A walker is a great tool for people with disabilities or elder people who need additional support to maintain balance or stability while walking.
The frame of the walker surrounds the user’s front and sides, while the persons hands offer additional stability as it holds to the top of the frame. Usually, a walker is placed a short distance in front of the user. Then, the user walks to the walker, and then repeats the process. With wheeled walkers, the process is easier, because the user does not have to pick the walker up anymore. The wheeled walkers can be pushed, because of their wheels. This feature of the walker helps those with little arm strength.
There are also hemi-walkers; it is about half the size of the normal walker, used by people with limited dexterity. These walkers are more stable than traditional canes or quad canes. Quad canes are actually a lot like normal canes, the only difference is that the ending of the cane, touches the ground in four points, making it more stable).
Wheeled walkers, also known as rollators, are a walking frame with wheels. Rollators are usually more sophisticated than traditional walkers with wheels. They have adjustable height and are sometimes equipped with a seat or a basket. Because of the modern materials they are made from, they re light-weight but also very solid.
A very important feature that rollators have is the hand brakes, at the top of the frame that can be pushed down to stop the wheeled walker very fast. Brakes are also used for maneuvering the rollator. If the user pushes the brake on the side being turned, he can achieve a tighter turn.
Wheeled walkers can have accessories added to them. Some of the walker accessories are baskets and basket extensions, trays made of different materials, cell phone holders, oxygen tank spaces, drink holders, seats and back-rests, lights, radios, miniature TVs, umbrellas and umbrella holders. There are also batteries on wheeled walkers to power some of the accessories. They are usually hidden, so they do not affect the design of the rollator.
To sum things up, walkers and wheeled walkers are tools that are indispensable for elder or disabled people that help them regain their mobility. Although these are more expensive then traditional walker or canes, they are also safer and more efficient.