Walking Aids for Seniors

walking aids for seniors

If you’re over the age of 65, you have a 1 in 4 chance of falling this year. Although that’s an unwelcome statistic, the good news is that you can reduce your fall risk by using a walking aid, such as a cane or walker. 

Let’s review why you may be losing your balance and how a walking aid could help, before checking out a few canes and walkers you may grow to love.

Factors that Cause Poor Balance

Decreased balance is very common among older adults. Perhaps you’re unsteady on your feet because you recently had surgery or because your arthritis causes knee pain. 

But loss of balance is often gradual. As the body ages and vision fades, it becomes harder to see obstacles or slight elevation changes while walking. Most older adults experience a significant loss of muscle mass, which makes them weaker and more wobbly. Additionally, reflexes slow down with age, even impairing the coordination needed to maintain balance. 

Because of these age-related factors, falls are particularly common among the elderly. A high fall risk is usually met with a recommendation by your doctor or PT to use a walking aid—not something everyone likes to hear.

But before you dismiss a walking aid outright, there are some things you should know about the benefits of using a cane or walker. With so many types and styles of walking aids available, there’s no reason why you can’t maintain both your balance and your sense of self.

Benefits of Using Walking Aids

Despite the stigma against walking aids, the fact is that a proper piece of equipment could help you avoid severe injury. A cane or walker helps improve balance by adding another touchpoint (or four!). Your walking aid will also bear some of your weight and offload a weak knee or joint.

The right kind of equipment will not only help prevent falls, it may also help you be more active. For instance, with a walker you can keep up with your family and shop on your own without worrying about losing your balance. Staying active—even just walking—is one of the best things you can do to combat muscle loss and improve your balance. You won’t get any stronger sitting on your couch! 

And don’t worry about “looking older.” Stumbling and stooping from poor posture ages your appearance far more than a cane or walking aid would.

A walking aid will only benefit you, however, if it fits well, is comfortable, and suits your needs. So let’s take a closer look at the variety of walking aids available; there may be more options than you expect. 

Types of Walking Aids for Seniors

1. Canes

The most discreet of walking aids, a cane offers sturdy support for one side of your body. It’s perfect for someone who only needs a little bit of assistance or wants to offload a particular joint (a bad knee, for example). 

There are two main categories of canes: single-point and 4-point (also called a quad cane). 

Most cane users sport a single-point cane. If you want more support—but don’t need a walker just yet—a quad cane will give you that extra stability. 

You might need more practice getting used to a quad cane’s wider base, but many people find that these walking aids are worth the learning curve. 

How to Find Your Cane

Once you’ve determined the type of cane you need, you can explore the finer details, such as material (wood or aluminum?), colors (discreet or dramatic?), customizations (monograms?) and mutability (is it height-adjustable or foldable?).  

You’ll also need to find a handle type that you like and that feels comfortable to you. The classic cane shape has a derby handle, but you can opt for an offset handle, which centers your weight over the strongest point of the cane. 

Try not to be swayed by fancy gimmicks and canes that supposedly do more than provide support (e.g., provide seating, stand on its own, etc.). 

When in doubt, check with your PT, who might recommend one of the following canes.

PT-Recommended Canes

Medline Single-Point Cane

  • $9
  • Supports up to 250 pounds
  • Foldable 
  • Height-adjustable
  • Derby handle

Medline Quad Cane (pictured above)

  • $12
  • Supports up to 250 pounds
  • Height-adjustable
  • Offset handle

Brazos Handmade Canes

  • $65+
  • Supports up to 200 pounds
  • Custom-made

If you’re looking for a solid cane that has both stability and class, check out the wooden canes from Brazos. Because they’re handmade, every order is customized in height, color, handle style, and more.

How to use your cane

First, make sure it fits. If you got an adjustable cane, shorten or lengthen it until the top of the cane hits the natural crease in your wrist when you stand up tall. 

If one of your legs is weaker than the other, hold your cane in the hand opposite that leg. Step naturally so that the cane “walks” with your bad leg. 

Keep in mind: a cane is not meant to support your full weight. If you need more weight-bearing support or a walking aid with a larger footprint, you should consider a walker.

2. Standard Walkers

Just like a cane, a walker may be just a temporary assistance or a permanent accessory to your mobility. Regardless, a walker can help you maintain your mobility and stay active while staying safe.

There are two main types of standard walkers: non-wheeled and front-wheeled walkers. 

In general, adding wheels to your walker will decrease its stability. If you need considerable weight-bearing support, try a non-wheeled walker. Its four legs will more than double your stability when standing. Just keep in mind that, because it has no wheels, you’ll need to lightly pick it up with each step to move forward.  

Most seniors prefer a front-wheeled walker, which has two wheels in the front and rubber “skids” (or tennis balls!) in the back. With a front-wheeled walker, you can move forward without lifting your walking aid. It’s a useful blend of stability and mobility, ideal for someone who falls or loses balance frequently.  

Unlike canes, a walker can be unwieldy to tote around or difficult to store in your car. If you ambulate alone, look for a lightweight walker that you can fold and lift yourself. 

Finally, “trigger release” refers to a means of closing the walker that is generally much easier than the traditional two-button closure. If you have arthritis or generally struggle with compressing buttons, you may benefit from a trigger-release walker. 

PT-recommended Walkers:

Drive Medical Two-button Walker

Drive Medical 10210-1 Deluxe 2-Button Folding Walker with Wheels
  • $45
  • Front-wheeled
  • Foldable: two-button release
  • Height adjustable
  • Lightweight: 8 pounds
  • Supports up to 350 pounds

Drive Deluxe Travel Walker (pictured above)

  • $55
  • Front-wheeled
  • Foldable: trigger release
  • Folds in half to store in a travel bag
  • Lightweight: 8 pounds
  • Height adjustable
  • Supports up to 300 pounds

3. Rollator Walker

Nicknamed the “Cadillac” of walking aids, the rollator is a four-wheeled walker outfitted with hand brakes and other accessories, such as a seat and storage area. They’re ideal for traversing long distances, because when you tire and need a break, you’ll always have a seat with you. I often recommend rollators to my patients who struggle with cardiovascular endurance and need to rest after 10-15 minutes of walking. 

However, the rollator is the least stable of walker varieties. The hand brakes help stabilize the device when you sit down and stand up, but they won’t necessarily keep the walker in place if you were to put your full weight on it. Plus, to depress the brakes you need decent hand strength, depending on the model you buy.

If you like to use the shopping carts at the supermarket as a walking aid, you’ll love the rollator. Some of them have great storage options, from cup-holder attachments to zippered bags and bins. Just keep in mind that rollators are typically heavier than traditional walkers. Those four wheels, bells, and whistles can weigh down a rollator and might make it difficult to store in the trunk of your car if you travel alone.

Here’s one brand of rollator I often recommend:

Drive Rollator Walker 

  • $65
  • Closes (not fully foldable)
  • Frame is height adjustable (seat is not)
  • Weighs 18 pounds
  • Supports up to 300 pounds

As you shop around for a walking aid, you may come across three-wheeled walkers—a kind of standing tricycle. Although they are advertised as being lightweight and portable, that’s not necessarily the case; many weigh 20 pounds, as much as a four-wheeled one. Besides, many users find that the imbalanced design compromises the stability of the device. In general, if you’re using a walker, four points of contact—be it wheels or skids—are better than three.

How to fit your walker

No matter the number of wheels on your walker, they all fit the same way. To adjust your walker to your height, stand up tall beside the walker. The top of the walker, where the grips are, should hit the crease of your wrist. If you have to stoop down to use the walker, it’s too short, and if you have to raise your shoulders to comfortably grip it, it’s too tall.   

Most walkers measure 32″ to 40″ in height, designed for people between 5’5″–6’6″. Walker widths typically range from 24″–26″ across, so be sure to measure the doorways of your house before shopping around.

As you use your walker or rollator, make sure you walk “inside” the device, with your feet stepping in between, and not behind, the back walker legs or wheels. To turn, take small steps and incrementally guide the walker to the right or left—don’t simply turn directions while holding it in the air!

If you need a wider walker or one that can support more weight, check out the bariatric walker and bariatric rollator from Medline. Each is 29” wide and can support up to 500 pounds.

If you have trouble adjusting to using your walker, reach out to your physical therapist. He or she will be happy to show you how you can benefit most from these helpful walking aids.

Balance Exercises for Seniors 

Do you hate using a walking aid? Although many seniors don’t have a choice in using a cane or walker, you may be able to reduce your need for it by improving your balance. Whether you need to recover from surgery or further prevent falls at home, better balance will improve both your safety and your quality of life.

Through a steady routine of dynamic stability exercises and stretches, I can help you build better balance in just 21 days. Check out the ebook here and improve your balance for the long term!

Tim Fraticelli DPT, MBA, CFP®

Tim Fraticelli is a Physical Therapist, Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of PTProgress.com. He loves to teach PTs and OTs ways to save time and money in and out of the clinic, especially when it comes to documentation or continuing education. Follow him on YouTube for weekly videos on ways to improve your financial health.