You might be wondering who should and who should not use a rollator walker, and if a rollator is right for you or a loved one. Well, it’s a good question to ask!
Rollator walkers aren’t safe for everyone and require reasonable balance and strength from the user. You shouldn’t use a rollator walker if:
- You have any restrictions on your weight bearing
- Your balance is very poor
- You have particularly weak arms
- Your grip strength is poor
- You have cognitive/memory issues
As a Physiotherapist, I’ve seen first hand how rollators can help or hinder mobility. They can be great mobility aids, but only when used correctly and by the right people.
Understanding Rollator Walkers
A rollator walker is a four-wheeled walker with a seat and brakes. They have:
- 4 wheels for smooth rolling
- A comfy seat and backrest for quick breaks
- Handy brakes to keep you safe
Why might you want one? Well, rollators are great for:
- Getting around more easily
- Boosting your independence
- Having somewhere to sit when out and about
Imagine strolling through the park without worrying about fatigue. With a rollator, you can sit and rest whenever you need to. It’s like having a portable chair!
Who Should Not Use A Rollator Walker?
There are 5 main circumstances in which someone should not use a rollator walker. The first is a straight forward definite no, the other five will depend on how good or bad you consider your strength, balance and cognition to be (or that of your loved one).
If you’re unsure, talk with your Physical Therapist or Doctor. They can help you figure out if a rollator is right for you, or if another mobility device might be a better fit.
1. People who are not fully weight bearing
Are you allowed to put full weight through both of your legs? If not, you will know, as you will have had a surgery/fracture/injury and been told this by a Doctor or Physiotherapist.
If you are not fully weight bearing (i.e. there is a restriction on how much weight you are allowed to bear through your legs, such as non weight bearing, partial weight bearing, touch weight bearing) – you are not allowed to use any rollator walker (3 wheeled or 4 wheeled) [1]
This is because they are not designed for putting extra weight through and if you can’t put much (or any) weight on one leg, you are likely to be weight bearing heavily through your walking aid using your arms.
Rollator walkers are designed to help you walk, but not carry lots of weight. A rollator walker used inappropriately like this could break, but more importantly, you could injure yourself or cause damage to your fracture or surgery site.
In terms of walking frames, you will only be allowed to use ones with either 4 stoppers (a zimmer frame) or 2 wheels at the front and 2 stoppers at the back (a wheeled walking frame). Read more about these two types of walkers.
An alternative option if you’re non weight bearing is using a knee walker (knee scooter) to get around. But you need to be higher level in terms of strength and balance in order to handle one safely.
Please note: If you are technically allowed to put full weight through both of your legs, but can’t because of pain and would be leaning heavily on a mobility aid with your arms, then you should still not use a rollator walker. It wouldn’t be suitable for you because you would still be putting too much weight through it.
2. People with reduced balance
If you’re having trouble staying steady on your feet, a rollator walker might not be the best mobility aid for you to choose. Rollators are four wheeled walkers that have wheels front and back (there are no stoppers/feet) and they can move pretty quickly.
Even though they have brakes, they can roll away from you, and so may not be safe for a user with poor balance [2]. The user needs to have a reasonable level of stability themselves in order to be able to control and guide the rollator walker.
I know what you’re thinking: Aren’t walkers supposed to help people with reduced balance? Yes! But there are different levels of reduced balance and different types of walkers to suit those varying levels.
For example, a wheeled walking frame with two wheels at the front and two stoppers at the back may be safer for someone with poorer balance as the walker isn’t all wheels, the stoppers slow things down and the walker can’t roll away from you.
There is also a zimmer frame, which has four stoppers, no wheels, which provides even more stability. However, this type of frame needs to be lifted slightly to move it forwards so can be harder to use if someone is very unbalanced, as there is a moment where the walker is not on the floor, every time it is moved forwards.
Normally I recommend the wheeled walking frame with two wheels and two stoppers as it has the best of both: more stability than a rolling walker, but more maneuverability than the zimmer frame, plus it can be moved forwards on the ground without having to be lifted.
3. People with reduced arm strength
You need to have strong enough upper body strength to be able to control the movement of the walker, and to lift it [3].
Your arms don’t have to be very strong, but you do need to be able to keep the rollator walker close enough to you so it doesn’t roll away, and also be able to push the walker forwards effectively.
Also, unless you have someone to help you, you may need to be able to:
- Lift it in and out of your car
- Carry it up and down steps/stairs
- Get it up and down curbs
- Overcome obstacles in your path
In terms of lifting, rollator walkers can be heavier than other types of walkers. Rollators tend to vary between 14-30 lbs (6-13kgs) in weight, whereas basic two wheeled walking frames without seats start at around 7 lbs (3 kgs).
If you’ll need to lift your rollator yourself but aren’t sure whether you will manage, I suggest finding something at home that would be around 14 lbs/6kgs in weight and see if you can safely lift it (have someone with you for safety if needed).
Alternatively, choose a lighter weight rollator walker with free and easy returns and see how you get on. The lightest rollator walker I recommend is the Carex Crosstour Rollator Walker at 14 lbs. There are a couple on the market at 10.6 and 12.6 lbs but are poor quality and break easily.
4. People with reduced grip strength
Your grip strength is how strongly and securely your hands and fingers can grip/ hold onto things.
This can be reduced by things like older age as well as medical conditions such as hand/wrist arthritis or fracture, carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve problems affecting your arms [4].
All rollator walkers come with brakes that you need to be able to squeeze effectively in order to stop your rollator safely.
Not sure if your grip is strong enough? Have a think about these:
- Can you hold a cup without dropping it?
- Can you open jars?
- Can you turn doorknobs to open doors?
- Can you carry groceries/a shopping bag?
If you answered “yes” to these, you should be able to manage the brakes on a rollator walker.
5. People with cognitive difficulties
Are you or a loved one struggling with memory issues, difficulties following instructions or decision making skills? If so, a rollator walker might not be the best choice.
In order to use a rollator walker safely, you need to be able to remember how to apply the brakes and to remember to lock the brakes before sitting down, so the rollator doesn’t roll away as you’re trying to sit down.
You also need to be able to judge when to slow down, stop, or change direction.
Having good enough cognition is essential for using any walking aid independently, but with rollator walkers the fact that there are brakes can add an extra level of difficulty for some users [5].
Frequently Asked Questions:
(1) Are there any downsides to rollators that might affect their suitability for certain users?
-They’re generally heavier than regular walkers, so can be harder to lift and maneuver.
-They’re generally wider than other walkers, making it harder to navigate narrow spaces.
-They have brakes so users need to be able to physically and cognitively use them safely.
(2) What are some potential challenges for elderly individuals using walkers with four wheels?
-The more wheels a walker has, the more muscle control the user needs in order to keep the walker safely under control.
-The wheels can make it move unexpectedly, especially on slopes or bumpy ground. This is when using the brakes for control is especially important.
-Some tires on all terrain rollator walkers need to be pumped up regularly. Something to bear in mind if this might be tricky for you.
-Storage can be a bit more of a challenge. Rollators are bulkier than regular walkers, so they can be harder to fit in cars or small spaces at home.
(3) What are the benefits of using a rollator walker rather than a standard walker?
-Having a seat available to sit down in whenever you need it can be very handy!
-Brakes can be very useful, especially when moving downhill with your rollator to control your descent.
-Not all walkers are foldable, but all rollator walkers can be folded up.
-Rollator walkers tend to have more accessories than basic walkers, such as bags, baskets, drinks holders or cane holders.
(4) In what situations is a rollator less safe than a traditional walker for those with balance issues?
If you have serious balance problems, a rollator might be more risky in certain situations such as:
-On slippery floors (like in the bathroom) – a four wheeled walker is likely to struggle more than a two wheeled walker with stoppers (or a no wheeled walker) as the wheels could slide and change direction.
-In crowded places where people might bump into you – having a walker with all wheels means that it could go into motion unexpectedly. So it’s important to have your hands on the brakes at all times when using your rollator.
-When you need to stop suddenly – you will need to actively squeeze on the brakes quickly in order to stop suddenly. Requiring quick reactions as well as reasonable grip strength. Whereas walkers with fewer wheels (two wheels or no wheels) will have less momentum when moving so should stop more easily.
So that’s who should not use a rollator walker! Hopefully that’s helpful for you? It is not always clear cut which mobility aid is right for you as everyone has a slightly different ability level and strength/balance/cognition.
A Physiotherapist will be able to support you by completing a full, individualised assessment with you, including assessing your strength, balance, falls risk and cognition. To help you choose the right walking aid for you.
What to do next?
If you’ve read this article and think a rollator walker could be for you, check out my recommendations of the best rollator walkers available.
If you’re wondering which walker or rollator might be best for you, take my quick and easy quiz to get a personalised recommendation!
