Perlman contracted polio at age four and has walked using leg braces and crutches since then and plays the violin while seated. As of 2018, he uses crutches or an electric Amigo scooter for mobility.

Why can Itzhak Perlman not walk?

Itzhak Perlman contracted polio when he was 4 years old, and he's used crutches ever since. When asked about his disability during the NPR interview, he said it has nothing to do with his performance. “I can't walk very well, but I'm not onstage to do walking,” he told NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Why does Perlman sit down?

Perlman had been ill with polio at the age of four. He got better, and managed to learn to walk again with the use of crutches. Today, he still walks with crutches and plays the violin sitting down.