A lot of people faced problems in their lives that limited their physical capabilities. Due to various injuries and diseases, many inhabitants are forced to deal with a complicated process of movement. In order to facilitate their everyday life, there are practical devices. Walking walkers for the disabled - one of them.
Why you should pay attention to walking walkers
Not every person who has had to deal with disabilities in their lives has the opportunity to purchase a high-quality comfortable stroller that allows them to move relatively quickly and comfortably. For this reason, many citizens with disabilities are forced to spend more time in four walls than they would like.
Walking walkers for disabled people are able to significantly change such a difficult situation. They are much more affordable than a good stroller, but they are able to provide stable movement.
Design features
Walkers are a medical device that was created as a simple and convenient support during movement. The classic design is presented in the form of a frame consisting of hollow aluminum tubes and special handles that help to lean comfortably on the frame, while maintaining stability.
Walkers As a rule, they have adjustments that allow changing 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 - to fall, leaning on a walker, it is extremely difficult even with significantly weakened leg muscles. Reliable fixation of the position is also facilitated by rubber pads on the legs of the walker, thanks to which the sliding effect is neutralized during movement. Modern walking walkers are folding in most cases.
Comfort while driving
The steps of a person carried out with the help of walkers are very reminiscent of the movement on crutches. The owner focuses on specially equipped comfortable handles and moves one step further. For the next step, the walkers need to be pushed forward, which, due to their light weight, is very easy to do. Thanks to the very stable legs (there are four of them), a person can afford to stop and rest from movement at any time.
How to choose a walker for the disabled
In order for a particular owner to be comfortable using a walker, it is necessary to correctly determine which model is best suited to the rest.
Despite the fact that the handles are adjustable for vertical reach, you must initially correctly determine the current height of the structure. It is worth remembering that there are ordinary models (designed for people up to 100 kg) and reinforced, which must be chosen by those whose weight fluctuates around the mark of 120 kg. For those who have problems with weak legs, it is better to choose walking walkers for the disabled or with wheels on the front legs.
There are also universal designs that combine the principle of stationary and walking walkers. Two-level are ideal for those people who can hardly get out of bed. Such a model will provide them with two levels of horizontal support.
Walking Walkers - Features
If everything is clear with solid 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 side of the frame in turn. We can say that in this case the principle of ordinary steps is used. In the standard version, the body is moved forward as a whole. Thus, walking walkers for disabled people are much more convenient than basic models.
Attention should be paid to the pens. For example, a porous coating material is simply indispensable for those who suffer from ischemic diseases or have profuse sweating.
Handicapped walkers with axillary support
This type of design deserves special attention, since it differs significantly from other models. The main advantage of such walkers is the creation of additional support and significant facilitation of the movement of people with diseases or injuries of the lower extremities. They are made of an aluminum profile (usually 25 mm) and covered with a layer of polymer, which is created using color anodizing or powder spraying. 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 clamps, clicking on 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 design is again securely locked.
Directly, the axillary supports themselves are adjusted using a clamp, removing which, you can easily move the racks by the required number of mm up or down. Walkers for the disabled, having axillary supports include adjusting the racks and the 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 can be easily folded by unlocking the latch on the upper crossbar.
Which walker is better to choose: folding or solid
Clumsy models differ in that they consist of a single frame. They are the most suitable option for people of age who need reliable support during movement, as well as for patients undergoing rehabilitation. In addition, such walkers last longer for their owner, 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 vary significantly: walking, universal, articulated and with wheels. Folding models will be very convenient for those who have to travel often, because they can be easily placed in the passenger compartment or trunk of a car.
In what situations is the use of walking walkers relevant
This device is intended initially for people with disabilities who are limited in their motor capabilities.
But if you study walkers for disabled people walking (the photo clearly shows the design features), then we can conclude that they are needed for the movement of the following groups of people:
- undergoing prolonged illnesses, as a result of which they are forced to observe bed rest ;
- located in the postoperative period;
- those 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 the child is injured or has congenital abnormalities, then the walkers, which are much more convenient and practical than crutches, will help him to provide stable movement. A walking model will allow you to make movements with a minimum of effort. For children, various manufacturers are developing special models that the child can easily use.
Walkers of this type (they are also rehabilitation ones) are convenient for active use both in medical institutions 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 for 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 in question.
If we analyze the effect of ordinary walkers on the children's body, then we can distinguish the following positive factors:
- the child is able to receive a significant amount of information from what he saw during the active movement around the house;
- children stand, turn and move, thereby strengthening the lower part of the body;
- the presence of a certain freedom in active time.
But experts highlight the negative impact of the constant use of baby walkers:
- studies have confirmed the fact that kids who learn to move without a walker have more intense mental development;
- accustomed to the movement in the walker, the child ceases to feel the space and does not slow down in front of obstacles. Subsequently, this may result in personal injury;
- those children who are accustomed to using a walker, later than the rest begin to crawl and walk independently.
Are wheel walkers harmful?
Many relatives, including the patients themselves, are interested in the issue of the possible negative impact of walkers. Such a concern is understandable: during recovery after an injury, the body should not experience unnecessary stresses and even less harmful effects that can bring new health problems. Of course, such consequences are undesirable for people with disabilities and people aged.
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 during movement. Walkers, walking in particular, were developed by professionals who took into account all the particular needs of the disabled and calculated any loads, excluding undesirable ones. The result is a quality product that helps facilitate coordination of movements, gives the patient additional confidence during movement (an important psychological factor) and removes the load from the legs.
Thus, one should not be afraid of the negative impact of walkers, including on the body of injured children. The main thing is to choose the model correctly (type of construction, materials). Here, without fail, you need to take the help of specialists who can accurately take into account all the individual characteristics of the state of a particular owner (height, weight, place of residence, etc.) and select the most optimal option. It is also worth consulting for the proper operation of the additional support. Walkers for disabled people will last much longer and will not cause side effects, if you follow the recommendations of specialists.