Walkers have been around to assists persons with impaired mobility to move around. There are also variants that train toddlers to move on their own. They are not meant for patients with totally disabled ambulatory capacity but are often used in physical therapy sessions to train patients with leg injuries to regain their leg muscle strengths, restore balance and self sufficiency in walking. Patients suffering from any form of neuromuscular diseases like arthritis are often prescribed with them.
Walkers also come in the form of rollators which have wheels at the end of their legs instead of rubber. They are designed for the same purpose but are better prescribed to patients with medical and physical injuries that make it difficult for them to lift walkers when walking, pivoting or turning around. Users only need to roll the walkers when walking and changing directions, hence the name.
Rollators come in two basic varieties. Those with small wheels are meant for indoor use, those with large wheels are designed for outdoor use. Three-wheel rollators are quite common in either variants. Like walkers, they are waist high and can be adjusted to support different user heights. They are meant to support your weight while providing stability when walking.
Because they are meant to support your weight and are safe to use, walkers and rollators are constructed of anti-rust aluminum weighing no more that 30 pounds for the heaviest variants. Some are rigid with different heights while others have adjustable heights. Some have portability features that make them lighter to carry and are foldable to make them easy to pack on trips or store in the trunks and closet.
In general, walkers and rollators are sturdy and durable. When choosing one, make sure it has the right height so that you won’t have to bend or strain yourself to grip it with your wrist. You wrist height should be aligned with the rollator’s handle grip. In addition, get one that can support your weight as different models are specified for a range of weights that each can support.
If you plan to use an outdoor model for moving around in parks or getting to the store, there are accessories like tray baskets and bags that can be attached to it. And if price is a consideration for you, look around for used rollators. They are often disposed by patients who have regained their balance and walking strengths after using them for sometime. You can often get the best bargains and value from these.
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