Walking with a Gait Aid


After surgery you will need to use a gait aid to walk. Whether you use crutches or a walker will depend on things like your home environment, your balance, etc.

Using a Walker

  • Move the walker first, making sure all four legs are on the ground 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use a walker
  • Move your operated leg next into the middle of the walker 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use a walker
  • Putting the allowed weight on your operated leg and the rest of your weight through the handles of the walker, move your good leg forward, even with your operated leg 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use a walker

Back to topˆ

Using Crutches

  • Move both crutches forward first 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use crutches
  • Move your operated leg next, even with the crutches 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use crutches
  • Putting the allowed weight on your operated leg and the rest of your weight through the handles of the crutches and not the armpits, move the good leg even with your operated leg 
    Image of man demonstrating how to use crutches