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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Gait, Mobility and Walking Aids

Walking frame

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, walking frame means: A light metal frame with four legs, sometimes with wheels, that a person holds with both hands for support while walking.

In Turkish: yürüteç, walker

How it is used

British English says walking frame, frame or Zimmer frame; American English says walker. Physiotherapists assess which type suits a patient, set the height and teach a pattern such as 'frame, bad leg, good leg'. A frame with wheels is called a wheeled frame or rollator.

Example sentences

  1. Move the walking frame forward first, then step in with your bad leg.

  2. He's progressed from a walking frame to a stick.

Common collocations

  • walk with a frame
  • wheeled walking frame
  • Zimmer frame
  • frame height
  • crutchesA pair of walking aids that take weight off one or both legs, held either under the armpits or with cuffs around the forearms.
  • mobilityA person's ability to move around, such as getting out of bed, standing up and walking; also how freely a joint or part of the body can move.
  • gaitThe way a person walks, including the pattern of their steps, their speed and balance, and how the legs and arms move.
  • fall preventionAssessment and treatment aimed at reducing the chance that a person, especially an older adult, will fall and get hurt.
  • weight-bearingPutting some or all of your body weight through a leg (or arm), especially when the amount allowed is limited after an injury or operation.

More terms: Gait, Mobility and Walking Aids

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.