Last week I was seeing a person with PD with a camptocormic posture (this is a more extreme forward bent posture) who was experiencing back fatigue and pain when walking with a cane. (I’ll call him ‘Sam’) This back problem limited Sam’s ability to walk. The cane offered some support and more relief than not using any assistive device. In therapy ambulation was limited to 100 feet when using the cane. I had informed him that a walker could offer greater back support and allow him to walk more. Sam wasn’t very receptive to this suggestion and shunned the use of a walker but was willing to try it out in therapy. When walking with the walker Sam was able to walk 900′ without a rest, his back pain was under good control and he was able to walk at a more natural walking speed. He was a bit winded because he hadn’t walked such a distance or speed for some time. He admitted he could walk better with the walker but was still reluctant to rely on such a device. I asked Sam what he didn’t like about the walker. He said it made him feel more disabled. Sam and I discussed the meaning of being disabled and explained to him that he was actually more disabled walking with a cane and in the long run using a cane would actually be detrimental. The walker in Sam’s case will offer back protection, improve his walking abilities and ultimately be a healthier choice.
