What is the Difference Between a Walker and a Rollator?
When you are considering a mobility aid for yourself or your loved one, the abundance of options can make it hard to determine which one will be the best fit. Mobility aids are not one-size-fits-all, and there are some things to consider before making your selection. Here are some guidelines to get you started, but if you have specific questions or concerns, please consult with a licensed physical therapist for a formal assessment to determine which aid is going to be the best option for your specific needs. We would love to talk about walkers and rollator s in terms of “pros” and “cons,” but what may be a “pro” for one person, may be a “con” for another. Here, we have listed some of the most prominent feature along with some basic guidelines:
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What is a Walker?
The therapy community refers to this type of device as a “standard walker.” These walkers are typical made out of aluminum with either two small wheels on the front, or no wheels at all. These devices will fold in thirds by pushing two levers on the front, causing the sides to fold in. Because of their more rigid design, standard walkers provide excellent balance and stability for those who need more support for mobility.
Features:
Lightweight and easy to store and transport in a vehicle
Offers great stability
Customization: You can add trays, cup holders, baskets and pouches to assist with carrying items around the home and community
Design: Rigid design without rotating wheels for steering. This may be more difficult to maneuver on uneven terrain or around tight corners, but it does improve the overall stability of the device.
Low maintenance. Because the design is rather simple, they hold up well with little need for maintenance.
When people think about a standard walker, they often think about the silver aluminum model often seen in hospitals and pharmacies. The truth is, standard walkers have come a long ways in terms of design, so there are many more options available with sleek designs, more compact folding, varying colors, and accessories.
Standard Design Folding Walker by Vive Health 4300 EZ Fold-N-Go Walker by Stander
What is a Rollator?
A rollator is a style of walker that has four rolling wheels and often, a seat. There are two brake levers attached the the handle which allow you to slow the speed of walking, and also to lock it in place when using this device as a seat. Rollators will fold for transport, but they are bulkier and heavier than a standard walker and more difficult to transport in the car.
Features:
Built-in seat: Great for those who wish to walk long-distances, who may need a short break.
Built in basket: Excellent for storage.
Heavier design: This is good for durability, but can be more difficult to transport due to heavier weight and less-compact design (although, easy folding, travel rollators are available for this purpose - see below)
Hand brakes: Gives you the ability to lock the walker in place when using it as a seat. Brakes may require some maintenance over time to ensure they are locking properly.
*Therapist Tip: You MUST lock the brakes prior to using your rollator as a seat! The rollator can roll away from you while sitting, causing a fall. Pushing the walker up against a wall is a great way to make sure it does not slide while you are sitting.
Drive Medical Rollator 4330 Micro EZ Fold-N-Go Rollator by Stander
Which walker should I choose?
Here are some things to consider when choosing which mobility device is right for you:
Standard Walkers are a good fit for people who:
Need a good bit of support for balance and stability, or those who have just had surgery or an injury for their back, hip, leg foot/ankle
Need to walk at a slower pace for safety
Need to be able to transport and/or fold their device easily for storage
Need a device that can hold a variety of accessories to hold items to move about the home
Mostly need the device for use in easy to maneuver surfaces
Rollators are a good fit for people who:
Are fairly agile, and need only a little support for balance and stability
Need to be able to use the device on indoor and outdoor surfaces or for walking longer distances
Need to larger storage to carry things while walking
May need to sit down while walking longer distances
Have good safety awareness for use of brakes and regulating speed
If you have more specific questions about which device is best for you or your loved one, consider seeing a physical therapist for a balance and mobility assessment to help determine which device will best meet your individual needs.
Concerned about your fall risk? Review out article on “Are Falls Preventable for Seniors” to learn more. Also, feel free to check out our publication A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving for a comprehensive guide on adaptive equipment and techniques for helping your loved one with self-care and mobility in the home. Also, feel free to check out our full video training course for detailed video instruction.
A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving
The book includes 170 pages of full-color, step-by step instructions, to provide you with all the skills you need to provide safe, thorough, and compassionate care at home.
This is your comprehensive guide to giving you with the skills you need to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to family members, friends or clients in the home. This course includes 6 hours of instructional video covering client basic adaptive equipment, functional mobility, lifting techniques, transfers, self-care skills, bed level care, use of client lifts and transfer devices, and managing falls. Click "Preview Caregiver Course" below to preview the lessons and descriptions.
