How To Use A Walker To Climb Stairs Safely (2024)

If you have a family member who is elderly or has difficulty walking, you may be wondering how they can safely use a walker on the stairs.

My elderly aunt went into the hospital a few months ago to get a hip replacement.

The therapists recommended that she use a walker when returning home.

However, she does have stairs in the house, which made my cousin (her caregiver) a little worried about how she would be able to climb the stairs.

Basic Steps On How To Use A Standard Walker On Stairs

1. Stand at the base of the stairs, grasp handrail with one hand
2. With your free hand, turn walker sideways away from the railing
3. Lift the closest pair of walker legs onto the first step
4. Place one hand on the walker, the other hand on the handrail
5. Push down on the walker to ensure stability
6. Step up with your good leg first, then bring up the weaker leg
7. Repeat until you reach the top of the stairs.

Clearly, it’s a good idea to have an understanding of how to use a walker safely, especially on stairs.

Here’s a video that demonstrates how to go upstairs with a walker:

There are, of course, different ways of using a standard walker on stairs, but practice and guidance from a medical professional is essential.

They may give you different instructions than what is standard, depending on your specific skills and needs.

Climbing stairs with a walker takes some getting used to, but once you have the hang of it, it’s not too difficult.

How Do You Climb Stairs With A Standard Walker?

It can be difficult, not to mention intimidating, to figure out how to climb stairs with a walker. But as we touched on in the intro, if you follow these steps, you will be a pro in no time:

• The first thing you need to do is make sure the walker legs are all in place and sturdy.
• When using a walker to climb stairs, be sure to take small steps.
• Stand at the bottom of the steps with the walker in front of you (between you and the steps)
• The next step is to grasp the handrail firmly with the hand closest to the railing.
• Turn the walker sideways, so the crossbar faces away from the steps. This places the walk next to your side.
• Move the closest two legs of the walker onto the first step, then ensure the walker is stable before you advance.
• Place one hand on the end of the walker and your other hand on the handrail for additional support. It is important to balance yourself evenly between the handrail and the walker.
• Push down on your walker to ensure it is secure and stable.
• Take a step up with your good leg, and draw your weaker leg up afterward.
• Continue this process to continue up the rest of your stairs.

Remember to go slow and steady when going up any set of stairs.

How To Walk Up And Down Stairs With A Walker With Wheels

Walkers with wheels are typically meant more for walking long distances, rather than for overall stability.

So, using them on the stairs can be tricky and sometimes even dangerous.

If you have a walker with just two wheels on the front, you can still take on the stairs.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if your walker has wheels on the front two legs:

• Orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists recommend an easy way to remember which leg to use is UP with the good and DOWN with the bad.
• You will follow the same steps you did to get up the stairs with a normal walker, but with some added precautions to be sure the wheels do not cause a slip or fall.
• Place your weight distribution on the side of the walker that has the leg on it. This will help keep you stable.
• Utilize the handrail heavily. You want the handrail to be your main support, while the walker is there as a backup to help keep you steady on both sides.

The main concern with the wheels is distributing weight incorrectly and placing too much weight on the side with the wheels.

As always, take your time and ensure the legs are fully connected on the ground safely before making any advancements.

If you are using a rollator that has wheels on all four legs, these should not be used for ascending or descending stairs.

They will not provide the stability you need and can cause a fall. In those cases, you should opt to switch it out for a cane to offer more stability on the stairs.

A cane and a handrail will offer much more stability than a rollator.

Many rollators even come with a slot to hold a cane.

If you are walking with someone or there is someone there to ask for help, your best option when facing stairs will be to utilize your cane and the handrail while you get help from someone to carry the rollator up behind you.

Always discuss these options and instructions with your doctor or therapist.

If you have any concerns, they will be able to walk you through the steps and can tailor their advice to your unique health needs.

How Do You Go Down A Ramp With A Standard Walker?

When you encounter a ramp, it is typically met with a sigh of relief because you won’t have to tackle multiple flights of stairs.

But going down a ramp can be a bit tricky because of the inertia our bodies encounter when walking down any type of incline.

Here are some tips to help you get down ramps confidently and safely:

• Do not rush. Take your time and steady your pace.
• Ensure all four legs of the walker are safely and securely on the ground.
• Get a strong grip on the walker, and don’t lean over it. This will cause the momentum to go too quickly forward. Try to keep a good posture and avoid leaning forward as much as possible.
• Lead with your weak leg (if applicable) and let your other leg follow.
• If you begin to feel like you are going too fast or the incline is too difficult, stop any forward movement. If there is a handrail nearby, grab it and ensure your stability until you can continue.

Walkers Vs. Canes For Going Up Stairs

Walkers were created for stability. The four-leg design makes it the most stable option for mobility aids.

They are great for seniors or anyone recovering from major surgery or injury who need to rely on something to put their weight on.

Walkers are also best when it comes to needing a quick rest.

Being able to hold onto the handle and rest your weight on a walker is much easier than putting your weight onto a solitary cane.

Canes have their own set of perks when it comes to navigating steps. They don’t offer the same stability as a walker.

But they can be helpful mobility aids for those who don’t need quite as much assistance or support on stairs. Read our article. How To Walk Up Stairs With A Cane, to learn more.

If you have concerns over the act of climbing and you know you will need to rely heavily on the mobility aid, then a walker will be best for stairs.

With either option, you should utilize the handrail for additional assistance.