Many people have faced problems in their lives that have limited their physical abilities. Due to various injuries and diseases, many inhabitants are forced to deal with the complicated process of movement. In order to make their everyday life easier, there are practical devices. A walking walker for the disabled is one of them.
Why you should pay attention to walking walkers
Not every person who has had to deal with a disability in his life has the opportunity to purchase a high-quality comfortable stroller that allows you to move relatively quickly and comfortably. For this reason, many citizens with disabilities are forced to spend more time within the four walls than they would like.
Walking walkers for the disabled can significantly change such a difficult situation. They are significantly more affordable than a good stroller, but still provide a stable ride.
Design Features
Walkers are a medical device that was created as a simple and convenient support during movement. The classic design is presented inframe made of hollow aluminum tubes and special handles that help to comfortably lean on the frame while maintaining stability.
Walkers, as a rule, have adjustments that allow you to change the height of the handles depending on the height of the owner. It is worth noting the fact that their design is very light and comfortable - it is extremely difficult to fall, leaning on a walker, even with significantly weakened leg muscles. Rubber pads on the legs of the walkers also contribute to reliable fixation of the position, thanks to which the effect of sliding during movement is neutralized. Modern walking walkers are foldable in most cases.
Comfort while driving
The steps of a person carried out with the help of a walker are very reminiscent of walking on crutches. The owner focuses on specially equipped comfortable handles and moves a step forward. For the next step, the walker needs to be moved forward, which, thanks to their light weight, is not difficult to do. Thanks to the very stable legs (there are four of them), a person can afford to stop at any time and take a break from movement.
How to choose the right walker for the disabled
In order to make it convenient for a particular owner to use a walker, it is necessary to correctly determine which model is best for the rest.
Despite the fact that the handles are adjustable for vertical reach, you must initially correctly determine the actual height of the structure. It is worth remembering that there are conventional models (designed for people up to 100 kg) andreinforced, which must be chosen by those whose weight fluctuates around the 120 kg mark. For those who have a problem with weak legs, it is better to choose a walking walker for the disabled or with wheels on the front legs.
There are also universal designs that combine the principle of stationary and walking walkers. Duplex is ideal for those people who have difficulty getting out of bed. This model will provide them with two levels of horizontal support.
Walking walker features
If everything is clear with one-piece models equipped with ordinary legs or wheels, then the value of walkers marked "walking" is not obvious to everyone. The bottom line is that, unlike the standard design, such walkers allow you to rearrange the right and left parts of the frame alternately. We can say that in this case the principle of ordinary steps is used. In the standard version, the body is moved forward in its entirety. Thus, walking walkers for the disabled are much more convenient than the basic models.
Attention should also be paid to the handles. For example, the porous coating material is simply indispensable for those who suffer from coronary diseases or have profuse sweating.
Walking walkers for the disabled with underarm support
This type of construction deserves special attention, as it differs significantly from other models. The main advantage of such walkers is the creation of additional support and a significant simplification of the movement of people with diseases or injuries of the lower extremities. They are made of an aluminum profile (usually 25 mm) and coated with a polymer layer, which is created using color anodizing or powder coating. For movement, the principle of walking walkers is used here.
To adjust the height of the legs, in most cases, they are equipped with push-button latches, by pressing which you can make the necessary settings. After everything is adjusted, you need to make sure that all the buttons come out of the hole, and the structure is securely fixed again.
Directly, the axillary supports themselves are adjusted using a clamp, removing which, you can easily move the racks up or down by the desired amount of mm. Walkers for the disabled, with underarm supports, include adjustments in the racks and in width. The supports themselves are equipped with soft covers, eliminating uncomfortable pressure on the armpits. In many models, the covers are filled with holofiber and covered with high quality vinyl leather. As a rule, such walkers fold easily by unlocking the latch on the top bar.
Which walker is better to choose: folding or solid
Non-folding models differ in that they consist of a single frame. They are the most suitable option both for people of age who need reliable support during movement, and for patients who are in rehabilitation. In addition, such walkers serve their owner longer, because due to the monolithic design they have a high level of strength. Thus, they are not only convenient, but also profitable.
As for folding walkers, their modifications can differ significantly: walking, universal, articulated and with wheels. Foldable models are great for frequent commuters as they can be easily stowed in the interior or trunk of a car.
In what situations is the use of walking walkers relevant
This device was originally designed for people with disabilities who have limited mobility.
But if you study walking walkers for the disabled (the photo clearly shows the design features), we can conclude that they are needed for the movement of the following groups of people:
- who have undergone prolonged illness, as a result of which they are forced to observe bed rest;
- in the postoperative period;
- those who are in the rehabilitation period after receiving injuries of various types and severity.
Walkers for the disabled walking for children are relevant to the same extent as in the case of adults. If a child is injured or has congenital abnormalities, then it is walkers, which are much more convenient and practical than crutches, that will help him to move steadily. A walking model will allow you to make movements with a minimum of effort. For children, various manufacturers develop special models that the child can easily use.
Walkers of this type (they are also rehabilitation) are convenient for activeuse in both medical facilities and at home.
Advantages and disadvantages of baby walkers
Many mothers are quite positive about the use of various devices designed to facilitate their care of the child. Therefore, baby walkers can be seen in many homes. And if the need to purchase special models for children with disabilities is obvious, then in situations where there are no diseases, the use of this device is questionable.
If we analyze the effect of conventional walkers on the children's body, we can distinguish the following positive factors:
- the child is able to receive a significant amount of information from what he saw during active movement around the house;
- children stand, turn and move, thereby strengthening the lower torso;
- the presence of a certain freedom in active time.
But experts also highlight the negative impact of the constant use of baby walkers:
- studies have confirmed the fact that babies who learn to move without a walker have more intensive mental development;
- having got used to the movement in a walker, the child ceases to feel the space and does not slow down in front of obstacles. Subsequently, this may lead to injury;
- those children who are accustomed to using walkers begin to crawl and walk on their own later than the others.
Can wheelchair walkers cause harm
Many relatives, including the patients themselves,are interested in the possible negative impact of walkers. Such concern is understandable: during recovery after an injury, the body should not experience unnecessary stress, and even less beneficial effects that can bring new he alth problems. Of course, such consequences are undesirable for the disabled and people of age.
In order to dispel such doubts, it is worth paying attention to the fact that doctors understand how important it is for physically limited and injured people to use additional support while driving. Walkers, walking in particular, were developed by professionals who took into account all the needs of the disabled and calculated any load, excluding unwanted ones. The result is a high-quality product that helps facilitate coordination of movements, gives the patient additional confidence during movement (an important psychological factor) and relieves stress on the legs.
Thus, you should not be afraid of the negative impact of walkers, including on the body of injured children. The main thing is to choose the right model (type of construction, materials). Here, it is imperative to use the help of specialists who can accurately take into account all the individual characteristics of the condition of a particular owner (height, weight, place of residence, etc.) and select the most optimal option. It is also worth getting advice on the correct operation of the additional support. Walkers for the disabled will last much longer andwill not cause side effects if you follow the recommendations of specialists.
