Learn to walk with cane, crutches, walker

When there is a leg injury, surgery or stroke, the patient will need support from devices to facilitate mobility such as crutches, canes or walkers. Using these tools will help keep your balance and walk safely. The following article will guide you to learn to walk with crutches, frames, and canes as well as give some tips to help the practitioner quickly get used to it, use it safely and more easily.

Before learning to walk with crutches, frames or canes, it is necessary to:
Remove all tripping hazards, hazards from indoor walking surfaces such as carpets (the crutches can be caught on the edge of the carpet causing a fall. ), electrical wires,... In the bathroom, it is recommended to use anti-slip mats, for the elderly after a stroke, it is necessary to install more handrails. Simplify as well as organize the necessary items in the house for easy access and storage. A small side bag can be taken to help the patient carry essential and basic items.

Using crutches when an injury or surgery in the leg area makes the leg weak, not allowing the patient to walk, bear the weight of the body down to the foot.
Correct posture:
When standing upright, the top of the crutch should be about 3 to 4 cm from the underarm. The grip of the crutch should be at the level above the hip so that the elbow is slightly flexed when holding the crutch. To avoid damage to the nerves and blood vessels in the armpit, the patient needs to use his hands to support his body weight, not to lean on the armpit for too long and for too long. When walking:
Lean forward slightly, placing your crutches forward. Slowly step the affected foot forward but will place weight on the crutches on the same side of the affected leg as the grip. Move your torso forward between the crutches. Then, step forward with the good foot. When the good leg hits the ground, bring the crutches forward and keep walking. Note, in the process of learning to walk with crutches, you must look forward, look down at your feet. The degree of weight bearing of the painful leg will depend on the healing process and decided by the treating doctor and the physiotherapist technician. In many cases, the patient may initially be asked to learn to walk with crutches without weight bearing on the affected leg by either flexing the affected leg or just touching the ground lightly, but not at all. After a period of time, the leg has recovered somewhat, will continue to support the crutches until the crutches can be removed and walking again normally. When sitting: When you want to sit down, stand with your back to the seat, make sure the seat is firm and does not slip. Bring your painful leg out in front, hold two crutches with one hand, and hold the chair with the other hand, and check the stability of the chair, slowly sit down in the chair. Lean the crutches against the wall, turning the top of the crutches down to the floor so the crutch doesn't fall. When you want to stand up:
Turn crutches from bottom to top, inching forward. Using the hand on the same side as the good leg as a fulcrum, put the body weight on the good leg to push the body up. Move 1 crutch to the affected leg to maintain body balance by grasping the 2 crutches.

Going up and down stairs with crutches:
Going up and down stairs with crutches is the most difficult because no longer moves on flat surfaces.. 1 hand clamps 2 crutches under the armpit, 1 hand holds the stair railing. When walking, put gravity on the hand holding the railing, use the good leg to step, the pain leg lift up and bring it back. When going down the stairs, the handrails on the stairs, the painful leg will lift up and bring it forward, the good leg will continue to be used to put weight, balance the body with the hand grip. However, to ensure the safest when walking the stairs, you should have the help of relatives.

The cane is a necessary mobility aid for people who have difficulty in moving and walking such as: Loss of balance in the elderly, unsteady walking.
Can use single-base and multi-base sticks. For walker lengths, when the patient is in an upright position, the top of the cane should be at the level of the wrist crease. The elbow flexes slightly when gripping the top end of the club. The cane handle is the hand opposite the leg that needs support.
Practice walking:
Hold the cane on the right leg. The patient holds the cane in the other hand of the weak leg. First bring the club forward about 5 - 10 cm, slowly step the weak foot up to the level or with the cane. Strong legs step up with a cane. Hold the cane with the weak leg. The patient holds the cane on the same side as the weak leg. Move the club at the same time as the weak leg. How to go up and down stairs with a cane:
Going up stairs: Put your good foot on the next step, put all your weight on that leg to bring your body up. Next, bring the cane and weak leg together to move up that ladder. Down stairs: Put the cane and weak leg down first, then step down with the good leg. Weak legs always need a cane and a handrail on the stairs to help.

Use a walker with patients who have just had hip replacement surgery, knee joints or weak legs (more common in the elderly).
The walker has 4 legs so it is safer than learning to walk with crutches or a cane. The support from the hands and the frame will support the body weight when walking. The walker's handle is usually hip height when standing upright.

Note, do not be in a hurry when you are just starting to learn to walk with a frame. Only when the health is better, the stamina in the legs is better, then gradually put the body weight on the legs.
Practice walking:
Put the walker forward, one step away, making sure all 4 legs of the frame are on the ground. Grab the handle frame with both hands, take the frame as a fulcrum, and slowly step your feet to move. When starting to step, let the heel first touch the ground, then the whole foot and finally the toes, slowly raise the tip of the toe. Take small, slow steps. When sitting:
First move your body back, when your feet touch the chair, slowly sit down. When standing up:
2 grab hold of the handlebar frame, use your good leg and the strength of your hands to push yourself up. Up and down stairs:
The walker cannot be used to take the stairs or escalator because of its large size. In a nutshell, crutches, canes, and walkers are tools that help people keep their balance and walk safely after a leg injury, surgery, or stroke. However, when learning to walk with these assistive devices, the patient needs to follow the instructions of the physiotherapist to ensure safety.

Reference source: Ministry of Health