What is a Rolling Walker?
This type of walker is designed to assist someone with walking. They can be used on carpet, hardwood floors, tile and even be taken outside for walks on the pavement or asphalt, provided it’s fairly level.
Most rollators consist of a frame attached to either three or four wheels and include handlebars and a seat. That gives the user control over the speed and provides a place to sit and rest when needed.
Some rollators are also equipped with a shopping basket, making them convenient for a quick trip to the supermarket or the corner shop.
Here is a really useful video that showcases the best rollator walkers that you can buy.
A rollator walker with seat is an especially good choice for an elderly or disabled person who wants to get around on his or her own and is otherwise healthy enough to do so.
They offer freedom at home and out and about, something that may not be possible without the walker. Many people find that they offer just the right amount of assistance to keep them moving about freely on their own.
How does a Rollator Work?
Because this device has three or four wheels, it is much easier to move around than a traditional walker because there is no need to pick it up to move it forward.
To use the walker, the user simply grips the handles and pushes forward so the wheels make forward progress as the person walks. They can be pushed at any speed, making them fully customisable to the user. Many rollators also have brakes, giving the user even more control.
Most rollators come equipped with four wheels, offering top-notch stability and reducing the risk of a fall. Some models come with only three wheels, but still offer similar levels of stability and control.
The right one for you depends on your needs and to some degree, your preferences. That’s why it’s a good idea to test out a few options before making your choice so you’re sure you’re getting exactly what you want and need.
Rolling Walker Pros
There are several benefits to using a walker, the primary one being that they offer the user more mobility, reducing the need to depend on someone else for walking assistance.
However, they have a lot more to offer as well. The stability offered by a walker reduces the risk of a fall and helps prevent an injury in someone who is injured or elderly. Having a walker also gives you more freedom, letting you take a walk around the block, shop for groceries, or go out to eat with a friend without having to use a wheelchair or call someone to help you.
Lightweight rollators offer the added benefit of being easy to transport, especially for elderly and handicapped users who may not have a lot of strength. Choosing lightweight rollators gives the user the option of easily taking them along on a holiday or road trip without a lot of effort.
Choosing a rollator walker with seat gives you a handy place to sit down and take a rest when one is needed.
A rollator with seat is ideal for walking around the neighbourhood or the shop, as you can sit down and catch your breath right where you are without having to seek out a bench or someone to help you.
Rollator Cons
While there are quite a few great benefits of using a rollator, there are some disadvantages to consider as well.
Weighing the pros and cons of using such a device will help you determine if it’s indeed a good choice for your needs. Many rollators are not designed to be weight-bearing but are merely to provide assistance with walking.
For that reason, if you need to bear down with most of your body weight, you might be better off with a walker that doesn’t have wheels. If you lean too heavily on a rollator, you could lose control and fall down and get hurt.
Rollators with 4 wheels also lower the overall range of motion you have access to.
Tight corners and small spaces aren’t conducive to using a wheeled walker and it could be difficult to get around in such places.
Finally, a rollator doesn’t always give you the option of moving quickly so you could find that you want to walk faster than the device allows, although if you’ll recall, you can move faster or slower as needed with a rollator, something that you can’t always do with a traditional walker.
How to Choose a Rollator
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when you’re choosing a walker with heels is the height. You want to be sure it’s comfortable to use and doesn’t require you to reach up or hunch over, both of which will strain your body and could lead to an injury.
At the same time, be sure you look at the overall dimensions of the device in question to ensure that it will fit in your home – something that’s too big won’t be appropriate, for example.
Wheel size is another factor to think about and most experts recommend choosing a walker with large wheels because small wheels are hard to move around on rough ground and could get stuck in cracks or dips in the terrain. Wheels with a diameter that are 8 inches or larger are your best bet.
Other things to think about are whether you want a seat or not and how easy the walker is to fold up and store when not in use. If you plan to travel with your walker, it should be easy to pack and fold and unfold as needed. Likewise, if you plan to use your walker on a daily basis, a seat for resting is nice to have.
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