I hope I won't need a knee walker, but this innovative medical gadget looks like something that is going to be very helpful. I've seen my husband (and his siblings) suffer from gout and arthritis. They really have a hard time going around when they have gout because of the pain in their ankle or feet. I read that this knee walker is better than the traditional crutch, walker or wheelchair. It is more flexible in helping people who need a mobility aid to move around better.
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| Image by Dave and Margie Hill from Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 |
Knee Walkers are also called "knee scooters." It's a medical equipment that has become well-known on the market now. In fact, there are thousands of knee walkers bought or leased every day and for a very great reason -- they work.
However, with so many knee walker types readily available on the market today you may be confused. How do I select the best knee walker for myself or a loved one? If you want to know about knee walker rentals, you could check out
Knee Walker Central. But first read on to know more information about knee walkers.
What is a knee walker?
A knee walker or knee scooter is a medical equipment designed as a crutch substitute. Most conventional knee walkers on the market now come with four wheels although a few manufacturers do create a three-wheel knee walker. Knee Walkers have significantly enhanced the maneuverability, comfort, and security of a particular group of consumer. Many knee walkers are made of aluminum or galvanized steel and have handbrakes. Many can be folded to for easy storage and transporting.
What is the purpose of knee walker?
The main purpose of knee walker is to help treat foot injuries. Your physician may suggest using a knee walker is when recovering from injuries, such as sprained foot, broken foot, ankle, leg, or feet, injury or operation on those or some other region of the leg. However, one thing to remember is that your good leg has to be powerful enough to perform the job required.
A few reasons for utilizing a knee walker are:
- to avoid falling or tripping when using crutches
- to alleviate skin that is sore
- to prevent atrophy by strengthening muscles in the affected leg
- to enhance blood circulation
- to elevate the leg so as to lessen swelling and pain
- to use as a footstool while resting
If you need to get a knee walker, you may like to know the answers to these six questions before you decide to buy one:
1. Where will you be using your knew walker?
If you're active outdoors, you'll require an all-terrain knee scooter. The all-terrain knee walkers have bigger wheels and are frequently inflatable. They're wider and can manage to ride over stones, grass, walking paths and other irregular surfaces. Conventional knee walkers have thinner and smaller wheels. They are acceptable for touring inside and onto paved surfaces. Traditional knee scooters are more vulnerable to lean over when there are riding rocks or cracks in the sidewalk.
2. Is a steerable knee walker better?
A steerable knee walker can make it much easier to get around, particularly inside. You may slip off the knee walker if you do not have the proper control over it. On the other hand, the non-steerable models offer better stability when working outdoors. With steerable knee walkers, each bump you hit can make it marginally jerk. That is less of a problem with all-terrain versions. You only have to be extra cautious using a steerable knee walker if using it outside and make sure you hold on tight with both hands!
3. Do you need to transport your knee walker?
You'll probably be transporting the knee walker in your automobile. Most knee walkers are approximately 20 pounds. Additionally, think about one that folds up. This can make it much easier to transfer and store.
4. Does it have brakes?
Disc brakes are inclined to function best to slow down the knee glider down. The parking brake is essential once you're getting on and off it. The parking brake stabilizes the knee walker. Never forget to place the parking brake when getting off and on, so the walker doesn't slide from underneath you!
5. Is it equipped with a flexible knee pad and steering column?
You may want to make sure that the knee walker you purchase has a flexible knee pad and steering column. Depending on your height, if it's too high or low to the floor, it can be quite embarrassing to look at and can result in placing too much strain in your "bad leg". It can be bad if an excessive amount of strain in your "good leg" to push with. The capacity to adjust the knee walker to fit your requirements is a significant advantage.
6. How much does it cost?
Check the purchase price of knee walkers on Amazon initially! You could save a more when purchasing online compared to a neighborhood store or catalog from the physician's office. Those rates are usually inflated. As always, shop around to ensure that you are receiving the best bargain!
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