Enaa Mari
Here is our guide on walkers for seniors:
Types Of Walkers:
Standard, wheeled and Rollators are the most common types.
Standard Walkers
A standard walker is the most common type and is usually seen in healthcare or rehabilitation settings. Most of the time, it’s made of silver metal with grey clutches on each side. The standard walker doesn’t have wheels, so each step requires picking it up and moving it forward. Because of this, this kind of walker usually needs more energy. A Canadian study that compared standard walkers to rollators found that people who used standard walkers had to use more energy and couldn’t walk farther than those who used rollators.
Wheeled Walkers
A standard walker of wheels is called a wheeled walker or a rolling walker. Some wheeled walkers have only two wheels in front, while others have four. Rolling walkers with two wheels often have walker slides or two tennis balls at the bottom of the rear legs to help the walker easily move. Most wheels on a moving walker only go forward or backwards, and the front wheels can’t go in either direction. If the person using the walker needs to move to the side or move about, the walker should be lifted.
Rollators
These are walkers that can have either 3 or 4 wheels. Some rollators have wheels that roll in all directions, making it easy for the user to turn around and move to the side without raising the machine. Rollators can be made with seats, which is a big help for people who get tired easily. Some people choose rollators over roller walkers because rollators come in more colours and styles and are less likely to be seen as a sign of weakness.
Changes to a Walker
People with other health problems who want to use walkers for seniors can get changes made to them. For example, a person who has had a stroke may need extra help to stand up straight or use a walker because they are weak or because their hands and arms are weak. In this case, some panels can be connected to the wheeler to sustain the arms and elbows to help keep the body straight. If you need help finding the best walker modification, a physical therapist can help.
How to Find a Good Walker?
Before choosing a walker, it’s best to think about what you want and need. Will you only need the walker for a short time? Are you suffering from other health problems, like being tired, besides having trouble walking? Do your hands or your upper body feel weak? All these things can help you decide if you need a normal walker or one with wheels and if you need a wheeled walker or maybe a rollator.
Height
Most walkers let you change the height. Galmarini says that the best height for a walker is the same as the distance from the user’s wrist to the floor when the consumer stands between the two hind legs of a walker. When the hand grips are flush with the user’s wrists, the arms can move naturally. This keeps the wrists, chest, and back from getting strained. Most walkers can be customized to accommodate people between 5 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall. There are also small and tall-sized walkers for people who aren’t in that height range. For people who need a wider walker, there are bariatric walkers.
Weight
Walkers differ in weight, too, though. In general, a standard walker is lighter than a rollator. When the walker is being used on its own, for purposes such as getting into and out of cars or moving the walker over obstructions or steps, the mass becomes a factor. It’s essential that the walker may be used securely and won’t cause falls.
