Walkers

Knee Scooters vs Hemi Walkers: Which One To Pick?

Knee and hemi walkers are both mobility aids with very different functioning, but the main idea behind the two is the same: supporting a person while walking. However, Hemi walkers cater to different patients, whereas knee walkers cater to people with injuries and disorders in the leg.  

Which is better knee walker or hemi walker? 

Here are a few benefits of each which will help you compare and choose according to your needs:  

Hemi Walker	Knee Walker
Made for people with balance and agility problems	Made for people who have undergone leg or knee surgery
Lightweight and perfect for home use	Sturdy and can be pushed around easily
Comes in standard, heavy-duty, and foldable options	Comes in all terrain, steerable, and hands-free options
Can be quickly taken out for travel purposes	Difficult to carry around as they are heavier than hemi walkers
Requires good strength of the upper body to be used	It doesn’t require good upper body strength, but agility is essential to avoid accidents.

 

Walkers are tools used by people with impaired mobility who need additional support to balance themselves while walking. Replacing the walking stick, walkers today have become an essential tool for all people who have trouble balancing themselves while walking. A standard walker has a simple frame, two or four legs, and a handle for the user to grip. Many are equipped with wheels, while many are foldable. 

Hemi-Walkers  

Als known as the side stepper, hemi walkers assist ambulatory patients with mobility. It is built with lightweight materials, such as aluminum, to make it easy for the user and caregiver to carry it around. Since they are lifted using one hand, they are also called one-hand walkers. Therefore, hemi walkers are a hybrid between walking canes and standardized walkers.  

The word hemi means half, and they are also known as half-walkers. The frame of a hemi walker is like an average walker with four legs and a balance beam that also works as the gripping handle. The base of the legs has rubber tips that ensure the walker has adequate traction while in use. Since the walker doesn’t have wheels, the user must have enough upper body strength to use a hemi walker.  

Who needs a hemi walker?  

Hemi walkers cater to the needs of people with mobility issues, especially while maintaining balance. For example, stroke patients, those who have undergone brain surgery, or people suffering from neurological disorders tend to lose the strength of one or more limbs and sometimes a complete side of their body.  

Hemi walkers are the perfect option for such people with one hand. They provide ideal balance and compensate for the weaker side of the body by balancing the body while walking. They also assist people who have just undergone leg surgery and are suggested to avoid putting stress on either leg.  

Types of hemi walkers  

• Standard hemi walker - Standard Hemi walkers are standard frame hemi walkers with four legs and a balance beam equipped with a grip to support the user. They are easy to move around in the house or outdoors.  
• Heavy duty hemi walker - Heavy Duty Hemi Walker is made of composite yet light material to support bariatric patients or patients who must avoid stressing one leg while walking. They can easily support heavy weights and are portable as well.  
• Foldable hemi walker - All hemi walkers are portable since all of them are lightweight, but these foldable hemi walkers can be folded and carried in the trunk of a car. 

Knee Scooters 

These are walkers equipped with wheels and a handle to balance the walker. They are a hybrid between standard walkers and scooters. Knee scooters are pushed around using the upper body strength of the user and have a seat-like rest in the center of the knee. They were developed as a replacement for crutches or traditional walkers.  

Crutches are painful to use as there is a possibility that they might aggravate the injury further. One also experiences pain in the forearms and underarms after using crutches. Knee walkers eliminate this pain and discomfort by making it a simple and accessible tool. They are made of sturdy yet lightweight materials and can be transported from one place to another.  

Benefits of knee walkers  

• Perfect for the elderly - older adults suffer a lot in terms of discomfort and pain when using crutches after an injury or surgery, as their body is no longer strong enough to take the strain of crutches. Knee walkers are the perfect option as they can move around freely without pain or discomfort.  
• Allows you to use your hands - A person using crutches limits the range of motion as the hands are partially responsible for holding the crutches. But with knee mobility walkers, the knee is ultimately at rest, and the hands can be used freely for other work. The hands are used to move the knee walker. 
• Faster than all non-motored mobility devices - Knee walkers are faster than standard walkers, crutches, canes, etc. They are easy to manoeuvre around corners and can be used to travel long distances.  
• More comfortable than crutches - With the possibility of injuring yourself even further, crutches today have become an unreliable aid for mobility. Knee walkers are more efficient and comfortable than crutches and are less painful.  

Types of knee walker scooter  

• Steerable knee walker - They have improved steering for better manoeuvrability. These steerable knee walkers are apt for people who have recently undergone surgery and those who must use them around the house to turn and move swiftly.  
• Hands-free walker - A rare type of knee walker, they can be maneuvered using a gentle push, allowing the hands to be always at ease. They may not be steered but are suitable for people working continuously while standing.  
• All terrain walker - These are used in almost all terrains in the city. They are the perfect travel option, from home surfaces and tiles to gravel and sand.  

Hemi and knee walkers have pros and cons, and finding the right walker for your needs is quintessential to ensure you do not further injure yourself or aggravate an existing condition.  

 

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