Husband got a walker effect or improvement on balance or no.

The walker will give him something to hold onto and should help him keep his balance. I hope it helps him get around better.

After I came home from the nursing home I used a walker as I was petrified I would fall again. It was a fall in my kitchen that broke my back in 3 places. It helped with my balance but most important was that it gave me confidence, then I traded to walker for a cane and after a couple of months my balance was improved so that I did not need any support. I am still very careful where I walk and keep my cane in the car in-case I have to park in an uneven area.

I think it is a plus that he uses one. My son has CP which is a brain defect and they have always told me that you have to work extra hard on things so the other parts of the brain will take over for the damaged part. I am not an expert, but I would think it is a good thing. Part of it may be the fear of falling and it will give him the confidence he needs.

I think your husband has suffered some permanant damage because it has been a long time since his stroke...I think the walker will help him and it will keep him from falling down...The walker will only support him to keep him from falling,it will not do him any harm..I do not think that the walker will help balance the center of his brain unless his disability is temorary...I do know that a walker will help him and keep him from falling and should give him a feeling of security...

I believe a walker helps you to walk, but you have to have the control in your arms and mind. If he cannot balance himself in his mind then it might not help as much.

My wife had brain surgery last year and for the first couple of months following she would use a walker to help with balance. i think alot of was just a safety net so that she would not fall. She would use it to help her get her balance by standing in front of it and letting go. Then she would move her head around to try to get her bearings so as to regain her perception and balance. Your husband may be dealing with something much different though.

That's definitely something to think about. I am missing a portion of my brain that has to do with balance, visuals, etc. I use a support cane, and when I am going to walk long distances through a mall etc. I push a shopping cart and lean on that. My balance will never change because of my brain, so the walking aid, which ever one I choose to use, acts like a prosthetic something-or-other that makes up for what I do not have in my brain.

THis one I dont know . But I see hundreds arounf here using them and they seem to get along fine some walk real slow othes walk pushing it and getting to where they want with out falling if it is a good one should work fine for him!

My father uses a walker. They are used basically as a support tool. It does not really help his balance. Just something for support as he walks. Good luck and you're both in my thoughts and prayers also. The balance issue is in the brain not the legs etc. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

The walker will not improve his balance like he is wanting. It only helps you keep your balance when your walking like if your legs aren't strong enough to support you anymore or your crippled in other ways and need the extra help that a walker provides to get around.

I can't say that walkers help the balance center of the brain, but it does help a person to keep from falling if they lose their balance. My mom used one for quite a while, several of her friends are using them now to good effect. My client uses one as extra support as she walks, but she's really the only person that I know that uses it in such a way.

Hi suspenseful, Someone who's had a stroke is often left different from how s/he used to be, even personality. Recovery will depend on various factors, i.e. type and severity of the stroke (brain area affected), how soon and how well he got medically treated, rehab (physio, OT, speech where necessary). Family & friends' support (patience & understanding) also helps. The walker will help prop him up and walk. Should also have a positive effect on balance. Whether he uses a walker or not has no effect in bringing back a damaged part of the brain, but, as the physiotherapist said, the exercises will aid him. From a rehab point of view, the undamaged parts of the brain is counted on compensating for what was lost; the more he walks and attempts to balance, the better he'll get at it. Did you not get more info about strokes from your doctor/hospital when your husband had one? The physiotherapist should be able to help too. Try http://heartandstroke.mb.ca for links to resources (their living with stroke program would be good to try). I'm also PMing you to give a Christian perspective to it.

hi suspenseful glad you came on ,was worried about you, dont let your hubby told you into one of those darned nursing homes as they are just awful. any way the walker cannot do any harm, and it may be making him feel more in control. i know if I misplace my quad cane I feel frightened as mysense of balance is a bit off. I didnt have a stroke, but I am diabetic and also fell three years ago, broke myleft shoulder badly so had to have a total shoulder joint replacement, I only have ten percent useage of my left arm. I too am afraid of a fall so can feel for your hubbey even tho I didnt have a stroke. I dont know if you are familar with a quad cane or not,its a bigger cane with a broad base that has four metal feet so you feel almost like having a walker as it helps so much with your balance while you are walking. I wear a leg brace of heavy steel with foam padding attached to my ortho shoe on my left foot as a number of years back I ruptured the tendon in my foot, and my quack of a dr. didnt know a ruptured tendon from a sprained ankle then when they finallygot enough gumption to send me to a specialist it was unoperable so must wear this b race the restof my life. I think the walker will help him a lot with his balance and his self confidence, then if you have ramps and railings you should be able to stay in your own home. that would be best dont you think.

There are thousands of people using walkers. The static ones are more stable but are slower in moving around. The ones with wheels and brakes are faster to move around with and allow people with balance problems and various lower body weaknesses to be mobile. These walkers give people mobility where they would be stuck in a chair or would need someone to walk with to steady them. A close relative used walkers for years due to knee and balance problems and they got a government subsidy with the purchase. See if you can get one of those with wheels if he can use it. It might not improve his balance per se but will help with mobility and strengthen his muscles that would not be used otherwise if he was not mobile. As far as the comment of the braces, the old leather and metal braces are obsolete technology, you can get more strength and customization with plastics and they are lighter too.