How to Reduce Limping When Walking

Limping can be caused by several different physical conditions, from a past injury or a congenital short femur preventing you from walking correctly. However, through several different methods, including the use of a cane or utilizing orthopedic shoes, you can work to reduce your limp when you are walking. You can also work with a physical therapist to target your problem areas in your body and potentially reduce your limp through regular exercise.

Instructions

• 1

  Use some form of physical crutch like a cane or walker to help reduce limping while walking. The use of a crutch is an inexpensive and effective tool in reducing the amount you limp while walking around. Although some will find the use of a cane or any other crutch in public an embarrassment, the crutch serves as a beneficial tool and will allow you to walk with a minimized limp in public.

• 2

  Attend physical therapy to work on reducing your limp with the help of a professional. From regular exercise to massages targeting the problem areas in your legs and hips, a physical therapist can create workouts and routines targeting the areas of your body causing you to limp.

• 3

  Surgery on your legs or hips to reduce limping is a possibility for someone with a severe conditions impacting his movement. For example, a child with a congenital short femur can have multiple surgeries that will lengthen his leg so it matches the other, longer femur. These procedures are expensive and require much care of the patient afterward, however, this surgery paired with physical therapy can work to reduce or eliminate the limp.