Basic walking advice

Identify what walking aid the person has been advised to use (if any) and ensure this is in good condition (e.g. not broken, lopsided and ferrules on bottom of sticks/ wheeled zimmer frames are not worn or cracked).

• Identify if your client has been advised to mobilise independently with their walking aid/unaided
• If they have been advised to mobilise with assistance do not allow them to mobilise independently and ensure you provide assistance by standing in close to them and providing physical assistance as per manual handling advice
• They may require prompting and/or gait re-education (advice to improve their walking) and this should be advised by the Physiotherapist but in the absence of this advice you can safely prompt the following:

Stand up tall or stand up straight (for those who are stooped)

Big steps (to achieve stepping one foot in front of the other)

Bottom in (for those who are stooped)

Sore leg good leg (if they have a sore leg, for example a hip fracture)

Walking aid guidance

The following video demonstrates walking with crutches, however the principles are the same for walking with sticks or Zimmer frame.

The table below gives advice for a range of walking aids.

Wheeled zimmer frame		Hold on with 2 hands and push this as if pushing a shopping trolley Do not lift the zimmer frame When standing up ensure the client pushes up from the chair and does not pull up on the frame When sitting down ensure the client reaches hands back to the chair and does not keep their hands on the zimmer (could tip and cause them to fall)
Walking stick/elbow crutch:		Use in opposite hand to sore leg Stick step step When sitting and standing keep fingers on sticks and push up/reach back to chair
2 walking sticks/elbow crutches		Both sticks forward then step step Don't put them too far in front When sitting and standing keep fingers on sticks and push up/reach back to chair
Gutter frame		Works like a wheeled zimmer frame but has higher handles on this to lean through their forearms
3 wheeled/ 4 wheeled walkers		As per wheeled zimmer frame These have brakes on them, ensure they have the brakes on before standing or sitting down Also ensure the safety catch in the middle is fully secured as if not this can fold in causing a fall