A walker is a walking device that helps support and maintain stability while walking for people in the recovery phase of an injury or surgery. In addition, using a walker can increase the metabolism and speed of the patient.
At first, due to social stigma and peer pressure, people may be resistant to using walkers. But, with a positive mindset and excellent physician input, you can move around quickly with these user-friendly walkers.
Types Of Available Walkers
A walker can assist you in getting around with ease if you break a bone in your leg or foot or whatever else the situation is where you risk falling.. There are different types of walkers available in the market for various purposes. A doctor or physical therapist may be able to recommend the correct choice and tell you about the options, including-
1- Standard Walker
A standard walker has four non-skid, rubber-tipped legs. That ensures stability and does not slip across the floor. However, these walkers do not have wheels; and hence you need to pick the walker up to make it move around.
2- Two-wheel Walker
A two-wheel walker is one that has wheels attached on its two front legs. These walkers provide a comfortable walking pattern as they need not be lifted from the ground to walk. This wheel and slider combination makes it easier for the person to move across any floor surface.
3- Three-wheel Walker
A three-wheel walker delivers balance support like a four-wheel walker. It has wheels which provide stability while moving across. Additionally, these walkers are lighter weight and more manoeuvrable.
4- Four-wheel Walker
A four-wheel walker is meant for people who don’t need to/ cannot use the walker to lean on it for balance. They offer stability and mobility to the person and increase their walking speed. It is made of lightweight material to make travelling easier. You can add trays, seats and baskets to it for comfort. These walkers can be folded and used outdoors as a push-down or grip-on brakes feature.
5- Knee Walker
A knee walker is also called a Knee Scooter or Mobility Scooter. It is helpful for people who are recovering from below the knee injury and needs it to be non-weight bearing for the recovery. It also comes with a platform for you to rest your knee on.
Things to Check When Buying a Walker
1- Grip Selection
Walkers more often than not have plastic grips. However, better choices are available now such as foam grips, soft grip covers that provide an excellent hold. This is especially good if you tend to have sweaty hands. You can opt for larger grips if you struggle with gripping the handle due to underlying issues like arthritis, other joint pains or nerve problems in your fingers. Choosing the right kind of grip will prevent unwarranted stress to your joints and help avoid joint deformities.
2- Fitting
It’s essential to ensure that when using a walker, there’s no unnecessary pressure on your back and shoulders. Therefore, adjust the walker height in such a way that your arms fit comfortably on it.
3- Elbow bend
While using the walker, your elbows should be able to comfortably bend at a relaxing angle of around 15 degrees. Keep your shoulders relaxed and place your hands on the grips.
For all your mobility and orthopaedic solutions, visit Vissco Next.
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