Table of Contents
- What Is a Walker?
- Types of Walkers
- What to Look for in a Walker
- How Much Do Walkers Cost?
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Maybe you’ve had a fall or two, or maybe one of your parents is expressing second thoughts about leaving home to do things they enjoy because walking has become difficult. If so, it might be time to consider using a walker.
What Is a Walker?
A walker is an assistive device intended to help people who have difficulty with balance or stability. A walker can also help those who are recovering from orthopedic surgery and cannot bear full weight on one or both legs. Walkers offer more support than a single cane because they often have more points of contact with the ground, provide support on both sides of the body and are propelled using both hands.
Anyone who’s having difficulty with balance should consult with a movement specialist, such as a physical therapist, who is trained to evaluate gait difficulties and recommend the best assistive device based on the person’s particular walking ability, balance, strength, endurance and size, says Taylor Galmarini, a physical therapist based in Atlanta.
She sees many seniors struggling with walkers they or family members bought without consulting a professional for help. It’s important to learn the proper techniques in safely walking with a walker. In fact, purchasing a walker that’s ill-fitting or ill-suited for the user can cause more problems than it solves by placing undue strain on wrists and shoulders, she adds. FEATURED PARTNER OFFER We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Partner Offer placements. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable review of their products or services. Vive Health Folding Walker On Vive Health's Website
Types of Walkers
There are three main types of walkers: standard walkers, wheeled walkers and rollators.
Standard Walkers
A standard walker is the best-known type of walker and is typically seen in medical or rehabilitation settings. It’s usually made with silver metal and gray hand grips on each side. The standard walker doesn’t have wheels; instead, it must be picked up and moved forward with each step. Therefore, this type of walker typically requires more energy. In fact, in a Canadian study comparing standard walkers with rollators, researchers found participants using standard walkers weren’t able to walk as far as those using rollators because they had to expend more energy[1]Li KX, Farrah K. Walkers with Wheels Versus Walkers Without Wheels for Fall Prevention in Older Adults: A Review of the Comparative Clinical Effectiveness. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. 2019. .
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Wheeled Walkers
A wheeled walker, or rolling walker, is a standard walker with wheels. Some wheeled walkers only have two wheels at the front of the walker while others have four wheels. Two-wheeled rolling walkers usually have two tennis balls or walker slides attached at the bottom of the back legs to make the walker move smoothly. Most wheels on a rolling walker only roll forward or backward with one-way front wheels. If the user needs to move laterally or turn around, the walker must be lifted to accommodate those movements.
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Rollators
A rollator is a style of walker that can feature three or four wheels. In some rollators, the wheels are omni-directional (meaning they roll in all directions), so users can turn around or move to the side easily without having to lift the device. Rollators also come with seats, a significant accommodation for those who become fatigued quickly. Some users select rollators over wheeled walkers because rollators, available in different colors and styles, have less stigma attached to them.
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Walker Customization
Adaptations to walkers are available to potential walker users who have additional health challenges. For example, a stroke survivor may need added support to stand upright or control the walker, due to general weakness or weakened hands and arms. In such cases, there are frames that can be attached to the walker to support the elbows and arms, helping hold the body upright. A physical therapist can assist in locating the best walker adaptation, if needed.
What to Look for in a Walker
It’s best to clearly assess your needs and goals before selecting a walker. Is your walker use going to be temporary? Do you have other medical concerns, such as fatigue, in addition to your difficulty with walking? Do you have weakness in your hands or upper body? All these considerations matter in deciding whether you need a standard walker or one with wheels and whether a wheeled walker or rollator would be best for you.
Height
Most walkers are height-adjustable. The optimal walker height, according to Galmarini, is equivalent to the user’s wrist-to-floor measurement when the user stands between two back legs of the walker. Having hand grips flush with the user’s wrists allows the arms to extend naturally, avoiding awkward posture and strain on the wrists, shoulders, and even back while using the walker. Generally, a walker can be adjusted to fit someone who is between 5 feet, 2 inches tall and 6 feet, 2 inches tall. For those who are outside that height range, there are petite and tall-sized walkers. There are also bariatric walkers for those who require a wider walker.
Weight
Walkers vary in weight as well. In general, a rollator is heavier than a standard walker. Weight becomes a factor when the walker is used independently for activities like getting in and out of cars or maneuvering the walker over curbs or on steps. It’s important that the walker can be used safely and not cause stumbles.
Brakes
Brakes are usually a feature only found on rollators. The brakes can be an important feature because they ensure that the user is in control of their walking speed on downward inclines and that they can lock their rollator in place if they need to sit on it. The location and configuration of the brakes are a contributing factor in finding the best walker for your needs. For instance, some rollators have large, tight brakes that can be challenging for small or weak hands. Newer models of rollators have internal brake cables while some older models have external cables, posing a potential fall risk for those with more severe balance issues.
Regular Maintenance Checks
Accessory structures like rubber tips, attached tennis balls, slides, hand grips, brakes, screws and joints connecting different parts of a walker may get loose or worn out after a walker is used on a daily basis for an extended period of time, becoming a risk factor of falls. A regular two- to three-month maintenance check of these accessory structures is recommended.
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How Much Do Walkers Cost?
There’s a wide range in price for walkers. The price of a standard walker starts at $20, but a rollator could cost as much as $250.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost of a Walker?
Medicare and private insurance cover all or a portion of the cost of a walker, with some exceptions. Some private insurance plans only cover the cost of a standard walker—not rollators. Others cover the cost of a rollator if a physical therapist or physician can document why the rollator is medically necessary. It’s best to check with your insurance company about your specific coverage before purchasing your walker.
Now, people who need walkers not covered by insurance shouldn’t be deterred by price, says Galmarini. Grants, scholarships and used equipment donations are available. What’s more, therapy clinics can assist patients in finding resources to obtain necessary medical equipment.
Most insurance plans—including Medicare—only pay for mobility devices every two or three years. If it’s likely you’ll need a more expensive mobility device in the near future, it might be best to purchase a walker with funding assistance or out of pocket.
