Walking? Sure, I Can Do That...

When I first came home from hospital, I would walk the length of my bedroom on a daily basis, with a Zimmer Frame to keep me upright and my Dad always walking beside me and grabbing the Zimmer when it started to tip from the weight I was putting through it. I know now that I was only using my legs when I was stepping, I was constantly putting weight through my arms - so rigid and tense, afraid that I was going to fall - making the Zimmer tip onto it's two right/left feet, and the likelihood I would follow unless my Dad grabbed me and the Zimmer. 

Dad was coming down everyday and I was getting tired of the fact I could only walk the same few meters, indoors, on a flat floor, with a frame that couldn't support me and a chaperone. What was the point in walking if I couldn't do it independently? The more determined of you would probably have a bit of patience and think "I'll get better with practice." 

I didn't. 

Having patience is something I can never be accused of. I said "sod this" and retreated to the safety of my wheelchair. I haven't walked with a walking frame since.

Many times over the years Dad has said to me
"you should give walking with a Zimmer a go again, I think you'd be much better now."
"Nah," I'd reply "It's too light, if you sneezed near it, it would tip. I wouldn't feel safe using it on my own so I'd rather use the wheelchair."

Does it have to be a Zimmer Frame?

I had noticed that when I caught the bus to Headway South Staffs I was frequently seeing people with walking aids, and they were never Zimmer Frames. They appeared to be heftier and they had handbrakes. I was looking at them and thinking "I think I could walk safely on my own with that."

1. The frame wouldn't run away as I moved it forwards. I could put the brakes on as and when I needed.
2. I could put the brakes on while I'm stepping forward which hopefully meant it wouldn't tip so easily.
3. I would take big steps meaning the frame was so far in front of me I was practically horizontal trying to keep my feet on the floor and hold onto the Zimmer.

However every single person I'd seen was able to walk as if their walking frame wasn't necessary. They weren't using the brakes. They were walking in one continuous motion. I wanted to do that. I was fairly sure I wouldn't be able too, I would have to use the brakes so often I think there would be permanent dents in the wheels. I could use it around the house though.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Paul Briggs from Rollz - who I'd met at Naidex - came to Headway South Staffs with a few models for me to try. Just from the look of it I could see it was heavier than a Zimmer Frame. Paul showed me that it had drag brakes. He could see my look of confusion. Can you only use the brakes if you're wearing a sparkly frock? Drag brakes are permanent fixtures attached to the back wheels. I could set how much resistance the drag brakes offer, apply constant friction to the wheels to slow down the rollator and prevent it from running away.

The first frame I tried was lighter than the second frame but it had drag brakes fitted to it, so it was harder to move. I put the handbrakes on, pushed up from the wheelchair - this is important as the alternative was to pull on the frame, and, well it would struggle to aid me when all four legs aren't on the floor. 

Paul was stood in front of the frame in case I needed rescuing, which I'm pleased to say I didn't. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the width of it. I felt I couldn't have my legs as far apart as I wanted. My balance is atrocious and the narrowness meant I was probably relying on my arms for balance more than I should. The frame didn't tip though, I don't know if that's because I wasn't putting as much weight through my arms nowadays, or because the frame was sturdy.

I was right about not being able to walk in one continuous motion, I was so slow they were locking up the building by the time I finished, and the meeting started at 10am.

The second frame was about 1kg heavier, but didn't have drag brakes, it was wider though. I could have my legs as wide as I needed so I wasn't putting any weight through my arms.

I walked the length of the carpeted area, slightly quicker than the other frame. I don't know this for a fact, but the shadow the sun was casting in the room didn't move.

Most of Headway South Staffs is carpeted, but there are a couple of areas covered by lino, so I tried it on here to see if the none friction lino made frame harder to control. I didn't notice any difference, Paul stood in front of me but again I didn't need rescuing. 

How Much?

This had confirmed what I had suspected for a long time. I was more than capable of walking with a walking frame. If I hadn't been so impatient when I was younger and just stuck at it I could be one of the speed walkers, walking in one continuous motion. But, better late than never. I was sold and ready to start using these pipe cleaners for legs for transport. As it turned out, there was a sticking point. It would cost a price that was too rich for my blood. Anne Marie (yes Anne Marie I mentioned you again) told me about Ableworld a mobility store that was around the corner - they're a store supplying mobility products including wheelchairs, walking aids, scooters, beds & lifts for baths & stairs.

I knew what I was after now and I knew the price I needed to beat - I didn't know if the price I'd been quoted was typical.

Ableworld is vast, I would recommend it to anyone in the Stafford area. Although I do feel loyal to Easy Living Mobility as well, as that is where I bought my trustee steed (iM4.Elite). Easy Living Mobility have quite a large store and excellent customer service, although the store's not quite as large as Ableworld, but then some football stadia aren't as large.

Lighter Isn't Better

There are many carbon fibre wheelchairs on a raised plinth to grab your attention as you enter. This isn't a criticism of Ableworld but is merely some advice when purchasing an electric wheelchair from any establishment. Some of these extra light wheelchairs are around ten kg and can set you back between £2500-£3000, but a light wheelchair is only going to be suitable to take you around the shops on a nice flat and smooth floor. As soon as you go out into the car park where the terrain won't be perfectly flat, you'll find the direction of your wheelchair being dictated by any dips or slight cambers. You will try and steer in the opposite direction but your wheelchair won't be able to go in the direction you're telling it. The wheels are often small, shiny, plastic things that are barely capable of travelling indoors on smooth floors, outdoors it might encounter a piece of gravel that will be like an immovable object.

My wheelchair is 26kg, quite heavy for some to load into the boot of a car. However it's still too light when travelling past some drop curbs. The dip of the path takes away your control.

Walking Frames Galore

Ableworld had rows and rows of walking frames, and they were all for less than I'd been quoted. I tried a number of different frames, all had hand functioning brakes, none had the drag brakes but it was something I didn't really notice as I would move the frame, put the breaks on and step into it. 

However, I said earlier I was fairly sure I wasn't going to be able to walk in one continuous motion. And I was right! There was a silver lining though technology had improved to aid my inadequacies.

I don't want to brag, but it turns out I'm brilliant at standing up and holding onto a walking frame all on my own. I'm probably the best to have ever done it. On this video the brakes are on so that the frame doesn't move as I stand up. Well guess what? I can don't need the brakes off now. The frame is free to roll away, it never does though. Impressed? Remember, not all heroes wear capes.

The last walking frame I tried was about five feet tall. It was the Peter Crouch of the walking frame world and as it was a lot taller than your typical walking frame. I didn't expect much from it, but I thought I'd give it a go as it was there. It was a clearance item so it was cheaper than the others. It felt quite strange at first as my arms weren't reaching down, instead there were two arms at shoulder height with grips to hold onto - like a joystick. The frame felt a bit flimsy as the top half would lean towards me when I pulled on the grips to take a step...I shouldn't have been pulling on it though. I'm supposed to just hold the grips and put any weight through my legs.

Well Reader, I Bought It

I decided to take a punt on it. It was cheaper than all the other frames I tried. It was a bit of a strange contraption, but nobody would see me using it. The wheels are shiny, plastic things, meaning - as I said above with the carbon fibre wheelchairs - it's only suitable for indoors. Which is fine, it takes an awful long time to get anywhere by foot and it's quite tiring walking indoors let alone outdoors.

What's the point in walking if I couldn't do it independently?

In answer to my younger impatient self's question, I would answer, simply exercise. My younger self didn't want to face the realities he wouldn't be able to walk again. Unless he was able to do it as well as before, there was no point. Nowadays I realise there is a point, the goal isn't to walk around with the speed and confidence I used to.

@fatpigeonsbook 

@fatpigeonsbook

@fatpigeonsbook