Mobility aids are products designed to increase the quality of life for less able bodied people by assisting walking or enabling mobility.
Most users of disability aids use them to allow them to walk without pain.
Mobility aids fall into either the wheeled or non wheeled category, in this article I will give examples within each category.
Wheeled The perfect example of a wheeled Mobility aid is the wheelchair.
Wheelchairs allow the user to get around without any use of their legs; either self propelled or pushed by an attendant.
Wheeled Zimmer frames are also a good example of a wheeled mobility aid.
Zimmer frames are walk support frames which allow the user added support from their upper body while walking.
Wheels on wheeled Zimmer frames however only tend to be on the front legs, with rubber feed on the rear 2 legs as it could be a hazard if all 4 points of contact to the ground were wheeled.
Non-Wheeled A walking stick or cane is a perfect example of a non-wheeled mobility aid.
Walking sticks have been used for thousands of years.
In the early days it would have been just a stick found on the floor, however, nowadays, things are much more advanced and walking sticks have been ergonomically designed to be as efficient as possible in transferring weight from the upper body to the walking efforts of the user.
Crutches, the saviour of anyone who has ever broken a leg is a classic example.
Crutches are a great aid for walking when one foot or leg is out of action allowing the user to move around using their one good leg and the 2 crutches for balance.
Crutches can be very uncomfortable on the hands however and extended use can damage blood vessels at body contact.
Zimmer frames also come in non-wheeled varieties.
The non-wheeled Zimmer frame is a great aid for those with poor balance and/or leg strength.
Comprising 4 contact points to the floor, Zimmer frames surround the user offering unparalleled support.
The speed of mobility however is very much restricted, with a typical step achieved by moving the walker an arm's length and walking back into the frame.
Most users of disability aids use them to allow them to walk without pain.
Mobility aids fall into either the wheeled or non wheeled category, in this article I will give examples within each category.
Wheeled The perfect example of a wheeled Mobility aid is the wheelchair.
Wheelchairs allow the user to get around without any use of their legs; either self propelled or pushed by an attendant.
Wheeled Zimmer frames are also a good example of a wheeled mobility aid.
Zimmer frames are walk support frames which allow the user added support from their upper body while walking.
Wheels on wheeled Zimmer frames however only tend to be on the front legs, with rubber feed on the rear 2 legs as it could be a hazard if all 4 points of contact to the ground were wheeled.
Non-Wheeled A walking stick or cane is a perfect example of a non-wheeled mobility aid.
Walking sticks have been used for thousands of years.
In the early days it would have been just a stick found on the floor, however, nowadays, things are much more advanced and walking sticks have been ergonomically designed to be as efficient as possible in transferring weight from the upper body to the walking efforts of the user.
Crutches, the saviour of anyone who has ever broken a leg is a classic example.
Crutches are a great aid for walking when one foot or leg is out of action allowing the user to move around using their one good leg and the 2 crutches for balance.
Crutches can be very uncomfortable on the hands however and extended use can damage blood vessels at body contact.
Zimmer frames also come in non-wheeled varieties.
The non-wheeled Zimmer frame is a great aid for those with poor balance and/or leg strength.
Comprising 4 contact points to the floor, Zimmer frames surround the user offering unparalleled support.
The speed of mobility however is very much restricted, with a typical step achieved by moving the walker an arm's length and walking back into the frame.