Hi there, I’m Brian Kerr, the founder of Fall Guys Products. If you or a loved one has recently started using a walker or a rollator, I want to start by saying that it’s a great step toward staying active and independent. Using a mobility aid isn’t about "giving in" to age or injury; it’s about choosing a tool that lets you keep living your life on your own terms.
However, just like learning to drive a car or ride a bike, there is a right way and a wrong way to operate a walker. In my years working with medical equipment and mobility aids, I’ve seen that many people receive their walker without a full tutorial on how to use it safely. They end up developing habits that, unfortunately, can actually increase the risk of a fall rather than prevent one.
Safety is our priority here, so I want to walk you through the seven most common mistakes I see people making with their walkers and, more importantly, how you can fix them today.
1. Setting the Height Incorrectly
The most frequent mistake happens before the first step is even taken: the walker isn't adjusted to the user’s body. If your walker is too low, you’ll find yourself hunching over. This puts immense strain on your lower back, neck, and shoulders. Over time, this posture shifts your center of gravity forward, making you more prone to tipping.
On the flip side, if the walker is too high, your arms will be bent at an awkward angle. You won’t be able to put proper weight through your arms to support your legs, and you’ll likely find your shoulders creeping up toward your ears, causing fatigue and reducing your stability.
How to Fix It: The "Wrist Crease" Rule
To find the perfect height, follow these steps:
- Stand as upright as you comfortably can.
- Let your arms hang naturally at your sides.
- Look at where the handgrips of the walker are in relation to your body. The grips should align with the crease on the inside of your wrist.
- When you place your hands on the grips, your elbows should have a slight, comfortable bend: usually about 15 to 20 degrees.
2. Walking "Behind" the Walker Instead of "In" It
I see this all the time: people push their walker way out in front of them, like they’re pushing a heavy grocery cart through a parking lot, and then they "chase" after it. When the walker is too far ahead of your body, it cannot provide the support you need if you trip or lose your balance. In fact, if you stumble while the walker is out in front, you’re likely to push it even further away as you fall.
How to Fix It: Step Into the Frame
Think of the walker as a protective "bubble" around you. You want to stay inside that bubble.
- As you walk, your feet should stay between the back legs of the walker (or between the rear wheels of a rollator).
- Move the walker forward just a small distance: about a step’s length: and then step into it.
- Keep your torso upright. By staying "inside" the frame, the walker’s four points of contact with the ground stay directly under your center of mass, providing maximum stability.
3. Forgetting to Lock Brakes During Transitions
If you use a rollator (the kind with four wheels and a seat), the brakes are your best friend: but only if you use them. The most dangerous moments often happen during "transitions," such as moving from a sitting to a standing position or vice versa. Because rollators are designed to glide easily, they can roll away from you the moment you put weight on them if the brakes aren't engaged.
How to Fix It: "Lock Before You Rock"
Get into the habit of performing a safety check every single time you stop to sit or prepare to stand.
- The Click: Most rollator brakes are engaged by pushing the handles down until you hear or feel a distinct "click."
- The Nudge: Once you think they are locked, give the walker a tiny nudge to make sure it doesn't budge.
- The Seat: Never sit on the rollator seat unless the brakes are firmly locked. It only takes a small movement of the wheels for the walker to slide out from under you, leading to a serious fall.
4. Turning Too Sharply
When you’re in a hurry to get to the phone or answer the door, it’s tempting to pivot the walker quickly. However, walkers are not designed for "zero-turn" maneuvers. If you twist your body while the walker is stationary, or if you jerk the walker around a corner, your feet can easily get tangled in the legs of the device. Additionally, sharp turns on uneven ground can cause a walker to tip sideways.
How to Fix It: Turn Like a Semi-Truck
Instead of pivoting on a dime, think about making wide, gradual turns.
- Take several small steps to turn your body and the walker together.
- Always keep your belly button facing the front of the walker.
- If you need to do a full 180-degree turn, do it in a slow circular motion, moving the walker a few inches, then moving your feet to follow, until you are facing the right direction.
5. Using the Walker to "Pull" Yourself Up
This is perhaps the most instinctive mistake people make. When sitting in a chair or on the edge of the bed, it’s natural to reach out, grab the walker handles, and try to pull yourself to a standing position. The problem is that walkers are lightweight. If you pull on the handles horizontally, the walker will likely tip toward you, offering zero support and potentially hitting you as you fall back.
How to Fix It: Push, Don't Pull
Your walker is meant to steady you once you are already upright; it is not a grab bar for lifting your body weight.
- To stand up, scoot to the edge of your chair.
- Place your hands on the armrests of the chair or the surface of the bed.
- Push down through your arms and legs to rise to a standing position.
- Once you are stable and upright, then reach forward and place your hands on the walker grips one at a time.
6. Leaning Too Heavily on the Handles
While a walker is there to take some of the weight off your joints and help with balance, it shouldn't be treated as a "weight-bearing beam." If you find yourself putting almost all your weight through your wrists and "hanging" on the walker, you are creating a new set of risks. This posture makes the walker much harder to control, especially if you encounter a rug, a threshold, or a slope.
How to Fix It: Engage Your Core
A walker should be a guide, not a crutch.
- Try to walk with an upright posture, using your legs for the primary work of movement.
- Use the walker handles for balance and light support.
- If you find that you must lean heavily because your legs are too weak or you are in significant pain, it might be time to speak with a Physical Therapist. They can help with strengthening exercises or determine if a different type of mobility aid might be more appropriate for your current needs.
7. Overloading the Walker with Items
It’s tempting to use your walker as a mobile storage unit. I’ve seen walkers draped with heavy purses, grocery bags, and even oxygen tanks hanging off one side. Adding weight to the frame: especially if it’s unevenly distributed: completely changes the physics of the device. It becomes harder to steer, easier to tip, and the extra weight can make the brakes less effective.
How to Fix It: Use Integrated Storage Wisely
If you need to carry items, do so safely:
- Use the basket or pouch that came with your walker, which is typically centered and low to the ground to maintain a good center of gravity.
- Avoid hanging bags on the handles, as this makes the walker "top-heavy."
- If you have a standard folding walker (without a basket), you can find "walker trays" or specialized pouches that attach to the front crossbar, keeping the weight centered.
- Keep the load light. If you have heavy items to move, it’s safer to ask for help or use a dedicated rolling cart.
Maintaining Your Walker for Safety
Beyond these seven mistakes, the physical condition of your walker plays a huge role in your safety. At Fall Guys Products, we always tell folks that a walker is a piece of medical equipment that needs a "tune-up" every now and then.
- Check the Tips: If you have a standard walker with rubber tips on the bottom, check them for wear. If the tread is gone and you can see the metal of the walker leg peeking through, they will be slippery on smooth floors. Replace them immediately.
- The Tennis Ball Trick: Many people use tennis balls or "walker skis" on the back legs to help the walker glide over carpet. While helpful, these also wear down. Check them regularly to ensure they haven't worn through or become stuck with hair and debris.
- Tighten the Bolts: Every few months, give the walker a quick look-over. Are the handles loose? Do the folding mechanisms click securely into place? If anything feels "wobbly," have a family member or a professional look at it.
- Clean the Wheels: For rollator users, hair and carpet fibers can get wrapped around the wheel axles, making them hard to turn. A quick cleaning can keep your "ride" smooth and easy to steer.
A Note on Different Environments
Using a walker in your living room is very different from using it on a sidewalk or in a grocery store. Always be aware of your surroundings:
- Rugs and Thresholds: Even a low-pile rug can catch the front legs of a walker. Lift the front of the walker slightly to clear the edge of a rug, rather than trying to slide it across.
- Outdoor Terrain: Be wary of cracked sidewalks, gravel, or wet grass. These surfaces can cause a walker to tip or slip. If you frequently walk outdoors, consider a rollator with larger, "all-terrain" wheels.
- Lighting: Many falls happen at night when the user is navigating to the bathroom. Ensure your path is clear of clutter and well-lit so you can see exactly where your walker is going.
Final Thoughts
Using a walker correctly takes a little bit of practice, but once you fix these common mistakes, you’ll likely find that you feel much more confident and secure. Remember, the goal of any mobility aid is to give you the freedom to move safely.
If you’re ever unsure about your technique, I highly recommend asking for a session with a Physical Therapist. They are experts in gait and balance and can provide a personalized assessment to ensure your walker is adjusted perfectly for your specific needs.
Stay safe, stay active, and keep moving forward( inside the frame, of course!)
