How To Use A Walker On Stairs

Walkers practise wonders for mobility, but stairs can all the same nowadays challenges to people using walkers. Here is how to use a walker when climbing stairs.

By 2030, seniors volition make up over 23% of the Canadian population.

Many of those seniors volition need some blazon of walking aid, such equally a walker. While this helps seniors stay mobile, it makes going up and downwardly stairs more of a challenge.

Nosotros've put together this guide to show you how to use a walker when climbing stairs. Keep reading to larn more!

How to Use a Walker When Climbing Stairs

how to use a walker when climbing stairs

Keep Potential Hazards off the Stairs

Earlier yous start using the stairway, make sure it is clean of any potential hazards that could cause yous to trip and fall.

A few of the things you should remove right away include the following:

Rugs
Electric cords
Boxes
Other items

If you tin can't brand your stairway walker-safe on your own, enquire someone you know to assistance y'all. Having tidy stairs will make going up and down with a walker easier and less dangerous.

Don't Endeavour to Carry Annihilation With You lot

Yous'll need to go along one mitt on your walker and one hand on the stair rail as you lot walk upward or downward the stairs (we'll bear on this again below). Because of this, you should never try to carry anything upwardly the stairs with you when using a walker.

Trying to carry fifty-fifty pocket-size items can make you lose your grip on your walker and fall. If you need to take something up or downstairs with you lot, put them in your pockets or habiliment a fanny pack or backpack instead. You tin also attach a small bag or pouch to your walker for easy, hands-free conveying.

Information technology'southward a good thought to keep items you often use, such as pens and paper, cups of h2o, chapstick, etc., both upstairs and downstairs. This way, you lot won't have to worry nigh carrying certain items with you every time you go upward or downwardly the stairs.

How to Walk Upwardly Stairs With a Walker

Going up a flight of stairs with a walker should exist a deadening and careful procedure. Take your time, and if y'all recollect you might need help, it'south ever amend to ask someone than risk falling and hurting yourself.

Hither'southward what you need to exercise when yous get upstairs with a walker.

Turn your walker sideways (with the batten facing you)
Place the front two legs of your walker on the footstep right in front of yous
Keep 1 hand on the walker and i hand on the stair track
Apply the walker and the stair track to back up your weight evenly
Stride upwards next to the forepart two legs of your walker with one foot
Footstep upwards with your second foot
Echo the process for the next step

If one of your legs is injured or weaker than the other, always step up with your skillful leg first. Otherwise, you'll put more weight on your injured leg, making the injury worse or causing you to lose balance and fall.

How to Walk Downwards Stairs With a Walker

Going back downstairs with your walker is a very like process. Even so, there are a few important differences you demand to be aware of.

Here'south a quick walkthrough of the procedure.

Turn your walker sideways (once again, so the crossbar is facing you)
Identify the back two legs of your walker on the footstep next to you
Go on one manus on the walker and one hand on the stair rail
Use the walker and the stair rail to support your weight evenly
Step downwards onto the step in front of you with ane foot
Step down with your second foot
Continue the process for the next footstep

Do non put the front legs of the walker downward onto the commencement stride. This will shift your weight forward, significant your adventure of falling is a lot college. It will as well make the process much more difficult and awkward. And again, ever stride with your stronger, uninjured leg first.

How to Become Up a Curb With a Walker

A curb is just one step, but since it doesn't have a handrail like a stairway, it tin be somewhat tricky to take that step.

There are two dissimilar means to handle a adjourn: forward and backward.

Here's how to walk up a curb forward.

Stand direct in forepart of the curb
Lift your walker so all 4 legs are on the curb in forepart of you lot
Use the walker to support all of your weight
Push down on the walker equally you step up with your start pes
Then footstep upward with your second foot
Hither's how to walk up a curb backward.
Plow around then your back is facing the curb
Use the walker to support all of your weight
Footstep up the curb backward with one pes
Step up with your 2nd pes
Lift your walker and fix all four legs on the curb in front end of you
Turn around and go along walking

If you are nervous about going upwards a curb by yourself, yous should ever ask someone to give you a hand.

How to Go Down a Curb With a Walker

You should not use the same method to step downwards a curb as you lot do to walk down a flight of stairs.

Here's what you need to do instead.

Stand in front of the curb
Lift your walker and gear up all four legs on the ground below the curb
Use the walker to back up all of your weight
Footstep down with your first foot
Then pace downwards with your next human foot

Y'all should never walk downwards a curb backward. You won't be able to see what you're doing, which could lead to a dangerous fall.

How to Utilize a Walker When Climbing Stairs

Learning how to use a walker when climbing stairs can accept some exercise.

If y'all're having trouble walking up and down the stairs, information technology might be time to motion to a single-story home. This is specially true if you need to utilize a walker long-term.

Not certain if you should be using a walker?

Learn more about the signs that y'all may need one here.