3 Different Types of Walker For Your Parents

Introduction

Walkers provide significantly more assistance. Patients are usually given walkers to help them maintain their balance while walking. If the right kind of walker is prescribed and patients are instructed on how to use it properly, walkers can lower the chance of falling. They can, however, increase the likelihood of a fall if they are used inappropriately.

1. Standard Walker

Because it does not have wheels, the standard walker is the most stable sort of walker. It's designed for users who need to carry a lot of weight on their gadgets. In older patients who are unable to utilize a rolling walker or walk with a cane, standard walkers are used. For best stability when using this walker, the patient should place all four legs of the walker on the ground before taking a stride forward.

Apart from its stability, the standard walker has the benefit of being easy to fold and transport.

Disadvantages of Standard Walker:

• It shortens the patient’s walk;
• It must be hoisted with each step;
• It slows the patient; and
• Patients can fall when lifting the walker.
• Patients who no longer use this sort of walker usually say they stopped because they were bored of lifting it up with each stride.

2. Two-Wheeled (Rolling) Walker

Rolling walkers have two front wheels and two backsliders. They're used by patients who have gait instability but don't need the device to support a lot of weight.

Rolling walkers have several advantages over standard walkers, including the potential to allow for a more natural walking pattern because they are not raised off the ground with each stride. The wheel-and-slider combination also makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of surfaces.

They can also be collapsed as easy as a standard walker.

Disadvantages of Two-Wheeled Walker

• It is less stable
• It takes more cognition
• The front wheels are stationary (i.e., they do not spin), resulting in a large turning arc. Because of the broad turning arc, many patients will pick up their walker during the turning procedure, perhaps resulting in a fall. When using a rolling walker, make many little spins until the patient and the equipment are facing the same direction.

3. Four-Wheeled Walker

Four completely revolving wheels, brakes, a seat, and, in certain cases, a basket are all included in the Rollator. It's designed for those who just need a walker for balance, not for weight-bearing. It's easier to maneuver than a rolling walker. It's also easier to maneuver around corners and doesn't always necessitate lifting. The seat is excellent for people who need to rest due to illness (e.g., heart failure or COPD). The basket allows you to carry goods without having to use your hands.

Most of these advantages could also be disadvantages. Because the Rollator is easy to propel, it has the potential to roll away from a patient. To avoid falling, the patient must have strong abdominal muscles to navigate easily.

Furthermore, the walker's brakes do not always stop him. Instead, when the brakes are applied, the rollator becomes a rolling walker, slowing the patient but not stopping him or her from running away. It is not the ideal solution if the patient relies on the brakes to stop when using this walker.

Conclusion

Finally, patients may fall when attempting to use the seat. Sitting on a Rollator properly requires leaning the walker against a solid surface, engaging the permanent brakes, and then sitting down. This walker's seat should never be used to transport patients because it puts them at risk of a serious fall and possible brain injury. When collapsed, this walker is not particularly compact. It is thus more difficult to transport than other walkers. So, if you're looking for the best walker glides for outdoor use, get in touch with PensionsWeek.