Types and Features of Walkers

Various types of walkers are available depending on the physical condition of the user, such as those with casters on the feet and those that can be moved alternately left and right. The following describes the types of walkers and their respective features.


Quadruped walker

This is a walker type walker that moves forward by lifting the walker. The frame of the four legs, made of steel or aluminum, supports the body, providing high stability and greatly reducing the burden on the lower limbs. Because the walker itself must be lifted, it cannot be used by people with upper body pain. Recommended for elderly people who tend to lose balance due to muscle weakness in the lower limbs.


Fixed walker

This is a type of quadruped walker with a fixed frame. The walker is lifted one step forward to support the body while moving it forward. It is mainly suited for indoor use and can be used as a handrail when standing up. Since the walker must be lifted to move forward, it can only be used by people with some upper body strength. It is suitable for people who have muscle weakness or pain in their lower limbs and whose gait is unstable with a cane.


Alternating walker

This is a type of quadruped walker in which the left and right frames can be moved alternately. As in normal walking, the user moves the right frame forward when the left foot comes out and the left frame forward when the right foot comes out. Since either the left or right foot is always in contact with the ground, it is highly stable and supports the body well. Since the body must alternate between left and right, it is not well suited for people with poor balance or those whose body movements are not smooth. It is recommended for people who have pain in one leg or who have difficulty in walking due to difficulty in maintaining postural balance.


●Walker with casters (walking wheel)

This is a walker with wheels on its feet for easy and smooth movement. There are two types: those with casters on the front legs and those with casters on all four legs. The front wheel type moves forward by lifting the back frame and rolling the front casters. The advantage is that it is easy to use even for elderly people with weak arms, but the disadvantage is that it is difficult to control.


On the other hand, the four-wheel type does not require lifting the walker and assists the user in walking as if pushing a cart. Since all four legs are equipped with casters, they can be moved with less force, but they also have the disadvantage of being easily moved too far forward, causing the user to lose balance.


Among walkers with casters, those with handles up to chest height are used with the elbows resting on the platform. This is for people with wrist pain or weak grip strength. This type is sometimes called a "forearm-supported type" in contrast to a walker with casters, which is used by holding the grips with the hands.


A silver car used by people with relatively high walking ability is a type of walker with casters. It is suitable for people with lower body muscle weakness or in the early stages of rehabilitation. However, since a silver car is a walking aid and is not designed to carry weight, it is not suitable for people who want to stabilize their gait. It is mainly used for carrying heavy loads or resting when tired.


Motorized walker

This walker is equipped with a tilt sensor and a motor. In addition to the manual brake on the handle, it is equipped with an automatic brake, which detects and activates road conditions such as flat or hilly terrain. To assist the elderly in moving safely, the walker speeds up on downhill slopes and does not cause the user to fall. Recommended for people who have difficulty walking for long periods of time. To use the device, the user must be briefed on the equipment and understand how to operate it.