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As people advance in age, they often encounter numerous difficulties carrying out tasks that were once easy. These include walking and showering, among others. Modern-day mobility aids such as gait trainers help such people find their stability by providing support and posture alignment. Gait trainers from different manufacturers vary in several attributes such as construction, features, and pricing. How do you get the ideal one for yourself or your loved one? Our in-depth guide will help you figure this out.
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The BEYOUR WALKER Upright Walker is a fantastic mobility aid designed to straighten a user’s back when walking or standing. This device is meant for seniors, people with orthopedic disorders, or those who have had neck surgery. It relieves pressure on the shoulders and helps the user focus on the front, all in a safe and comfortable structure.
The 10-inch front wheels ensure smooth-rolling on different terrains, while the dual braking system enhances the walker’s safety. A pull motion applies the brakes while a push motion on the system locks the rear wheels. Seniors who love the outdoors will find the BEYOUR WALKER Upright Walker quite satisfactory due to its multiple terrain capabilities.
For portability and convenience, this walker features a one-hand folding design, a cane holder, and a detachable bag. Additionally, the hand-bar is length-adjustable to help every user find the perfect position for their posture.
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The ELENKER Upright Rollator Walker was designed with the user’s comfort in mind. It features unique padded armrests that are excellent at keeping the user’s forearms in a natural posture while relieving stress on the back and shoulders. The frame is made from solid PVC for sturdiness. The front wheels swivel 360 degrees for unrivaled maneuverability.
Safety-wise, the ELENKER Upright Rollator Walker features easy-to-operate brakes that only require a forward push to slow down or stop. The ELENKER has an easy-to-assemble design and a detachable storage bag for users who are always on the go. For additional comfort, the walker’s seat has a breathable mesh. If you are looking for a gait walker made by one of the industry’s best manufacturers, look no further than this model. The manufacturer has ISO13485 certification, and all their products are CE-approved.
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The Inspired by Drive Nimbo 2G Posterior Walker is instantly recognizable by its height-adjustable aluminum frame. Its innovative handgrip design increases the user’s comfort while the single direction override bracket allows for dual directional movement. Users will also find the wheels quite handy since they can be easily switched between the swivel and non-swivel settings.
The walker’s wheels are made from soft rubber that provides exceptional grip and traction on every surface. The rubber also prevents the walker from inadvertent backward slipping when the user selects the single direction setting.
If you are looking for a multipurpose gait walker that can be used by both adults and children, then the Inspired by Drive Nimbo 2G Posterior Walker is among the best options to consider. It folds into an amazingly compact form that can be easily stored or transported. The flip-down seat also allows a user to rest and can be flipped back up when the user resumes walking.
If you have been searching for a gait walker, you know how daunting it can be to choose from the hundreds of options available in the market. These all vary in construction materials, pricing, features, and other attributes. Our guide will take you through the most important aspects to consider before buying a walker for yourself or your loved one.
Maneuverability refers to the ease with which a gait walker can be moved around tight spaces. Factors such as wheel size, frame size, swivel mechanism, and turning radius all affect maneuverability. A gait walker’s turning radius is the amount of free space required by a person using the walker to make a full turn. The lesser the radius, the more maneuverable a walker is.
The size of a gait also determines how easily maneuverable it is. Large walkers are trickier to maneuver than smaller ones. Lastly, walkers with swivel wheels are easier to maneuver than those without. It is also important to look out for features that extend permanently from the walker’s frame since they will require additional space to operate it.
Another easily-forgotten attribute when it comes to maneuverability is the grip. If you use a gait walker on varying terrains, it is important to get one whose wheels have excellent grip. Rubber is one such material. With sufficient grip, maneuvering the walker becomes easy even on surfaces with minimal traction.
Sturdiness has to do with the gait walker’s build strength, while stability affects how the structural integrity behaves, especially with weight-related stress. These two attributes are mostly determined by the materials used in the walker’s construction. You do not want to end up with a walker that cannot support your weight or an unstable one. The most common materials include PVC, aluminum, steel, and other metal alloys.
You will find that walkers with metallic frames are pricier than those made from plastic. However, the metallic frames are also sturdier than their plastic counterparts. It is important to consider factors such as your weight and build before settling on a particular material.
Requiring a gait walker implies that you want to lessen the problems of old age, surgery, or injury. You, therefore, do not need an overly complicated gait walker to add to your problems. Ideally, a good walker should be easy to assemble even by a single person. Look at the joinery, bolts, nuts, and screws used in the frame carefully to determine whether you will need special equipment to equip the walker.
An easy-to-assemble walker will save you time putting it apart and together, especially if you frequently travel with your walker. The easiest models to assemble have notches and grooves that fit into each other. However, ensure that you do not sacrifice structural integrity by focusing too much on the ease of assembly.
Most gait walkers are foldable to some degree. How fast or how much a walker can be folded varies from one manufacturer to another. Generally, you should purchase a model that can be folded into a significantly compact form for easy transport or storage. The acceptable size will definitely vary from one person to another, but it should be small enough to fit into spaces such as car trunks.
Besides the size when folded, it is also important to consider how long it will take you to fully fold the walker. Generally, anything from a few seconds to a minute is acceptable. If this simple task takes more than five minutes, then the folding mechanism is overly complicated.
Gait walkers are essential tools for the elderly. They maintain postural alignment and also help the seniors in daily activities such as walking. Before purchasing a gait walker, it is important to evaluate its sturdiness, stability, maneuverability, ease of folding, and ease of assembly. Hopefully, your purchase decision will be easier after the breakdown of the five best options described above.
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