most rolling walker models come with a padded seat where you can sit down and rest, as well as a carry basket for shopping bags. It's important to use the hand brakes when sitting on the rollator and for safety when walking down slopes.
Is It for Me?
Rollators are ideal for people who need support with balance and don't have the strength to lift a walker but who still want to remain active and independent. They are best suited to flat surfaces, like tiles and pavement, so a rollator could be a good choice if the areas where you walk are mostly flat. When purchasing a rollator, ask a sales representative to adjust the device so that you maintain good posture while walking.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Rollator
When purchasing a rollator, make sure that it is properly adjusted to your height and has all of the features you need. Always lock the brakes before sitting or standing and use your leg strength to sit down or push up—never put your full weight on a rolling walker or use it as a grab bar.
When going up or down slopes or stairs, it’s safer to walk unassisted than to navigate these terrains with a rollator (which would be outright dangerous). If needed, ask someone else to assist you or use a stairlift.
Knee Scooters
If you need to keep the weight off one leg after an accident or surgery, a knee scooter is an excellent choice. This mobility aid allows you to stay active and maintain the muscle tone in your good leg while getting around much faster and more comfortably than you could with crutches.
Standard knee scooters have a padded platform for kneeling with your bad leg while you hold onto the handlebars and propel yourself forward with your good leg. If the injury affects the knee itself, you can use a seated knee scooter instead.
Is It for Me?
Knee scooters are a temporary solution for active adults who need to be non-weight-bearing on one side while healing from an injury or surgery. These mobility aids do not help with balance, with fatigue, or in cases where both legs are compromised. For safety, knee scooters are best used on flat surfaces with a minimum of incline and can't be used to get up and down stairs.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Knee Scooter
When choosing a knee scooter, make sure the knee platform is comfortable, your knee is bent at 90°, and the handlebar height is adjusted properly so that you’re standing up straight when using the device. Slow down and use the brakes when approaching a corner and when going downhill. You don’t want to fall and make your injury worse.
Wheelchairs
In the event that your mobility issues no longer allow you to walk, or you tire easily when walking long distances, a wheelchair could be a good solution. There are several kinds of wheelchairs available to suit your physical ability and intended use.
Transport Chairs
A transport chair is a lightweight, cost-effective mobility aid for people who tire quickly when walking and have someone who is willing to push them around. These lightweight wheelchairs are popular for family outings, walks in the park, or taking the weight off both legs for a few days after an accident or illness.
Manual Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs have a seat and two large wheels that the wheelchair user spins to propel him or herself forward without help. The user's feet are supported by swing-away footrests, and the chair folds up for easy transportation. If you need to take the weight off your legs but still have the upper body strength and energy to propel yourself, a lightweight wheelchair rental could be ideal.
Power Wheelchair
Power wheelchairs feature a seat mounted on a power base containing a battery and motor and have a joystick on one armrest for steering. In contrast to a manual wheelchair, an electric wheelchair does not require any physical strength except for the small movements needed to steer the chair. If you have significant mobility needs after an accident or illness, or due to advanced age, an electric wheelchair can help you maintain your independence.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Wheelchair
When choosing a wheelchair, make sure that the model has a sufficient weight capacity for your body mass as well as anything you might want to carry—such as shopping bags, oxygen tanks, or another mobility device like a cane. It's also important to choose a chair that is designed for your height to avoid scrunching. If using a powered wheelchair, find out how to charge power wheelchair batteries correctly as correct charging can significantly extend your mileage and battery life.
Mobility Scooters
Finally, if you can still walk well but simply find it difficult to walk long distances, a mobility scooter can help you to get around. A motorized scooter consists of a comfortable seat over a power base, a foot platform, and handlebars with a tiller for steering. It can be driven on the sidewalk or on the road.
For indoor use, a motorized scooter with three wheels has the best turning radius for maneuverability in tight spaces. For outdoor use, a scooter with four wheels offers greater stability. In both of these configurations, top-tier, all-terrain mobility scooters are available for driving over uneven surfaces like gravel, grass, and hills.
Is It for Me?
If you are still active and have no trouble walking, but you struggle with trips to the store or would tire after a full day walking around an amusement park, a mobility scooter could be a great solution. Electric scooters can usually be fitted with a cane holder, as well, so as your mobility challenges increase, you can still alternate scooting with walking to maintain your stamina and strength.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Mobility Scooter
There are several electric scooter models available, so it's important to weigh your specific needs when purchasing or renting a mobility scooter. Generally, three-wheel scooters are best for indoor use and taller individuals and four-wheel scooters are best for outdoor use and people with balance concerns. If you plan to drive the scooter frequently and for long distances, it's worth investing in a top-tier, heavy-duty scooter.
Other Mobility Accessories
Once someone starts using mobility aids for walking, things like stairs and steps can become difficult and even dangerous to navigate alone. Depending on your chosen mobility aids, consider installing wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, and vertical platform lifts to stay safe and independent.
Recommendations When Choosing Mobility Aids for Walking
Understanding when to get a mobility aid is important. These questions might help:
Do you need support on one side or both sides? For one-sided support, consider a walking stick, crutches, or a knee scooter. For two-sided support, consider a walker, rollator, wheelchair, or mobility scooter.
Are you still strong enough to walk? Staying as active as you can for as long as you can is important for your physical and mental health. Canes, walkers, rollators, and manual wheelchairs allow you to stay fit while getting around.
What is your environment like? For flat surfaces, consider a knee scooter (for short-term use), rollator, wheelchair (all types), or basic mobility scooter. For uneven terrain, your options include walking sticks, crutches (short-term use only), standard walkers, and all-terrain motorized wheelchairs and scooters.
How frequently will you use the device? For infrequent use, an entry-level or rental mobility device is often sufficient. For daily use, make sure the device is well-fitted to your size and offers all of the comfort features you need.
Are you working within a limited budget? Canes, crutches, walkers, rollators, knee scooters, transport chairs, and manual wheelchairs are all very cost-effective options if you have a smaller budget and the device would be appropriate for your needs.
Mobility Aids Keep You Active and Independent
Mobility aids for walking can help you to live independently as you age or when your usual activity level is compromised due to an illness, accident, or surgery.
When selecting a walking mobility device, consult with a medical professional or occupational therapist to determine the best fit and to learn how to use the device safely. Once you've found the perfect fit, you'll be ready to take on the world.