Moving Aids

For one reason or another, many people around us suffer from disabilities or lack of physical movements that lead to a minimal ability to move without support. To help such disabled individuals, there is a wide range of mobility equipment available in the market. A mobility scooter (or Move Auxiliaries) is one such common item that you can find in the market.

A piece of mobility equipment is a device designed to assist walking or improving the movement of any individual with mobility impairment. Today you can find a wide range of walking aids that can help people with impaired abilities to walk. They can also use wheelchairs or mobility scooters for severe disability or long journey that would otherwise be taken on foot. Also, for people with visual impairment or blindness, mobility equipment like white canes are used. Other modern aids can help with mobility or transfer within a building or where the level changes.

Types of mobility aids you can consider buying

The walking assistance devices (mobility equipment) for the elderly or disabled are indispensable in many cases. Their presence in the lives of people who have any physical disability, older age, permanent or temporary injury is a blessing. These people need aids for support and stability while walking and prevent them from falling or severe injuries while moving from one point to another. With this disability equipment, people can confidently cope with the issues and become independent without letting the injury affect their daily life. However, every type of mobility product offers varying benefits and are suitable for different medical conditions. Let us review some of the common types and their uses.

The crutches

They help in transferring weight from the legs to the upper body. They can be used in pair on singly depending on the type of injury. The crutches help keep a person upright and often used by individuals with short term injuries like fractures or permanent disabilities. There are different types of crutches, including Axillary or underarm crutches placed under ribcage and armpit, and the user holds them in hand while moving. A strand crutch involves place an arm on the plastic or metal scud and holding the handgrip. While in a platform crutch, the forearm rests on a horizontal platform.

Walkers

Also known as walking frames, Zimmer frames, or wheelie walkers, they are made of a metal framework with four legs that provide stability and support to the user. They are stable walking aids and are used by about 4.6 per cent of adults over 65. The basic style has a 3-sides frame surrounding the user who lives the frame and places it a bit further in front of them. Then they sweep forward to meet it before repeating the process. Some styles also have glides or wheel on the base of legs that allow the user to slide rather lifting. These types are helpful for the elderly with limited arm strength. Some common types include rollators, knee walkers, or walker-cane hybrids.

Wheelchairs

They are among the most commonly used medical walkers around the globe. They are used by people who should not put their weight on lower limbs and cannot walk. Wheelchairs can be more suitable for an individual with severe disabilities or while travelling over a greater distance. The user can either manually propel the chair, or someone can push them. There are some electric power chairs available in the market. They are a bit costly but convenient to use. These special types of wheelchairs include standing wheelchairs or sports motor chairs, among many others.

Mobility scooters

Like wheelchairs, a mobility scooter is a unique device with a seat set on top 3, 4 or 5 wheels. The user’s feet rest on the footplates, and there are handlebars or steering wheels to control the directions. Generally, these scooters are battery-powered. These scooters are ideal for individuals with limited upper body strength or flexibility that challenge them to use a manual wheelchair. Many scooters users report satisfaction with a positive impact on their lives for choosing mobility scooters over wheelchairs. However, the user needs some skills to operate and rules to follow while using these mobility aids.