Keep On Moving: Health Conditions That Benefit from Walkers

Mobility is something that many take for granted until it’s no longer a constant presence, and while it’s easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle when walking becomes a challenge, you may find yourself missing out on what gives your life purpose. Instead, a walker can help you keep moving and, more importantly, living.

Many people associate walkers with those who are older, helping them stay mobile as their aging joints protest the movements. Yet, while this group undoubtedly experiences the benefits of walkers, there are many other health conditions and illnesses affecting mobility that can benefit from a byACRE walker as well.

Whether you’ve experienced a gradual decline in mobility or an injury causing an abrupt change, a walker can help you keep your mobility up, conquer your wish list, and retain the independence we’re all so proud of. 

7 Health Conditions and Illnesses that Benefit from Walkers

Whether aging, amputation, or neurological disorder, many events can occur throughout our lives that may make it harder to walk, but that doesn’t mean it should be any less difficult to be mobile. When you still want to use your legs to get around, a walker can help you.

Why might you need a walker? There are many reasons, such as:

• You have balance issues
• You are afraid of falling
• You are experiencing muscle weakness
• You are recovering from surgery or an injury
• You have an issue walking
• A car does not provide enough support
• You have respiratory or heart health issues

The following 7 health conditions encompass just some individuals who may benefit from a walker. However, anyone who struggles to walk—whether because of the strain on their legs, lungs, or heart or because of balance issues—can benefit from a walker.

Seniors

As we age, we’re subject to sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass. Furthermore, balance and walking become more difficult as we grow older and our joints fight the movements they’ve been stuck doing for decades.

Not only can these age-related changes make it harder to walk (especially for longer distances), but they can make falls more likely, which can be highly dangerous in seniors.

Using a walker helps to improve balance, reduces the risk of falling, and improves endurance, allowing you to keep up with your family. A walker also enables seniors to keep up their independence and lessens their worries that something they’ve always loved to do may result in a fall.

Injured Veterans

Veterans with an amputated leg can benefit from a walker as it allows them to reduce the weight placed on their remaining limb. Furthermore, by making use of their hands, veterans can improve their balance, lessening the risk of a fall.

Other injuries that may affect veterans include broken bones, such as a broken leg or hip. Again, a walker can help veterans keep up their mobility while also lessening the amount of weight placed on the injured side, allowing it to heal.

For both scenarios, a walker helps keep your walking pattern regular, ensuring no complications from overcompensating for your injury.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It results when the immune system starts attacking the central nervous system, damaging the insulation on the nerve fibers and disrupting the signals to the brain.

Some of the symptoms of MS include fatigue and/or paralysis, which a walker may offer some support for. In particular, walkers and their support allow you to walk while exerting less energy. For those suffering from fatigue, reducing extra energy usage can significantly help you keep energy levels up during the day. Furthermore, many walkers have a built-in seat so you can rest whenever your body needs to.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a specific part of the brain. Symptoms of this disorder develop slowly over the years and can differ from person to person. Generally, though, Parkinson’s is distinguished by tremors (often in the hands), balance and gait problems, and limb stiffness. These symptoms can make walking difficult.  

A walker can offer those with Parkinson’s more stability, allowing them to feel more confident as they walk. The brakes on walkers can also keep someone from moving too quickly, which could increase the risk of falling. 

Muscular Dystrophy

Those with muscular dystrophy lose muscle mass, which can hinder their balance, resulting in falls. A walker offers them support as they walk, with the walker taking on some of the burden that their weakening muscles can no longer handle while still allowing them to remain mobile.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a medical condition characterized by brittle bones, makes falls immensely dangerous. However, using a walker gives those with osteoporosis extra support to reduce the risk of falls.

Additionally, those with osteoporosis often stoop, but a walker can help them stand up straighter, improving their breathing since their lungs are less compressed.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain halts, and it can have some significant side effects. One such possibility is paralysis on one side of the body (the side opposite where the stroke occurred).

Those who have experienced a mild stroke can use a walker to help them move by placing the forearm of the affected side on the walker handle and then using the unaffected side to steer and brake. With these benefits, a walker can increase mobility following a stroke and allow you to continue living your life with independence.  

See The Benefits of a Walker for Yourself

A walker offers many benefits, including safer and longer walks, a seat to rest on, extra support, and less stress placed on the body. Many people can take advantage of these features, including seniors, amputees, injured veterans, and those with MS, Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, mild stroke, or osteoporosis.

If you or a loved one suffers from any of the conditions listed above, look into how a byACRE walker can help you improve your mobility, increase your safety, and reduce the risk of falls. Whether you’re looking for the lightest walker in the world or one that can handle all sorts of terrain, there’s a byACRE model available to fit your needs and keep you moving.

References

What is MS. What is MS? National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Published 2015. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

‌What is Parkinson’s? Parkinson’s Foundation. Published 2022. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons

Photo by Hans Eiskonen on Unsplash

About the Author

Jessica Guht

Jessica is a freelance medical writer with a track record of crafting numerous articles across diverse topics. Eager to explore opportunities to assist, she emphasizes the challenges of navigating the intricate health and medical landscape without the right expertise. Her background includes specialized training and a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering.

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