Some of you may need walking equipment to help you with:

• your stability and balance
• maintaining an upright body posture
• walking with a more even stride and pace
• your confidence in your walking ability
• keeping up with family and friends
• weight redistribution. Some of the weight carried through your legs is transferred through the arms to the frame or stick as it’s leant upon for support. This may help reduce any pain you have in your back, joints, muscles or ligaments in your legs.

Walking and standing is also good for keeping your bladder and bowel working well.

Your OT and / or physio can assess you and provide mobility equipment to help with your specific needs. Some people also find it helpful to have lower limb splints (orthoses) which can help keep their joints in an appropriate and supported position.

Living Made Easy > – click on Access and mobility tab, then walking aids for information on options and safe use.

Whether or not you’re able to walk, a lightweight manual wheelchair can be useful. For example, it might make a difference to hanging out at a shopping centre with friends that you’d otherwise find too tiring. Or you may mainly use a powerchair but need a manual ‘back-up’.

Your OT and / or physio will be able to advise you if a manual chair is a suitable option. They may involve Wheelchair Services (WS) in any assessment of your posture and positioning. You’ll be advised on the most appropriate make and model and when, where and how it could be used.

You may find these information pages helpful when you’re talking to your OT / physio. Tick the boxes on the left of the pages that apply to you:

• Living Made Easy / Active Users Wheelchairs >
• Living Made Easy / Manual Wheelchair >

The NHS should provide you with a manual wheelchair if your OT and WS agree you need one as a main way to get around indoors. If you prefer an option that they can’t provide but they agree it’s still suitable for you, they may be able to part fund it. If the manual wheelchair is to be a ‘backup’ only it’s unlikely the NHS will fund it.

Whizz-Kidz > – provide information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment, trials, training, and advice.

If you tire quickly using a manual chair, your physio or OT may suggest adding power assist.  This is either a power pack or powered wheels. You can still use a supportive lightweight, foldable manual wheelchair indoors or for shorter trips. But you have the option of getting further faster. This saves energy for other activities.

If you and your parents are discussing this option, you need to check that:

• the power system is compatible with your chair and suitable for your strength
• the chair will still be light and compact enough for your parents or PA to lift it into a car
• your parents can afford the cost of the batteries, running costs and annual service. Though this option is more flexible and generally lighter, it can be more expensive than a powered wheelchair.

If you already have a chair from Wheelchair Services, check they’ll allow you to modify their chair with your chosen power pack. If not, you may need to buy your own manual chair in addition to the power pack.