Your knee is the connective center of your entire leg, making injuries particularly limiting.
A knee walker enables movement with less exertion than crutches or a walker. Stabilizing only the injured knee on a padded surface frees your hands from balancing on a standard walker or shuffling around haphazardly on a pair of crutches. This device is intended for short-term use within a small space and should not be used for long-term therapeutic purposes. To use a knee walker, proper procedure and placement are important.
Instructions
1. Position your injured knee all the way forward on the padded seat of the knee walker with the rest of your leg directly behind you. Always keep your knee pointing straight ahead instead of angled outward or inward. Angling your knee could tear and twist ligaments if your knee walker slipped out from under you.
2. Hold onto the handles and push yourself forward with your able foot. Point the wheels in the direction you want to go and pull the handles upward, making short, even strides. Avoid attempting large steps or moving quickly, which can jerk your joints and hinder your balance.
3. Use your able leg as a brake if you need to stop. The handle brakes are only for emergencies if you are unable to stop yourself using just your able foot. Remain on level surfaces whenever possible to prevent losing control on a downward slope.
4. Exit the knee walker by positioning yourself and the device close to a couch or chair before removing your injured leg from the padded seat. Gently hold the side of the furniture as you ease yourself into a seated position. You can also use the knee walker to elevate your injured leg while lying down or sitting.
Tags: knee walker, your able, your injured, , injured knee