The perfect rollator for flexibility and independence

A first-class invention is the rollator. The mobile walking aid enables people who otherwise had to accept many restrictions to take an active part in life again. The rollators are also called walkers. Persons with uncertain walking conditions can rely on the rollators. With them they can finally leave domesticity without outside help. With the mobile assistants, a trip to the park or shopping is fun again.

Development of rollators

Already in the 15th century there were racks which looked similar to rollators. They were walking aids for kids. The frame was built with rollers and the children could lean on it. The assistants gained a completely new meaning during the First World War. The handicapped were thus given the opportunity to become more agile again. The exact appearance of these rollators was shown in an illustration published in the survey by Heinrich Jakob Bechhold in 1916. In Germany it has been possible for people with walking disabilities to use the rollator since the 1990s.

Areas of application for rollators

The greatest fear of older or physically disabled people is dependence on others. Within the living space this concern is not so superficial. But when you have to leave home, it often gets difficult. Exactly the right time for the use of a rollator.

Rollators are usually purchased for the following reasons:

Reduction of the strength in the legs
Reconvalescence after surgery (spine, knee, hip)
apoplexy
Claudicatio intermittens – Shop window disease
COPD – chronic lung diseases

Patients who suffer from one of these diseases or others remain relatively independent and mobile through the walkers. It’s not just the safe way out of your own 4 walls, but at the same time allows a relatively simple transport of purchases.

As soon as it is noticed that a short rest is needed, the seat can be used for this purpose. The own weight is evenly distributed with rollators, if it is correctly adjusted. This circumstance also benefits patients who get dizzy from time to time.

Types of rollators

Because of the many people who have recognized the advantages of rollators, various species have been designed. They are to be presented with their advantages at a glance.

Standard Rollator
lightweight rollator
Rollators foldable and foldable
Rollators for shopping and the like
Indoor Rollators
Outdoor Rollators
Special rollators

Until now, classic rollators were most frequently found on the roads. The production is very robust and simple. They are made of aluminium tubes or steel tubes. Also the equipment is very simple. It usually includes a cane holder and a shopping basket.

Unfortunately, however, the low-cost rollators have many disadvantages. It begins with the fact that they are usually not collapsible. This is followed by the high own weight of on average more than 10 kg.

The innovative development has dealt with these problems and designed the lightweight rollators.

With the lightweight rollators not only shopping but also other extensive activities are easier to manage. Special steel or aluminium tubes are used for production. Although the dead weight is drastically reduced, stability and strength remain unaffected. It is also important that such rollators are foldable and therefore easy to transport.

The choice of such a rollator begins with relatively simple models and ends with very complex representatives.

Much easier to move with these rollators over a longer distance. Usually the weight is around 7 kg, which has a positive effect when overcoming obstacles such as kerbs and the like.

The specification of the rollators now reaches the foldable models. Especially very active but walking disabled people choose this type of walker. It is usually drivers who find it difficult to run over longer distances. With the foldable and foldable rollators this is no longer a problem. The rollator is quickly stowed away in the vehicle and you are ready to go.

The purchase rollators are of particular importance. The manufacturers have ensured that the rollator has a low dead weight and that the shopping bags are easily accessible. The wheels of these rollators are not too small. They are characterised by a comfortable seat. Mobility and independence are increased by the fact that easy manoeuvring with rollators is possible.

When choosing rollators, it should be noted that the indoor rollators have been designed to be suitable only for free and safe movement in the home. Therefore the wheels of such rollators are relatively small. They are usually offered with a tray. This results in a parking area. Rollators can also be used as mobile tables.

The construction of outdoor rollators is completely different. They are intended for outdoor excursions on less level terrain. Therefore the wheels are relatively wide. The liberation itself can be described as puncture-proof.

Special rollators are designed for people with a high body weight, a higher body height, children and patients who have suffered a stroke. These rollators can be selected according to the special requirements listed above.

Manufacturer of

walkers

Four renowned manufacturers with one product each are briefly presented below.

drive medical

Drive Medical is based in Isny in the Allgäu region. Initially, auxiliaries were manufactured for the sanitary sector, but the product portfolio was consistently expanded in a customer-oriented manner,

The Drive Medical Standard Rollator Cristallo is ideal for the daily excursions of handicapped people. It is characterized by its safety and easy handling. It can be loaded up to a maximum of approx. 130 kg plus 5 kg for basket, tray, etc.

invacare

The history of Invacare goes back to the year 1885. In Ohio, USA, the company began manufacturing wheelchairs for physically disabled people.

The Invacare Banjo Rollator is a good example of a lower price range rollator that meets all the needs of the needy person. The rollator can be loaded up to a weight of approx. 130 kg. The puncture-proof tyres on the standard model are impressive. Furthermore, the Banjo Rollator was manufactured with many things in mind, which serve both the safety and the comfort of the users of such a rollator.

TORPO

The first subsidiary, TORPO GmbH, was founded near Munich in 2010. Their product range includes ramp systems, walkers, rollators and more.

A high-quality product with a rating of 2.0 is the TORPO Troja Classic Rollator. It has been part of the range for over 12 years. Stiftung Warentest declared him the test winner in 2005.

The dead weight of these rollators is only about 6.7 kg. This model can be used by persons with a body weight of up to 165 kg.

RUSSKA

RUSSKA was opened in Hanover by Ludwig Bertram in 1874. Constantly The range of products and services has been expanded to meet the requirements of process-oriented standards such as DIN, EN and so on.

Who decides for Rollatoren of this manufacturer, does not have to do without security or comfort. However, these are rollators in the upper price segment. One representative is the RUSSKA Rollator Vital plus, which can withstand loads of up to 150 kg.

Correct use of rollators

Once the decision has been made as to which of the rollators is the most suitable, correct handling is important. This is the only way to make it a real and safe walking aid for the user.

It’s wrong to go behind the rollator. The distance to the handles of the walking aid is too large to be able to support yourself properly if you stumble.
The correct adjustment of the height of a walking aid is important. There is a rule of thumb which can be applied. If the future user stands between the two handles of the rollator, he should let the arms hang down. The handles are then fixed about 4 – 5 cm above the wrist.

It should be noted that the purchase of rollators in specialist shops should always be made with the body in a vertical position. Before running begins, it can be checked that the ankles of the feet are at the same level as the rear wheels.

Tip:

The rollator should not be pushed too far forward. This would increase the risk of falling.

Important note:

The brakes must be applied before using the seat.

Maintenance of rollators

As with any vehicle, an operational safety check should be carried out before each use. Under no circumstances should the locking of the handles and the locking parts of the frame be checked. A visual check of the tyre pressure should be included in the check.
The status of the Check the tyres and the correct air pressure. Furthermore a test of the functionality is extremely important. In doing so, care can be taken as to whether any other damage can be detected. The tightness of the screw connections of the rollators should be included in this check.

To preserve the value of the rollator, it must be cleaned regularly. A little rinse in warm water can be used to clean the frame parts. The moving parts of the rollator may have to be oiled from time to time.

The plastic parts of the rollators should be treated with a commercially available care product.

Hint:

If damage is found to the rollator, it must be repaired by a specialist workshop for the safety of the user. The brakes in particular should be considered.

Criteria for the purchase of rollators

weight
handholds
wheels
brakes
seats
Accessories
prices

The first thing to inspect when buying is the weight. 7 kg should not be exceeded. Rollators made of aluminium fulfil this requirement. This way carrying is no problem when there are obstacles.

Non-slip and a support for the ball of the thumb are points of view which have to be checked during the hand movements. The course of the handlebars should be set parallel to the direction of walking. In order to reduce the risk of tilting z, they must not point too far outwards. For users suffering from arthritis or similar diseases, height adjustment is an important aspect. The lower arm rests should also be individually adjustable.

Depending on the application the rollators and therefore also the diameter and the material of the wheels have to be chosen. The average diameter is about 20 cm. The widths vary between 3 and 5 cm. Until now, rollators were pneumatic tires (solid rubber or polyurethane). Because of the maintenance one is in the meantime from this It’s a different kind of manufacturing. Usually only the front wheels of the rollators are movable, since they are important for the function of the steering.

The brakes are a great safety feature. As a result, they should be easily accessible, easy and quick to use. Similar to bicycles, they are usually located directly under the handles. The open and closed versions are differentiated. The companies handle it differently during production. A central braking system is partly offered. For other rollators, both brake levers must be used to brake the rollator. The illustrations already show how the distance between the handles and the brake handles behaves. This circumstance gains in importance especially when small people want to use rollators. Conversely, too small a distance is an obstacle for quite large users.

The brakes on rollators have two functions. If the speed increases, for example due to a gradient, it can be reduced by braking. On the other hand, the brake must be applied if the rollator is to come to a stop. Be it that the goal has been reached or that a break is to be taken. Make sure that the brake is in the parking position.

For the necessary breaks, importance must be attached to the functionality of the seats. It starts with whether they are equipped with a backrest bracket or a backrest. Furthermore, the width should be adapted to the user. The seats should be fixed neither too high nor too low. You could make getting up unnecessarily difficult. The ground contact to the feet should be given in any case.

Hint:

Again, the note that the parking brakes were activated before using the seat.

The accessories are tailored to the needs of each individual. The basic equipment usually includes a basket, a tray and a cane holder. You can also make purchases,

shade
cover
shopping net
etc.

The price scale starts at around 55 euros. These are very simple models that are only suitable for occasional use. Popular and very often bought are rollators up to a price of 200 euros. Rollators at this price are recommended for shopping, an outdoor excursion or to take along in the vehicle. Luxury models can also be found in online shops over 700 euros.

bottom line

In order to maintain its independence for as long as possible, the purchase of a rollator is a good idea. In an online shop, the best prospects are to find the right model for your needs at an adequate price. It is delivered to your home after a comparison of the many models has been made at your leisure. Due to the wide range of products, the right one is always there.

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