Getting The Most Our Of Walkers AccessoriesPeople use canes, walking sticks or walkers to improve their stability. At one time walking sticks and canes were considered a fashion accessory. As that passed they were relegated to people that were experiencing stability problems when they walked. Today, walking sticks are recognized as helping to protect both the knees and backs on steep or uneven terrain. Canes have developed into devices with combinations of both wheels and legs known as walkers. As people have put more reliance on their walkers, walkers accessories have developed to support them. One of the first developments in walkers accessories came in the area of hand grips. Most walkers were made from aluminum or other light weight material. These metals could be cold to the touch and uncomfortable to hold on to. Hand grips were developed for comfort and safety. When choosing hand grips for your walker avoid the hard plastic or the foam models. The plastic will be cold and lifeless in the hands of the user and foam, while comfortable, will not hold up and need to be continually replaced. Cork will mold to the grip and hard rubber is long lasting and will absorb the body heat and be comfortable to the grip.Walkers come in both wheeled and non wheeled models. If you have chosen the wheeled variety, the most important of the walkers accessories that you will need is the brake. Brakes provide stability when using the walker to get in and out of a chair or automobile. The brakes should be easily set by the user and just as easily released when ready to move. The most convenient is when the brakes are mounted just beneath the hand grips. You will often see walkers accessories that look like tennis balls on the legs of a walker. These are not just a fashion statement but actually make the walkers easier to maneuver. The ball shape provides a quiet, smooth surface for the walker to glide on. They are also durable and will outlast the older plastic leg caps. When using walkers both hands should be on the grips. Having a basket, tray, or bag attached gives a place for the operator to carry their essentials while leaving their hands free. |