Jul 10

Rollators are a kind of wheeled walker with brakes, which is designed to hold upper-body weight and assist people with walking limitations to enjoy greater mobility and shun fatigue.

Different from traditional medical walkers, which need to be raised with each step, a rollator glides easily across flat indoor and outdoor surfaces, and may be customized with a multitude of options, which allow for ease and convenience.

If you are thinking of buying one, speak with your therapist first and ask for some advice on models and components that best accommodate your lifestyle, needs, and size.

The following are some factors you need to consider when purchasing a rollator:

Brake System
Your brakes need to be easy to reach and aptly responsive for safety.

Cable brakes are like the ones used on bicycles. The user squeezes the breaks with both hands and the wheels instantly stop. There are also one-handed cable brake systems for people who only have strengh in one hand.

Slow down brakes can be useful when the user finds that the walker is rolling too fast for them to control it.

Park brakes are essential when the rollator has a seat and you need to sit down.  It will stop the rollator or walker from moving and reduce the incidence of falls.

Frame Type
There are frames built with either steel or aluminium. Steel frames are stronger and heavier than aluminium, and is designed to sustain greater body weight. However, aluminium frames are lighter and easier to push for those weighing less than 100 kgs or 15 stones.

Handle Adjustment
Opt for a model that allows you to adjust the handles to a suitable height for your size. A number of designs permit a greater range of adjustment than others allow, so be sure to test it before buying to make sure that you feel the comfort and the proper fit.

Number and Size of Wheels
A rollator can be either three-wheeled or four-wheeled. Three-wheeled models are easier to maneuver around corners and in tight spaces. Nevertheless, four wheels are more stable.

Wheel size is one more concern. If you are inclined to spend a lot of time outdoors and on uneven surfaces, decide on a model with larger wheels. Small wheels are designed for indoor use and flat surfaces.

In addition to a variety of fashionable designs and colors, you can setup your wheeled walker with other accessories including baskets, a soft seat, cane holder, cup holder, basket bags, oxygen tank holder, back rests, and other features.

DoAbility UK offers the widest range of the latest and most affordable rollators that will suit your every need.

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.

Jun 19

This walking frame for kids, which is made available by DoAbility UK is 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 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 kids, visit DoAbility UK today.

Aug 29

Many people thinking about purchasing a walking aid mobility, think that walkers and rollators are the same thing, but actually they are two very different kinds of walking aids. Both use different means, even though their purpose, to aid in mobility issues with walking, is the same. This article will discuss what factors you should consider when deciding whether to purchase an adult walker or a rollator.

Adult Walker

Aluminum supports are used for building adult walkers. The main drawback is that as you walk with it, you have to lift it, move it forward, and then place it back down for it to function correctly. While it would appear to not move as smoothly as a rollator, consider that many models have wheels to make it move more like one. When compared side-by-side with a rollator, the walker gives better support and is less expensive, but does not move as smoothly.

Models

Adult walkers are available with wheels or without. With the wheel type, you get small ‘caster’ wheels at the bottom, and it makes the walker slide when the user operates it, making it ride more easily.

Bariatric

For folks whose weight is above the norm, Bariatric Products has a line of products built especially for them. Walkers normally won’t hold more than 250-350 lbs. Bariatric walkers are suitable for those who weigh too much for the standard walker. It’s bigger and can hold more weight, often up to 600 pounds.

Specialty

There are even specialty walkers available today. For those people who have difficulty walking with a regular walker, these are walkers that have posterior safety rollers and anterior rollers. The rollers are designed with the specific purpose of helping people with ailments or diseases that affect their ability to walk. These walkers aid in helping the walker maintain strong balance and keeps them walking in straight lines.

Rollator Types

A rollator is very much like a standard walker but it has the accessories that a regular walker does not have that can be useful in everyday living. The main thing to remember is that a rollator is easier to use than a walker. People using a rollator are able to slide along on the ground with a minimum of effort, since the device is ergonomically engineered to make the activity of walking easier. Furthermore, Rollators are available in a variety of fashionable colors.

3 Wheel Rollators

These are somewhat small in size and are better suited for moving in a tight space. In the opinion of some individuals, compared to 4 wheel rollators the 3 wheel variety looks better and appears more stylish. Personal items can be carried in a small pouch attached to front.

4 Wheel Rollators

The four wheel rollator is a larger model and as its name implies there are four wheels which allows for a more stable drive. The four wheel walker is particularly desirable in environments where extra stability would be beneficial, such as a rural area, farm, or an area with extensive grass and dirt. The rollator with 4 wheels usually has an attached seat as well as a basket, which gives you more carrying space.

Light Weight

If it is important to you how much something weighs, and you need to move it physically over a long distance, you might consider purchasing a ‘light weight’ rollator.  To reduce the weight, manufacturers use light weight steel alloys and miniaturize the parts of a rollator. A nice thing about these rollators is that they are 25% to 60% lighter than the competition. It is a fact that the lighter the load, the effort less effort you have to exert to move it or carry it. If you need a small and portable walker, or have trouble carrying much weight and get tired easily, then you should definitely consider a ‘light-weight’ rollator.

Bariatric

There are also bariatric varieties of the rollator. Just as is the case with the walker, bariatric rollators are more comfortable for those who weigh over 300 lbs.

Walker or Rollator: You Decide

When purchasing a walking aid it really is a matter of personal choice. If the Adult Walker suits your needs, then go for it. Adult Walkers are less expensive than rollators, and the wheeled model makes movement that much smoother. On the other hand, the rollator is the best option for you if you tire easily or have problems with strength.  It may also be the best choice if you want a walking aid that is stylish, if you need to carry many items at once, or if you want sit down and rest whenever and wherever you please. If you simply want the smoothest rolling walking aid, choose a rollator.