How To Use a Four Wheeled Walker

Here is the information about how to use your four-wheeled walker. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. A four-wheeled walker has wheels on the ends of the front and back legs.

Do not use your four-wheeled walker on stairs or an escalator unless you have been trained by a physical therapist or unless your health care provider approves. Follow any instructions or limits from your health care provider about using your legs or arms to support your body weight (weight bearing).

How to stand up with a four-wheeled walker

1. Place the walker in front of your legs where you are seated. Be careful not to roll the walker forward until you are ready to walk.
2. Place the brakes in the locked position.
3. Scoot your buttocks forward in your chair.
4. Position your legs so that:
   1. Your weaker leg is ahead of you.
   1. Your stronger leg is bent and near your chair.
5. If your chair has armrests, put each hand on an armrest. If there are no armrests, put the hand from the side of your stronger leg on the chair seat. Next, put the other hand on the center of the walker’s crossbar.
6. Lean forward and raise your buttocks off of the chair. This will put you in a stooped position.
7. Rise to a stand by straightening your stronger leg.
8. Steady yourself.
9. Carefully move your hands to the handgrips of the walker.
10. Unlock the brakes.
11. Slowly roll the walker forward and begin walking.

How to sit down with a four-wheeled walker

To sit down in a seat that has armrests:

1. Back up slowly toward your seat, using your walker, until you feel the chair touching the back of your legs.
2. Place the brakes in the locked position.
3. With one hand at a time, carefully reach behind you and put each hand on an armrest.
4. Slowly lower yourself into the seat.

To sit down in a seat without armrests:

1. Back up slowly toward the side of the seat, using your walker, until you feel the chair touching the back of your legs.
2. Place the brakes in the locked position.
3. Use one hand to hold onto the back of the chair, and use the other hand to hold onto the front of the seat.
4. Slowly lower yourself into the seat.

How to walk with a four-wheeled walker

1. Slide your four-wheeled walker one step-length in front of you. Your toes should be farther forward than the back wheels of your walker.
2. Hold onto the walker for support. Lean your weight on the walker and step with your weaker leg into the middle of the walker (between the left and right wheels).
3. Step your stronger leg forward to land next to your weaker leg.
4. Repeat this process for each step that you take.

How to use a four-wheeled walker on a curb or a step

To use a four-wheeled walker to step up:

1. Put all four wheels of the walker on the curb or step that is higher than where you are standing.
2. Get your feet as close to the curb or step as you can.
3. Test the steadiness of the walker by pressing down on the handgrips. Be careful not to roll the walker forward until both of your feet are on the curb or step.
4. If the walker is steady, press down on it with your hands as you step up with your stronger leg.
5. Step up with your weaker leg.

To use a four-wheeled walker to step down:

1. Put all four wheels of the walker on the surface that is lower than the curb or step.
2. Get your feet as close to the curb or step as you can.
3. Test the steadiness of the walker by pressing down on the handgrips. Be careful not to roll the walker forward until both of your feet are on the surface that is lower than the curb or step.
4. If the walker is steady, press down on it with your hands as you step down with your weaker leg.
5. Step down with your stronger leg.

General tips

• When using your walker:
  • You should not feel like you need to lean forward or to the side to keep your hands on the handgrips. If this is the case, contact your health care provider or physical therapist.
  • Always keep both feet within the width of the walker’s legs or wheels.
  • Do not let the walker get too far ahead of you as you walk. Make sure that your toes are always farther forward than the back legs of the walker.
• Do not pull on the walker or glide it forward while you stand up.
• Sit in a firm chair whenever you can. A low seat or an overstuffed chair or sofa is hard to get out of.
• Regularly check the wheels of your walker to make sure that they are in good condition.
• Make sure that the brakes are working properly.

Summary

• A four-wheeled walker has wheels on the ends of the front and back legs.
• Do not use your four-wheeled walker on stairs or an escalator unless you have been trained by a physical therapist or unless your health care provider approves.
• Follow any instructions or limits from your health care provider about using your legs or arms to support your body weight (weight bearing).