What is a rollator?
A rollator is often called a “rolling walker with a seat”. A rollator has four wheels and brakes and does not need to be lifted to move forward. Rollators are easy to maneuver because the wheels swivel. Rollators tend to be large so they can be difficult to maneuver inside small apartments or narrow hallways.
When was the rollator invented?
1978
Did you know that walkers weren’t invented until the 1950s? I shudder to think how mobility-challenged people managed to get around, or didn’t, before that time. And it wasn’t until 1978, when a woman in Sweden (who had polio) added four wheels onto her walker, creating what is now known as a rollator.
What is rollator used for?
A rollator is best for user’s who can walk but just need a little help with balance and stability. Rollators allow you to walk at a quicker pace and help with a normal gait. The user should be able to steer the rollator and operate the hand brakes as needed.
How do rollators work?
A rollator works very differently because it has wheels. In short, the rollator has four wheels at the bottom of the legs, meaning that you don’t need to lift it up in order to move around. That’s why it is commonly referred to as a “rolling walker”. Many even come with seats built in as well!
Why is a rollator called a rollator?
The first walker to resemble modern walkers was patented in 1970 by Alfred A. Smith. Although first walkers with wheels became a thing in 1957, rollator wasn’t invented until 1978, when Aina Wifalk, a polio sufferer from Sweden, came up with the idea for a wheeled walker and called it a rollator.
Can you be pushed in a rollator?
The rollator is a walking aid only and should not be used as a transportation device. Rollators are designed to be used with someone sitting in them. Don’t try to push someone in a rollator because most rollators don’t have the strength or carrying capacity for this type of movement.
Do all rollators have brakes?
The majority of rollators feature either “loop lock” or bicycle-style hand brakes which are located just under the handlebars on each side of the walker. Much less common are push-down brakes which are applied by simply pushing down on the handlebars of the walker.