Assisting someone who is using a walking frame is limited to being nearby for the user, you can help by carrying anything for the person that they might attempt to carry themselves while using a frame and while indoors it will definately help to remove any obstacles from their path.

I feel that trying to assist a walking frame user in any other way than those mentioned above might actually be less helpful, for example if you try to move the walking frame along with them you could cause them to feel less stable and less in control, it could also be dangerous.

A user of a walking frame needs time to get used to walking with it, knowing how much they need to move it and finding a way of using the frame that they are comfortable with is something that might take longer if you try to assist too much.

Even when it comes to mobility and wanting to do everything that you can to help someone, its sometimes better (more helpful) to step aside and to let the user do what they need to do.

When referring to the overall safety of them as a walking aid then yes they are most definately safe if a zimmer frame is found to be most suitable for the user and the particular disability.

How a zimmer frame is used can alter the safety of using one and like many other things, if a frame is used incorrectly then the safety level will be lowered somewhat.

Where they are used can make a difference to safety, for example you wouldn’t want to attempt a full flight of stairs with a zimmer frame but they can be used on shallow steps, the sort that you might find in gardens, leading into and out of homes and some other buildings, as long as there is enough of an area to place the feet of the zimmer frame.

Lastly, something that could affect the safety of using a zimmer frame is trying to hang something off of the frame, especially if its an addition that has not specifically been designed to be used with them.

There are accessories that can be used like zimmer frame net and apron bags and they are safe to add to your frame as long as they are specifically designed for this purpose and not some other type of bag.

Its importance to remember that the frame is there to help you, first and foremost, and not as a tool to move objects around.

You really dont want unnecessary weight added to the frame if it means that getting around becomes less manageable and more of a challenge.

Zimmer frames are safe, if used correctly.

I wonder if those people are questioning if they can safely use a zimmer frame as support while climbing stairs but i think that this would be a bad idea and rather dangerous as although frames provide good support around the home and outdoors, when it comes to a flight of stairs they are not ideal.

Where they can be used safely is when there are steps outside that have quite a large area to them before the next step, sometimes where theres only a few steps to go up, and where they are not steep and allow plenty of space to safely place your frame onto.

When it comes to stairs in the home then definately dont take chances with trying to use a zimmer frame to get yourself upstairs, it becomes too difficult regarding holding on to what you need to.

Always use the correct mobility aid for each task as each is specifically designed for its purpose and if chosen and used correctly will assist you and should never create more difficulties regarding your mobility.

Note:  Zimmer Frames are also known as Walking Frames, they are the same mobility aid and the name choice is dependent simply on what you prefer to call them.

I see quite a few searches of people asking why people use walking/zimmer frames, and similar searches.

A user of a walking frame might still have good use of their legs but may have stability problems and could be prone to balance problens and falls, by using a frame they have something that provides stability and can greatly reduce the feeling for the person that they might lose their balance and fall.

Theres also the fact that should the user need to stop to rest, that they have something to hold onto and this is convenient for the user, theres also hardly any weight to most walking frames so they dont require you to exert yourself in order to use the walking frame, which would go against part of the need and reason to use one.

For some people, they may have a weakness in their legs or problems with their feet or even with their hips but can benefit from walking and the regular exercise and movement can be beneficial for some people, depending on their disability, their own personal choices and also what has been recommended to them.

Apart from aiding the person while they walk outdoors, a walking frame is perfectly suitable for indoor use, in someomes home, within a care home and within shops and other indoor areas.

It depends on the individual mobility needs of each person but generally a walking frame offers support for the user in a basic way, and they are generally kept simple and lightweight so that they dont require any effort that would potentially add to the persons mobility needs.

Its understandable that the most basic and standard walking frames and even the ones with wheels on the front will not appear to most people as something that a user will need much training and guidance to learn how to use properly but even though they are some of the most basic looking mobility aids, it must be remembered that the user might have a variety of health issues that can affect balance and coordination and even strength challenges in various parts of their body that may affect their ability to get comfortable with and confident using the frame.

If you are a user of walking frames or have been in the past or maybe you have a friend or a relative that uses one, do you feel that you or they have been given enough advice and guidance on how to use it and have any other health issues that you or they live with been taken into account to ensure that yourself or others are assured about how to use the walking frame?

For people that want flexibility regarding the above, they can choose an adjustable walking stick also known as telescopic.

The difference that many of them can be adjusted by is usually up to around 20cm in extra length and the adjustment is designed to be as easy as possible, only requiring you to loosen a screw lock and toggle, adjusting to the desired length then locked into place with a tightening of the screw and toggle.

Adjustable walking sticks can be picked up new for around £20 and if you prefer a more modern looking one you can find various metallic colours available.

As long as it is locked into place properly after adjustment, you have no worry of any movement and can enjoy the added flexibility of being able to change the length of your walking stick as it suits you.

Generally a walking frame is there to assist and it should require as little effort as possible for the person to use as the user doesn’t need anything that is going to make it even more difficult to get around, so walking frames are designed with that in mind.

Sometimes though a small addition can make quite a difference and an example of this would be the walking frame glide skis that you see pictured above.

They can be fitted to the back legs of a wheeled walking frame and allow it to glide, though not too freely so as to be dangerous, but enough that it makes it easy for the user to move the frame foward.

Whether they would be suitable for outdoor use is questionable because i imagine that they might wear down too quickly so are probably more suited to indoor use, but they definately can assist the user in moving the walking frame around as easily as possible.

They are priced at £13.65 inc VAT each and are available at epc-wheelchairs.co.uk

For a larger person, they may find a standard sized rollator less suitable, fortunately there are rollator walkers that are specifically designed for larger individuals.

A bariatric rollator will have a wider frame but not so wide that it will cause any problems as you pass through a doorway with it, the frame itself is not designed to be heavy as the issue is not how heavy the frame needs to be but how strong to provide enough support and a bariatric rollator is specifically designed to support a heavier body weight easily.

Another benefit is the seating area of the rollator, any user who needs to take regular breaks while walking will appreciate being able to side down on the rollator whenever they need to.

A bariatric rollator walker will usually support up to 40 stone in body weight, both as a seat and when the walker is in use to move around.

The brake levers are designed to require minimal pressure for the brakes to take hold so if strength and grip pressure is an issue for the user then they wont be needing to exert themselves to apply the brakes safely.

Bariatric rollator walkers are foldable too for easy storage and transport in vehicles, pricing is often around £200 – £300 depending on the model that you choose, some may have more wheels than others, depending on design but all are specially designed to support the larger individual safely and comfortably.

What may be more suitable for some users is a forearm walker, there are padded cushion areas on each side section of the frame and the frame is height adjustable so that the person can rest their forearms on the frame which can create more of a secure feeling for the user and better balance and allows them to rest comfortably in between movements.

There are upward facing handles at the front ends of the forearm cushions for the user to grip with their hands, this mean that the user has a comfortable grip without downward pressure on their hands and comfort for their forearms and a much easier resting position.

Castors on the front aid the user in moving forward, with rubber tips on the back legs of the frame for safety when stationary, the frame is still lightweight but also still able to support substantial bodyweight like other types of frames available, the max user weight is up to 25st.

If you find the usual type of walker less suitable for you, you may get on better with a forearm walker and feel more steady with a frame of this type.

A solution to this is the availability of a folding travel walker, you still have the same support that you would expect from the frame but with the added benefit of being able to fold it down so that it will fit very easily into a car, a folding walking frame will take up much less room and is easily assembled back into the normal position so that it is ready for you quickly when you are ready to use it again.

A frame of this type is designed and intended to be used regularly too so it will withstand regular folding down and assembling no matter how often you need to do this.

A folding walking frame usually wont cost much more than a standard one, with some being available for between £30 – £40.