A comparison of a two-wheeled walker and a three-wheeled walker in a geriatric population

Abstract

Objective: There are few data on the effect of walkers on gait and mobility or on comparisons of different walker types. We compared a commonly used 4-legged, 2-wheeled walker and a newer 3-legged, 3-wheeled walker in measures of gait, mobility, and patient satisfaction.

Design: Cross-over controlled trial.

Setting: In the Physical Therapy Department of a Veterans Affairs hospital.

Participants: Subjects were 15 male and female frail elderly veterans (mean age, 82 years), both inpatients and outpatients, consecutively enrolled from a sample of 35 patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department for mobility problems. Subjects met the following criteria: age 65 or over, ambulatory, no prior use of a wheeled walker, stable medical condition, and informed consent.

Intervention: Subjects were evaluated without either walker and with each of the two walkers on a 15-foot walkway and a 60-foot obstacle course. Subjects were asked which walker they preferred.

Outcome measure: Outcome measures were stride length on the walkway, time on an obstacle course, and walker preference.

Results: Stride length was 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) greater with the 3-wheeled walker than with the 2-wheeled walker (P = 0.016 by Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Time on the obstacle course was 16.0 seconds less with the 3-wheeled walker than the 2-wheeled walker (P = 0.002). The 3-wheeled walker was subjectively preferred.

Conclusions: The 3-wheeled walker appears to have a greater positive impact on gait and mobility than the 2-wheeled walker.