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Abstract
This study examined the effect of a prescribed walker on functional performance and explored the personal experiences of four community-dwelling older adults with impaired mobility. A mixed method sequential explanatory design was used with a repeated case study approach. Standardized measures of timed mobility, balance confidence, and participation were collected twice, one month apart, followed by a one-on-one, semistructured interview. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative data and promote an understanding of the interactions among contributing factors to the impact and use of a walker in four “real” clinical practice scenarios. The findings suggest the need for rehabilitation professionals to explore a range of personal, performance, and environmental factors to optimize adoption of a walker into daily life by community-dwelling older adults.
