24 Mar 2023 Your advice needed

[RoyceNewton]

G'day, my ms family. Today my physio politely informed me that I can not use a cane for stability. So of course, I need your advice on a good stand-up walker. So any good advice on one? Preferably under $250 USD and solid tyres.

Royce

[Xvettech]

I actually got mine online at Amazon. It was $89.99. It has wheels and brakes. I like it better than a regular one

[RoyceNewton in reply to Xvettech]

what I was looking at thanks

[StacyHayward in reply to RoyceNewton]

if you can control the one with wheels, definitely go with those. They usually have brakes and a seat. I found a brand new one for $10 at our DI (thrift store).

[NorasMom]

My simple rollator was $5 at Goodwill. It has brakes, wheels, and a folding seat. It helps enormously. But if you're looking for one of those where you can actually stand up straight, I think you'll be spending far more than what you intend.

[RoyceNewton in reply to NorasMom]

sadly I think you are right but we shall see

[agate]

I love my rollator. I got it a few years ago at Amazon--it was about $50 and I've never had a problem with it. It was easy to assemble too. Before that I had a stationary walker but found it hard to walk with it because of needing to lift it as I went along. The rollator has brakes and a fold-down seat as well as a hook-on basket.

I have it by my bedside every night with the brakes on and use its handles to help me get out of bed too.

[RoyceNewton in reply to agate]

thank you

[Frances_B]

Avoid buying anything you cannot try out in real life - so stay away from buying online where all you have to go on are some pictures and text. There are vast numbers of walkers available, and they all claim to be the best, but not all walkers are suitable for all people. Some which fold up in a particular way are less stable than the "common as muck" type that falalalala used to post pics of, and so are some of the super lightweight carbon fibre ones (which can cost an arm and a leg and an ear as well). Most walkers with three wheels are generally unsuitable for anywhere outside as they are too unstable. Small sized wheels are not suitable for outdoor use - they are only suitable for indoors. Some that try to be more than one thing end up doing nothing well at all - by that I mean those that can supposedly convert into a sort of wheelchair. A walker which has wheels which are big and fat enough to be pneumatic is probably going to be a rough terrain or beach walker and probably unsuitable for general use, although there are some which have wheels like small bicycle wheels and these can be quite good. Try and get proper rubber tyres - avoid walkers which have plastic wheels as they slip on slopes, whereas proper rubber tyres will grip the surface. You also want handles that don't become slippery if it rains.

A bad walker choice can actually end up increasing a person's risk of falling - which rather negates the point of having a walker in the first place! A bad choice of walker or one which is not set up properly to fit the user can also cause problems with bad gait habits developing and trigger muscle aches and pains and postural problems.

Are you confused enough yet with all those choices and options and decisions to be made? So, my advice is go to a reasonable sized specialist disability aids store where you can try out a range of different walkers. Try and find a store where they have staff who have had some training in how to assess which items are best to match individual needs, and avoid stores where the staff are just sales people without any training in assessing disability needs. Some stores may also have a secondhand items area as well, and there's nothing wrong with secondhand if it's in good condition and saves you some money. Happy hunting..........

[RoyceNewton in reply to Frances_B]

excellent thorough advice answered the questions I did not know I needed to ask, thanks very much.

[TonyiaR7 in reply to RoyceNewton]

A Physical therapist can help make recommendations; including measure for size, like height as well as stability. You do not want to develop bad posture; one with adjustable arms. So you are standing up right. Many facilities have a Walker or Rollator that you can try out, depends on why they stated you cannot use a cane, for balance, weakness, some combination and how fast you are moving. I could not use a cane because it was making me hunched over. You can get a free Walker or rollator from MS society. A rollator was a good option for long distances. For long distances, a tri-rollator served my purposes. If you get fatigue often you definitely want an option to sit down which will say you will not using a tri-rollator. Some people can use the braking mechanism with confidence or risk falling. After I regain better balance I went back to trekking poles or one trekking pole. I haven’t use a cane since I was introduced to trekking poles. I sometimes use both depends what I am doing. I am wheelchaired around in museums or very large malls to conserve energy but when I want to browse I use my trekking poles or one pole. All depends on how I feel at the moment or day. Try someone else’s device if possible. But I bought mine on Amazon a tri-rollator because I needed more flexibility in my spaces. initially I received one from the MS society more than 25 years ago.

[RoyceNewton in reply to TonyiaR7]

tank you for your input.

[Texandyroe]

I got an upright rollator, with backrest, seat, brakes, the whole 9 yards from Amazon. It was $200 a couple of years ago when I got it, but it’s $149 now, I see. I much prefer it to my old rollator, which I had to hunch over all the time. After any length of time with it, I’d have sore back and shoulders… am trying to avoid becoming that hunch-backed old lady as long as I can 🤪. The name of the one I got was ELENKER…. they have several models to choose from.

[RoyceNewton in reply to Texandyroe]

Thank you

[NorasMom in reply to Texandyroe]

Oh, sure, Texandyroe. Now you've made me add yet another item to my Amazon wish list! 😀 I had no idea that standing rollators could be so inexpensive. I don't need one yet, but it's nice knowing the possibilities.

[152114randal]

My wife has had the red nitro rollator for four years and never had a problem. The wheels are strong and light weight enough to put in the car.

[RoyceNewton in reply to 152114randal]

Thank you

[kycmary]

Hi Royce I just saw your question & you have some really great answers I can not recommend anything better. Good luck with the hunting Mary.

[Tazmanian]

My sister bought a stand-up Walker for 10 dollars on Facebook market place

[RoyceNewton in reply to Tazmanian]

wow, thanks.

[Fancy59 CommunityAmbassador]

Royce the next step for additional Is balance support passed the cane would be a Rollator. They have 4 wheels with brakes that can help slow it down so it doesn't roll out from underneath you. It also has a lovely padded seat for when you get weary so that you can sit down and take a break. Just remember to always lock the brakes on before you try to sit down on it. Typically there's also a basket under the seat roof and store purchases or things you need to carry with you. Best news is they are low cost and you can typically pick them up in your goodwill or 2nd hand stores for $20 to $50. Just make sure you find one that adjusts tall enough to fit your frame. You also want as wide of seat as you can find so you can sit down comfortably on it.

For more money you can but purchase an upright Walker which is what I've done recently. It's really helps my balance and keeps me up straighter and release a lot of pressure on the legs and body from stooping over the rollator for years. Of course, the price goes up from $20 to $50 to about about $100 to $150 depending on all the bells and whistles you want on it. And forget about finding them used because they just haven't been on the market that long. Fancy59.

[RoyceNewton in reply to Fancy59]

Thanks a lot.