Car Safety – Getting in and out with Ease

Last month, therapists at Fox Rehab offered a training on car transfers for NNV volunteers and members. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to safely get in and out of a car.

Most of us get in and out of the car with one foot in and one foot out. This creates imbalance and increases the risk for a fall. For greater strength and stability, it’s best to keep both feet on the floor until seated. Try this:

Getting into the car

  • Push the seat back to make room to swing your legs over
  • Open the car door all the way
  • Turn so your back is to the car with both feet firmly on the street – not the curb. Slowly step back until you feel the seat at the back of your legs. Reach for the back of the seat with both hands. If that is not available to you, hold onto the top of the seat and the seat back. If you are getting into a taller car, it might be easier to grab the overhead handle
  • Bend your knees and bring yourself to a seated position with your feet on the curb and your bottom in the vehicle
  • Pivot to swing one leg into the car and then the other

Getting out of the car

  • First, make sure the car is parked far enough from the curb so you have two feet planted on the street – not the curb. The curb will force your knees higher than your hips, making it more difficult to push up out of the car
  • Pivot and swing one leg out of the car and then the other so both feet are flat on the street
  • Scoot your bottom toward the edge of the seat. Hold onto the seat to lift. If this is difficult to do, you can use momentum by rocking back and forth on a count of three – one rock, two rock, three lift up
Photo of a handybar being used by a car passenger getting out of a car
Handybar

There are lots of things to consider when getting in and out of the car safely. For one, always reach for a stable surface. The car door is often the first thing people reach for but it can swing and cause a fall. You can purchase a Handybar to stabilize the door, or use stable car parts like the seat, dashboard, and roof handle. If you use a walker, keep it close and be sure to lock it before getting in or out of the car. Do not solely rely on the walker to lift up. Use at least one hand to push up from the car seat.

Click here to watch a video on getting in and out of the car with a walker or wheelchair.

Fox Rehab is located inside Chevy Chase House (CCH) and offers a free Parkinson’s exercise class to the community: Tues/Thurs at 1 pm in the CCH gym (basement) – Boxing and resistive exercises, approximately 45 minutes geared toward improving signs/symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Visit the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area or Contact Aliyah Brathwaite (aliyah.brathwaite@foxrehab.org) for more information.

Special thanks to Chevy Chase House for hosting our training session and providing lunch.  

Warm regards,
Stephanie