I use a wheelchair most of the time, but can walk a little and standing up is really good exercise for my legs and back. So I bought a standard walking frame. I thought this would help assist me walking and standing as both of these are very difficult to do without help.

My frame is:

• lightweight and weighsunder 3kg
• made from aluminium tubing
• Very rigid and strong

I have outlined below what I think are my walking frame’s good and bad points:

Good Points

Height adjustable

It is great that the frame’s height is adjustable. Having it at just the right height for me is so important. I don’t have to stoop, or stand in an unnatural position – I just changed the height of each leg in turn.

I am 5′ 10″ and use don’t use the frame on it’s maximum height. I think the frame would be suitable for people much shorter or taller than me. It’s height dimensions are 88-99 cms or 32-39 inches

No wheels
Some walking frames have wheels on 2 of the legs. I personally don’t like this. It probably makes it easier to push along, but they make me feel wobbly.

Sturdy
I like the sturdy and strong feel of my frame. Once standing up using it, I feel very safe and secure. It is quite wide (56cms/22.5inches) which I think helps it be very sturdy.

Hand grips
The hand grips are comfortable and in the right place. They are made of rubber, so do not get really cold to touch.

Rubber supports (ferrules) on the feet
These make it secure when using it on a laminate, tiled or vinyl floors.

Folds up
It folds up easily and I store it down the side of the wardrobe.

User weight
When I look at the specifications of the frame, it can be used by people up to 180 kg or 28 stone.

Bad Point

I have found only one bad point to do with my walking frame. It is difficult to walk with it as you have to lift the frame up and move it before each step. It makes you walk in a very stop/start manner. For me, it’s not a natural walking aid, due to having no wheels.

Overall
For me it is a really good frame for standing up with but not for walking with. I have tried and used many different kinds of mobilty equipment and I must say that my walking frame is one that I use everyday.

I have foot drop in my right foot, which makes it difficult to walk. For those who don’t know foot drop, it means my foot doesn’t turn up properly when I walk. I have to lift my leg higher with each step so my foot doesn’t drag along the floor and trip me up. It makes my balance unsteady, and I have a gait when I walk.

Using walking sticks is often a great way of steadying you if you have foot drop. It certainly works for me.

My walking stick easily folds up  into 4 pieces and fits into my bag.  It snaps open into a very sturdy stick.

I was really pleased with the handle on my stick. It is really comfy and feels very secure when I am walking with the stick. Mine is suitable for using in the right or left hand, but some are specifically for use in one hand or the other.

This is an interesting point actually. It is my right foot that I have problems with, so I held my walking stick in my right hand. I thought that this was the best way to do it. That is until my physiotherapist advised me to actually hold it in my left hand. She said this was the correct way if my right foot was bad. It took some getting used to, especially as I am right handed. In the end I think she was right, it works much better using the stick on the opposite side to the problem foot.

The other things worth mentioning about my stick are the wrist strap and the rubber foot.

The wrist strap is good when I want to hold or reach for something. I don’t have to hold my stick as well, and I can let it dangle from my wrist. I find this very useful when getting on the bus. I can climb on using the handrails, and just let my stick dangle from my wrist. It doesn’t get in the way and I am safe holding onto the handrails.

You can get replacement rubber feet (often called ferrules) if the one on the stick wears out or you want a different type. Mine acts like a shock absorber and makes using the stick more comfy.

It is also worth mentioning that you can get stick holders to fit onto other mobility equipment, like scooters, wheelchairs, or rollators. You can also get stick clips. These enable you to attach your stick to a desk, table or work surface. I used one on my desk at work and it was really useful.

I had been using a traditional walking frame (Zimmer frame), but found that it was making me walk much slower than I really wanted. I found it very frustrating. I was advised that a rollator might be more suitable as it has a more smooth movement, instead of stop start, stop start.

I have bad rhumatoid arthritis, and my walking is difficult and painful, I wanted something that gave me security from falling around the house. Outside, I tend to use a wheelchair, but inside I want to avoid this if I can.

The rollator seemed a good idea, but there are so many to choose from. These were the points that I found really useful.

• I measured the doorways in my house – (all of them, just incase any were different!), the rollator had to fit through the doorways, and some were much too wide.
• The height had to be adjustable, I am very tall at 5′8″, and didn’t want something that hurt my back, or made me stoop.
• A basket was important, as I need to carry things about at home. If I am holding the rollator, the rollator needs to hold things for me.
• Easy grip brakes were important. You can get models that have brake handles designed especially for people with problems using their hands, like arthritic attachments.
• Some rollators fold up smaller than others. Bare this in mind if you need to put it in the car, or away in a cupboard.
• The weight also varies greatly, models seem to start at about 5kg. If you need something lighter, try a walking frame – some come with wheels too.