Aug 21

You probably needed and used a walking device when you were still a toddler. As a toddler, you were then starting to condition your legs and feet for walking. Back then, you know that such simple machines are called baby walkers. Fast-forward to the present. You may be feeling a little discomfort or disability walking. For old people, walking disability entails the use of a piece of equipment known as the rollator.

There is a growing number or rollator brands out in the market. Worldwide, numerous rollator products are constantly and regularly rolled out and launched. There would not be much hassle finding and purchasing the best rollator brands. The prices are also made more competitive.

Nowadays, the rollator products that are out in the market are also made more efficient and more luring. People with walking disabilities are now provided with better and wider choices to secure such walking devices. It would be helpful to know more about rollators before scouting across the market for such products.

What is a Rollator?

Rollators are a simple device or equipment that is used to aid or assist people with a walking disability. Whether the person is having a hard time walking due to old age, due to physical problems, or due to medical conditions and ailments, rollator products are there to provide the much-needed assistance.

While you were a toddler, as mentioned, you probably have used walkers that served as guides as you learned and conditioned your legs and feet for the basic activity called walking. During old age or after suffering from several medical and special conditions, you may be left as helpless as a toddler because you are not able to move your legs to facilitate instant and effective mobility.

Thus, to simplify the definition, a rollator is a machine or equipment that is used to serve as a guide as a user mobilizes on his or her own. Every rollator comes with small wheels, about three or four, to help the equipment move around more smoothly and more effectively.

How to Use a Rollator?

There is no question over the simplicity at how the rollator is used. When the simple equipment was invented and initially distributed in Sweden during the 1980s, not much people pad attention. However, as a number of walking disabled testifies for the usefulness and advantages of the rollator, the need, demand, and actual sales of the equipment rapidly accelerated.

To be able to use a rollator, you would need to stand up in front of it. You would then logically secure your grip at the given and logical handles. Then you would push the rollator forward like you do in a cart. Doing so would facilitate a forward movement. To be able to do the otherwise, or a backward movement, you need to pull the rollator. To turn around, just change the direction by navigating to your desired direction.

At one glance, a rollator somehow resembles a simple cart. However, different from cart usage, when using a rollator, you would need to exert effort to center your weight to the rollator. Doing this would enable greater mobility.

Buying a Rollator

It is advisable that people with walking disorders use a rollator. People who still have technical hopes to walking again are advised to take a rollator instead of buying a wheelchair. That is because the rollator is considered a guide that would help anyone re-learn the activity of walking.

To buy a rollator, it would be imperative to look at and shop around an equipment manufacturer. There are special and specific rollator manufacturers that are out in the market. To be able to buy the best and most reliable rollator products, you would need to patronize those that are rolled out and distributed by the trusted brands.

There are of course online transactions for rollator purchases. To be able to do so, it would be advisable if you would log on to your trusted and relied on Internet-based shopping or auctioneering site. Click on and checkout the brochures for rollator products and make your order instantly using several clicks of the mouse.

There are different rollator products in the market. To be able to attract more buyers and users, the general manufacturers of such products modify the designs of their rollator product lines. Thus, there are rollators that also come up with special seats and backrests that could be used if ever the user suddenly gets tired and wants to take an abrupt rest.

Aug 21

Wheelchair cushions increases comfort while it provides exceptional pressure management.

When we sit, only one third of the body’s surface is supporting all of its weight, and blood flow is restricted. In the presence of muscle atrophy, which is experienced most especially by most people with spinal cord injuries, circulation is limited further by the loss of muscle that once served as a sort of natural cushion. An additional risk of sitting is shear force, as we tend to slide forward in the cushion, causing stress across the surface of the skin. These situations could result to pressure sores, which can be very serious, leading to hospitalization, surgery, and in rare occasions, death. The right cushion is a primary tool for maintaining the health of your skin.

Wheelchair cushions can often significantly improve a wheelchair user’s posture, as well as give support and pressure relief to prevent further medical problems such as pressure sores.

Materials used for wheelchair cushions have come a long way. You now have several choices based on your individual needs. Cushions protect skin from damage that can lead to pressure ulcers, and they affect many functional activities such as reaching, transfers, and wheelchair propulsion.

Many researchers and clinicians who have studied cushions have developed a common conclusion:No one cushion is best for all people. Because so many cushions are available commercially,wheelchair users should be able to find one that adequately meets their needs.

The Cushion Ellips by Swereco is a seat cushion moulded in cold and stiff foam that has unsurpassed comfort and support. The cold foam core gives stability and the stiff foam has a pressure-distributing effect. The leg divider and the slightly marked seat hollow give a stable seat surface for the best possible pressure distribution. The leg divider is equipped with air channels on the upper side to facilitate air circulation. It improves seating safety by preventing slipping. It also helps maintain an upright sitting position.

Cushion Ellips comes in various sizes and are available at DoAbility UK.

To know more about it, please check out the video below.

Jul 16

Walking sticks have always been used by the blind and the elderly for mobility assistance. Nowadays, due to the development of modern technologies, many different types of equipment, such as rollators, have been available to assist the blind and the elderly. Nevertheless, walking sticks remain to be the simplest, cheapest, and easiest mobility tool to use.

Unlike crutches, canes are only intended for balance, not as a support to the user’s full weight. Use discretion and common sense in the use of canes, which are very thin, or have a dual use or feature. For instance, for a sore ankle, use a support cane, not a sword cane. To get the most out of your walking stick or cane, you need to use one, which is the appropriate size for you.

There are two simple ways to determine the right walking stick size.

The first one is to measure the user. When having someone measure your cane size for you, put on your walking shoes. Note that different heel heights of varying shoes may change your size. Stand naturally upright. Let your arms fall to the sides in a relaxed manner. You will need the measurement between your wrist down to the floor.

Another way is to divide your height by two, and convert it to inches. However, measuring the distance between your wrist and the floor is much more accurate.

For a wide range of superb walking sticks, visit DoAbility UK today.

Jun 6

DoAbility UK offers walking frames for children that are made of steel tubes, lacquered with a blue and red strong powder coating. It is furnished with four wheels and a removable sling seat. The sling seat is furnished with Velcro closings on both sides, which makes it easier to adjust the size. The sling seat is pinned on the waist ring by strong push buttons.

Suitable for both mobility and physical therapy purposes, the walker is extremely flexible and adapts to the individual needs of most children, with its multiple adjustments and posture support.

With its standard features alone, it will easily support a child with mild to moderate physical disabilities.

It is designed to make walking less energy consuming, while improving rhythm and timing.

Nevertheless, it is very important to have the frame at the correct height. If it is too high, your child will find it difficult to straighten out their elbows sufficiently and will not take enough body weight through their arms. If the frame is too low, it will encourage your child to bend over, resulting to poor posture.

The most effective way of ensuring the frame is at the correct height is for your child to wear their regular, supportive footwear and be measured by their physiotherapist.

Regular maintenance of walking frames is essential to ensure safety. Checks should be made for signs of wear and tear, particularly at the site of screws and height adjustment mechanisms.

For the best information on the latest walking frames for children, visit DoAbility UK today.

Jan 30

WHY CHOOSE A FOLDABLE ROLLATOR?
It is very useful if the rollator can fold so that it does not take up unnecessary space. You can put it in the back of your car or on public transport. The walking aid should help you get out and about or around the home as easily as possible.

Additionally, a walker that does not stand up when folded means that it will need to be picked up off the floor and unfolded. If you are already having difficulties walking, then this might make you more prone to falling over when you are trying to pick the rollator up and unfold it. Therefore, it is vital that you get a rollator that can stand up on its own even when folded.

ARE THEY ADJUSTABLE?
Yes. Since people come in different shapes and sizes, it is important that you get a walker, which will fit your size and height. Some walkers are very adjustable. The handles and seat can be adjusted to suit your height. This feature is to ensure that you can sit on the seat properly, comfortably, and safely.

FOUR-WHEEL VS. THREE-WHEEL ROLLATORS
Four-wheel rollators are generally more stable than three-wheel rollators for the same reason that you do not see many three-wheel cars around. They are a little more prone to tipping over than a four-wheel option.

LIGHT VS. HEAVY ROLLATORS
Weight can be an important factor for the ease of use particularly when the user is weak. A heavy walker will make it more difficult to move around, also making it harder to put into the back of a car, onto public transport, up a curb, or just over a bump.

LARGE WHEELS VS. SMALL WHEELS
The size of the wheels will determine to some degree how smooth the rollator is when going over an uneven surface. Larger wheels will be smoother because it will not fall into smaller holes as easily as larger wheels. You could expect a more rough/bumpy experience from a rollator with small wheels.

IMPORTANCE OF A ROLLATOR SEAT
A walking aid with a seat is useful if you have difficulty walking any distance. It allows you to stop as soon as you get tired to take a rest. This is important if you are feeling weak and need to stop quickly to catch your breath.

ARE THE BRAKES EASY TO APPLY?
Yes. If you have weak hands then the brakes need to be comfortable and easy to apply. The park brake is essential to hold the walking aid steady and stopping it from rolling away when you try to sit down, assuming that the walker has a seat. If you try to sit down with no parking brake on, then the walking aid may roll away and you could find yourself flat on your back.

CAN YOU CARRY THINGS ON YOUR ROLLATOR?
Yes. Being able to carry walking sticks, canes, drinks, oxygen cylinders, meal trays, baskets/ bags is useful when going outside or for use in the home. Some walkers come equipped with a range of accessories which will enable you to carry essential equipment you need for getting around safely.

Trying to personally modify the walker with your own equipment can be dangerous and make the walking aid unstable. If accessories are available, then these would be tested to ensure the safety of the walker is not compromised.

HAS THE ROLLATOR BEEN TESTED? IS IT SAFE?
Walkers should be developed in accordance with the applicable standard for walking aids, the most common standard being ISO 11199-2. Make sure that your rollator has passed these standards.

WHAT IS THE WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE ROLLATOR?
It is important that the rollator is able to hold your weight should you be sitting on it. Bariatric walkers will be more suitable for heavier users because they will have a higher weight capacity, but also because the handles will be further apart. However, if the handles are further apart, you will need to check that the rollator will fit through normal doors.

DOES THE ROLLATOR HAVE WARRANTY?
It is worth checking the warranty to make sure you can return it if there are any problems.

CAN YOU GET SPARE PARTS EASILY?
Parts may sometimes break or are faulty. It is worth checking how easy it is to get spare parts so you do not have to purchase a new rollator to fix a minor problem.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ADVICE?
The Disabled Living Foundation has a website which offer probably the most up to date and comprehensive list of products (see Living Made Easy). They aim to provide a similar service to Assist UK, a charity supported by professional therapists who provide free impartial advice to people looking for disability equipment in the UK.

Ricability is also a useful charity devoted to consumer testing products for older people and people with disabilities who are about to publish a guide on walking aids.

Enabled by Design is also a very good resource. They are a community of people passionate about well designed everyday products and provide independent reviews by their community members on the products they have tested.

From my experience, retailers need to be treated with some degree of caution. There are some very good retailers who are there to serve their customers’ needs. Still, there are others who are more interested in supplying the products which give them the highest mark up or they may be committed to purchasing particular types of walkers. It is worth doing an internet search to see what other products are available and come in armed with this information to the retailer. The problem is that there are so many products available in the marketplace that it is impossible for the retailers to stock and know about all products that are available, so it is worth doing some research for yourself on which product you think is most suitable for you.

DoAbility UK is the exclusive distributor of Volaris Rollators in the UK and Ireland. They have a extensive line of rollators that would definitely suit your needs.

Dec 10

During the Christmas season a lot of people travel in and out of town to be with their family and friends.
And because of this, I would like to share some air travel tips for those who are using mobility equipment, especially wheelchairs and scooters.

1. Make your airline reservation as far in advance as possible.

2. Inform the reservations agent that you will be traveling with a wheelchair or scooter.

3. Tell them if you need assistance in boarding.

4. If you will be taking a long flight and you are able to use a standard plane restroom but are unable to walk to the restroom, ask that they make an aisle chair (narrow straight back chair with wheels underneath designed to fit an aisle of an airplane and is used to assist passengers that cannot walk) available for you during the flight. Some airplanes have a privacy curtain that includes the aisle that would allow a companion to assist you. Keep in mind, though, that airplane restrooms are quite small.

5. On newer wide-bodied jets, there is one accessible restroom. It is large enough to fit the aisle chair inside, making it possible to transfer to the toilet. These planes generally carry an aisle chair, but it is best to confirm if one will be on board.

6. Always make sure that they have a record of your requests 48 hours prior to departure.

7. Some planes have lift up arm rests on some of the aisles. You can request to be seated there if they are available. It makes transferring easier. Some passengers prefer to request bulkhead seats that have more legroom, but the arm rests on these seats do not lift up.

8. On the day of your departure, arrive early at the airport.

9. Always check your wheelchair or scooter at the boarding gate and request that it be brought back to you at the gate when you arrive.

10. It is suggested that you use gel- or foam-filled batteries (dry cells) in your scooter or power chair. Standard acid-filled batteries or wet cells will be removed by ground crew and packed in special containers for transport.

11. If you use a fold up manual wheelchair, you can request that it be stowed in the on-board coat closet. Usually, there is only room for one wheelchair and the service is available on a first come first serve basis, so you should arrive early to make your request. (Not all planes, though, have a coat closet.)

12. Make sure your name and address is on your equipment and that it has a gate delivery tag if it is being stowed below.

13. If you have to change planes, request that your own equipment be returned for the layover. This not only gives you independence while in the terminal, it reduces the risk of it getting lost or damaged. Since wheelchair users are usually the last to get off the plane, make sure you allow enough time to make your connection. At least an hour, and at big airports at least an hour and a half.

14. Remove seat cushions and any other parts that could easily become separated from the wheelchair. Take these items into the cabin with you. Attach instructions on scooters or power chairs detailing how and where to disconnect the batteries, including instructions for any other disassembly or prep that might be necessary for transport. If you have a large power chair, be aware that on some planes like the MD80’s or Super 80’s the cargo opening is only 26″ high, therefore some disassembly may be required. Having instructions on your equipment are very important because the crew at the other end didn’t see how it came apart.

15. If you need assistance transferring to the plane seat, take responsibility for yourself, and tell the staff how to help you or pick you up. They should be trained, but it is always safer not to assume anything.

16. Before landing, remind the flight attendant that you will need your equipment brought to the gate so they can radio ahead to make the arrangements. This can help speed things up.

17. If you encounter any problems, ask to speak to the “Complaint Resolution Officer” (CRO). Each air carrier is required to have a CRO available by phone or in person at all times. This person is specially trained in dealing with issues of travelers with disabilities.

18. If you are traveling with a scooter or power chair, make sure you arrange for transportation that will be able to accommodate your equipment upon arrival.

19. You may also opt to rent a mobility equipment at your destination. Many theme parks and other attractions that require a lot of walking have scooters or wheelchairs available for lease.

For more mobility equipment information, check out www.doability.co.uk

May 7

A useful guide to ensure that your walking aid is set to the correct height. Also shows how your walking equipment should be used.