Go-carts for the disabled and the elderly: types, description, selection rules

From injuries and fractures of legs no one is immune. To restore the motor abilities, a person must constantly develop a broken limb, engage in therapeutic gymnastics. In order to alleviate the condition of the patient, help him to recover faster, medical experts developed walkers. These are special adaptations, suitable for both disabled people and elderly people, who find it hard to move independently. Today we find out what kinds of these constructions are, and what to look for when buying such a product.

Why do we need such devices?

Go-carts for the disabled and the elderly are necessary in such cases:

- The elderly people - so that you can move around without help. Walkers are more stable than canes or crutches, so for grandparents they will be an ideal option.

"For the disabled, these adaptations are necessary to reduce the burden on the legs, as well as maintain balance during standing or walking.

Basic views

Go-carts for the disabled and the elderly are as follows:

- On the wheels in front. On such walkers it is easy to move, but they are not recommended for those patients who have impaired coordination of movements, because when they are in them there is a high probability of losing control over the balance. Such devices can not be used by people in the first stage of recovery.

- Stationary. Thanks to them, a man keeps his balance during movement, his coordination improves. Such walkers are used to walk on a hard, level surface. The construction of such devices is completely rearranged in front of it when driving, and the load from the legs is transferred to the hands. Appliances are used at the initial stage of recovery, when it is difficult for a person to maintain a balance.

- Universal devices. In such walkers, a person can move from a fixed to a walking position, so they can be used both at the very beginning of rehabilitation, and when the patient is slightly restored.

- Walking devices. By means of such adaptations the person will alternately move the right and left legs of the walker, imitating his own steps. This device is used in the late stages of rehabilitation.

- Rollers - models on four wheels. Ideal for long walks. In such walkers, the front wheels rotate, they necessarily have handles with adjustable high. They also have a seat, a basket for things.

Supported devices

- Walkers with support under the elbow (gondola) - this kind of device provides a person the maximum level of balance and stability during walking. The frame consists of four wheels, thanks to which the whole structure is easily moved. Such walkers are designed for disabled people who can not rely on walking on their hands. Often, these devices are equipped with belts to fix the body.

- Walkers with axillary support - such devices provide a high level of stability during movement, as in the previous case. This type of device is suitable for those patients who suffer from coordination disorders. These walkers will be ideal for those disabled who can not rest on elbows, hands, forearms. They can be with or without wheels. In the first case, the devices are intended for those people who can themselves move for short distances. Walkers with an axillary support without wheels are needed by those patients who can stay in an upright position for a short time, including without full support on their legs. Often such devices are sold with a special soft crossbar, which provides the thrust of the chest, so that a man can easily maintain balance and facilitate his movement.

- Walkers with support on the forearm - such adaptations are higher and heavier than the previous two copies. These devices are chosen at the initial stages of therapy for severe injuries, for example, with a fracture of the spine, the neck of the hip, or diseases such as paralysis, polyarthritis, when the patient can not stand leaning on only the hands. Such walkers are equipped with special handles - supports for the forearms. This type of device performs, rather, the functions of the simulator: a person maintains muscle tone, which greatly facilitates its further rehabilitation.

Cost

Walking gear for the elderly, the price of which depends on the type of device, the availability of additional functions, you can buy in specialized stores selling various medical devices. The cost of such devices depends on the following items:

- Ability to adjust the angle, height of the device and handles.

- Presence of folding and fastening function.

- Lifting capacity of walkers.

- Presence of wheels, functions of walking, sitting, and also such important subjects as a bag, a basket, a small table.

- The quality of the handle of the walker, the design and ergonomics of the device.

- Presence of the built in brake.

The cost of such necessary devices for the disabled can range from 3 to 15 thousand rubles.

Where to buy walkers for the elderly, if the city does not have a specialized store for the sale of such goods? Then you can ask for help in online stores. You can order any kind of walker there.

Popular manufacturers

Invalid go-kinks of such companies are in demand:

1. OSD . This is an Italian manufacturer of supporting devices. Walkers of this company have a light construction, solid frame, manoeuvrable wheels, special holders that allow you to comfortably walk to the toilet.

2. Medok . Ukrainian company that produces strong and lightweight structures. The choice of walkers of this company is huge. The company produces medical devices with special fixatives, which allow you to easily change the modes when walking.

3. Foshan . The country of production of these walkers is China. Features of the company's fixtures are corrosion resistance, as well as low cost.

Pros and cons of structures for walking

Go-carts for the disabled and the elderly have such positive moments in use:

- Excellent stability in comparison with canes or crutches. Reliability is ensured by a large footprint.

- The ability to choose the right model for yourself depending on the disease or body characteristics.

- Reduce the load on the legs.

- Ability to move along the road with potholes and bumpy surfaces.

- The actions performed with the help of such devices are a useful additional burden on the patient's torso.

Negative points in use:

- Walkers for the disabled and the elderly are rather cumbersome structures.

- With the help of these devices you can not go down the stairs yourself (unlike a cane or crutches).

Criteria for determining the appropriate model

Only with the help of a qualified doctor, based on the patient's illness, walkers for the elderly are selected. How to choose the right device for a person to be comfortable, and useful to be in it? There are certain criteria that you need to pay attention to:

1. Appointment.
2. Place of application.
3. Degree of durability.
4. Number of legs.
5. Lever.

Appointment

If the device is selected for the disabled, then walkers with a light frame and the presence of the front wheels may come up. If you are considering a device for an elderly person, then perhaps the ideal design will be a four-legged design with a support for the elbow or forearm. It is very important to buy a walker with a height adjustment. After all, if the product is very high or, conversely, low, the person will constantly feel pain in the back, neck, hands.

Place of application

Buying walkers, you need to consider where the person will use them: at home, on the street or both, and there, because not all such devices are comfortable to use in any situation.

Strength level

This criterion is very important for the purchase of such a device as a walker for the elderly. How to choose a device based on this item? If a person sees that the frame in the design is bending under it, then you need to look for a heavier and more powerful model. Otherwise, a fragile product may break, and a person is injured, as it falls to the ground.

Number of legs

There are walkers with both 3 and 4 legs. A pair of holders provide better stability. However, 3 legs guarantee demonstrative maneuverability. It follows that walkers with an unpaired number of legs will do more for home use, and with a pair of legs - for moving along the street or during early rehabilitation. Rollators (devices with rollers) are selected depending on the size of the wheels and the presence of blocking brakes. Walkers with large rollers are convenient for the street, small ones for the house.

Lever

It should be comfortable, soft, not sliding, not rubbing your palms. It is best to look at the models of walkers with a wide handle. Designs with plastic handles are often sold, but such devices may not be suitable if the person is sweating heavily. In this case, you need to buy a walker with a porous handle.

These devices are selected individually depending on the age of the patient, his physical and psychological state, the class of the disease. Also, when purchasing products for convenience in walking, social indicators are taken into account, for example, whether a person can go out with them to the street, move around without problems, whether he will be able to serve himself at home, etc.

Conclusion

Now you know the criteria for choosing walkers for the disabled and the elderly. There are several types of these devices, and it is possible to choose which specimen is suitable for a specific patient only with the doctor who is treating.