Rollators (Walkers with 3 or 4 wheels and a seat) help to maintain balance for the user to enable walking for greater distances without the concern of tiring or losing balance over variable surfaces.

Rollators have three or four wheels, so they form a very stable support and this enables safe and confident walking as the user can put weight on to the handles of the rollator and walk forward, safe in the knowledge that they are fully supported.

A rollator can be a very valuable addition to a household if longer periods of walking are becoming too tiring and if the person is struggling to walk up gentle hills, or across variable terrains and indoor surface types.

Rollators are especially useful for shopping trips, as they come with a carry bag attached and these can be used for carrying goods purchased from shopping trips, or to carry personal items on day trips, rather than having to take the weight of heavy bags or back packs.

Rollators are usually lightweight and compact, so they can be transported fairly easily in the boot of most car types, they simply fold into position and are ready for immediate use on arrival.

This also makes rollators easy to store at home when they are not in use, so they are not taking up too much valuable space in the home.

3 wheel rollators

Three wheel rollators are simply another available configuration for users, it is personal preference whether to choose three or four wheels as the level of support on modern rollators is extremely efficient. Three wheel rollators are extremely lightweight and with collapsible frame they are the ideal travel companion for shopping trips, outings and holidays including international travel. The rear wheels of the three wheeled rollator come with handy brakes that allow the user of the rollator to have full control and slow the rollator at any downhill areas to maintain balance and full control. 

Three wheel rollators have a very small turning circle and so they can manoeuvre in small areas and having the single front wheel means that turning requires only a small effort from the user to make the turn. This is especially useful when the rollator is being used in crowded areas, such as in supermarkets or in tourist locations.

4 wheel rollators

Having four wheels, means that both traction and balance can be optimised, and the greater grip means a higher degree of confidence, this is especially evident when encountering uneven terrain or the different surfaces that can be experienced on indoor surfaces.

Four wheel rollators have a larger surface area and the wheels are spread evenly allowing for a low centre of gravity and extremely robust balance and confidence for the user, no matter where they are using.

Four wheel rollators will usually have a seat that can be easily used to allow for regular breaks where the weight can be take off the feet in between sessions of walking. 

This allows the user of the rollator to travel for longer distances as they have to reassurance and confidence that when needed, they can simply sit down on the seat, which is very strong and allows for excellent support wherever required.

Rollators, whether three wheel or four wheels, are an established aid in many households worldwide and with modern manufacturing and lightweight, compact materials, they have become nimbler and much easier to use, whilst offering a greater degree of secure support.

In addition to rollators, there are now a plethora of rollator accessories that can be added to enhance the experience of using the rollator and give additional features and benefits over the base model options.

Rollators have become a mainstay of modern mobility aids and this is because of the versatility they provide and, not least, as they solve the problem that many people face in later years, of requiring that little extra help, when and where required so they can live a normal life and still maintain their independence.

The other benefit of rollators over powered options such as mobility scooters or powerchairs, is that they are a more economical choice with generally a much lower price point than a motorised unit. 

Having no motor means generally a smaller unit enabling easier storage when not in use, being especially useful therefore for outings and foreign travel. It also means there is less maintenance required and no batteries to change!

We hope you have a better understanding of what a rollator is now and of the options that are available and how they can potentially benefit you.