My elderly mother’s ankles are swollen and she is walking with her knees bent. What can I do to help her walk better?

In order to determine the best way to help her, first, the cause of her swollen ankles and bent knees but be determined. Swollen ankles may be the result of congestive heart failure - in that case I recommend a visit to her physician and/or cardiologist for appropriate assessment and treatment. Swollen ankles can also result from a sprain/strain from a recent fall - in that case I recommend a visit to her physician to determine the extent of her injuries and he cause of her fall. Are her limitations due to arthritis? If so, is her arthritis being managed appropriately by her physician? Once her medical status and the cause of the swollen ankles and bent knees have been determined, then the appropriate treatment can begin. Physical therapy may be appropriate to improve her flexibility, strength, balance and endurance which will result in her walking better. A physical therapist will be able to design an exercise program that is just right for your mom.

elevate, massage, no sodium, water pills, and perhaps potassium pills.

Just finished two months of home physical therapy prescribed for my dad (98),from his doctor, from the local hospital home health care services. Great gals came out, physical therapy, RN checks, speech therapy, etc. Medicare picked up the whole tab and there are monthly assessements and as long as he showed improvement they would continue. Due to his age he did not have as much progress as someone younger might have. Still walks with a walker and is much stronger niow. Was also diagnosed with beginnings of Parkinsons and with meds has REALLY improved. No choking on liquids, more animated when talking, and less shaking when walking. Great blessing but is this why Medicare is going broke!! Ask your moms MD to order home health care if she qualifies.

Has her doctor prescribed custom compression stockings? I don't mean the ones you pick up at the pharmacy, I mean the type she is measured for. You would be surprised how much they will help the swelling. I care for a dear friend who had both his ankles broken years ago. He recently had issues with his blood pressure and swelling of his legs. He was resistant, but then decided to try the stockings and to his surprise they made a tremendous difference. Now he swears by them and tells others how they saved his life!

One possible reason why her ankles are swollen can be because she sits around too much and doesn't walk around enough. Try to get her to be more mobile, like walking around, both inside and outside your house/apt. Get her out of the house/apt more often. Have her exercise. Remember: The key to longevity is to kept active. :-) W

My elderly mother uses a walker - it allows her to take short walks as she gets support by holding on to the handles, and since it has four "legs" it gives solid support for balancing. The walker has allowed her to walk along our uneven yard quite successfully - although we are always close by when she uses it.

Both Milach and Rcacace gave great answers to the patient who suffers from swollen ankles. Elevating the legs, movement in between elevation, and perhaps a diuretic may help this pt. The drug known as Norvasc ( often used for hypertention) will also send fluid to the lower legs and ankles. It also helps to keep water away from the pericardiem to prevent CHF. Great answers, but it's always important to see that cardiologist or at least an internist.

swollen ankles some times are due to heart problems,the circulation in the legs are bad and can not get the water out up to the heart to be pumped to the proper places.Make sure to go to the doctor like you said you were going to.Keep salt soda lunch meats away from her,water is the best fluid.I hope I helped,I am dealing with all of this with my granny,when we got the correct dose of a water pill along with her high blood pressure pill and I changed her diet her ankles and legs became so small it was unbeliveable.It will also help if she has any sores to heal.

Look into a therapy / product called Anodyne Therapy. It is "infrared light" and it works great for swelling and pain and other things as well. Some PT clinics and in house therapy services us it. Be informed in advance that it is not paid for by most insurance companies. Most insurance providers consider it" Experimental" when in fact it is not. It has been widely used all over the world. Research it on PubMed.gov It has been used more frequently because it is more holistic and non-intrusive. It will not interfere with other medications since it is a vasodilator. That is why it will decease the swelling that she is experiencing. In fact it will make any antibiotic work better and faster since the circulation to the infected site is increase many times over. It may also improve her gait (walking) as a result of its use .....Check it out

Thanks mseidel ! This is a new one for me. I searched through my husband's med books, and I couldn't find anything on Anodyne Therapy....an infrared light.
Then I searched just for just infrared and found that it is used for the temporary treatment of certain types of pneumonia. I love the feeling of the infrared light that they have in some bathrooms in hotels, especially in the winter!