Wheeled Walkers Are Not Just Walkers
Wheeled walkers in the 1920's was just that — a walker with wheels — a very simple machine. The name 'rollator' came into common usage then. Rollator was used generically for all rolling walkers in the 1920's and 1930's. In looking through reviews, today's walker is no longer that simple, it has wheels, hand brakes, seats, baskets, accessories, storage, advanced modern designs and colors, and some have a built in radio with CD music capabilities. These wheeled walkers can be folded and stored in a car trunk or even as carry-on luggage and placed in the overhead storage of most commercial airlines the world over. They are no longer just a wheeled walker.
Most wheeled walker manufacturers have standardized on six inch wheels although there are some manufactured with an eight inch wheel. The eight inch wheel is especially adaptable for more rural areas where there are no sidewalks and the edge of the roadway is either dirt or gravel. We often generalize and think of places like Tulsa, Oklahoma as having that kind of roadside terrain, but one just needs to travel a one hour drive from New York City to the Upper State, and the eight inch wheels on your wheeled walker would be considered a necessity if not a delight.
Three wheeled walkers are more maneuverable, but four wheel walkers are easier to push, especially if the wheels are large and swivel. This is a real advantage to those with ambulatory impairments.
If a person needs to lean or push against the wheeled walker's frame for support, the operator may find the standard wheeled walker is too mobile — it may "run away" from you. The solution is a wheeled walker, such as the Dannie Rollator, that also functions as a rolling "step walker." In normal operation, the brake locks engage between steps, so the operator stays in control. By continually squeezing the hand brake, the operator can allow the wheels to roll as freely as desired.
The modern wheeled walker is sturdy, made of light materials, and easy to maintain and repair. They are colorful and modern looking. The sturdy seats, built into most wheeled walkers, is a definite improvement. Most people with an ambulatory impediment need to stop and rest. Most of the seat designs are excellent and are more than just a seat — they are built to allow the owner to relax and get their 'second wind' before moving on. The early wheeled walkers did not have a seat.
The addition of storage space in the wheeled walkers allows the owner more freedom. Now he or she can shop and carry quite a large amount of goods on the wheeled walkers — some wheeled walker units can carry as much as fifty pounds.
