walker

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Introduction

It provides a wider/more stable base of support than a cane.
patients with Parkinson's disease often have a tendency to fall backwards & do best with front wheel walkers^[3]^[4]
4 wheel walkers also decrease risk of falling due to fenistation
GRS11 states 4 wheeled walker increases stability & promotes a forward position that would prevent a backward fall^[3]
- standard walkers (without wheels) tend to increase freezing & may increase risk of backward fall when lifted^[3]

not useful for stairs
difficulty maneuvering through doors, congested areas
loss of normal arm swing
poor posture with abnormal flexion of the back while walking
all walkers decrease gait speed
walkers do not improve freezing in Parkinson's disease^[3]
standard walkers (without wheels) tend to increase freezing & may increase risk of backward fall when lifted^[3]

↑ Genova A. In: Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine & Board Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 12-15, 2001
↑ Van Hook FW, Demonbreun D, Weiss BD. Ambulatory devices for chronic gait disorders in the elderly. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Apr 15;67(8):1717-24. Review. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12725450
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Geriatric Review Syllabus, 11th edition (GRS11) Harper GM, Lyons WL, Potter JF (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2022
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Constantinescu R, Leonard C, Deeley C, Kurlan R. Assistive devices for gait in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2007 Apr;13(3):133-8. Review. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16914362
Cubo E, Moore CG, Leurgans S, Goetz CG. Wheeled and standard walkers in Parkinson's disease patients with gait freezing. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2003 Oct;10(1):9-14. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14499200