As a society, we love to have our independence and freedom. This doesn’t just mean oppression and grand things. Freedom of movement is one of the things we cherish. People want to be able to be a part of society and go where they wish within it.
However unfortunately for many, they are unable to do that on their own anymore. There are a number of injuries, illnesses, and diseases that damage a person’s mobility to the point where they require assistance. That is where mobility equipment comes into play. Mobility equipment allows people to retain a great deal of their movement when they have lost it. It’s unrealistic to believe that 100% functionality is retained. However, it’s still encouraging that so many people can move as they wish.
Wheelchairs
The first thing people think of when they think of when it comes to mobility is the wheelchair. The wheelchair remains unchanged in essence since its inception because it was a great idea. The wheelchair is simple enough in essence. It’s a chair on wheels that can be manually pushed by the occupant or a person who is behind the chair.
The wheelchair has come up constantly with improvements of course. Modern wheelchairs have an incredible amount of engineering put into them. Modern wheelchairs have been made of ultralight materials. They have excellent braking so that they don’t need to fear incidents on inclines. Wheelchairs for those who permanently require them are now mostly electronic, allowing movement at the flick of a wrist or tap of a button.
Some people only have mobility issues for temporary periods of time. These people may be recovering from surgery or a serious injury. They have the ability to rent a wheelchair. Wheelchair rental is a convenient option for people in these situations since wheelchairs are very expensive. Rental for temporary mobility issues also allows the person to choose the right wheelchair for their situation and their recovery. Even very expensive wheelchairs are reasonable when they are rented for a temporary time.
Mobility Rollators
Many people still carry the image of elderly people using walkers to assist them with mobility and walking. However, there was one major fault with walkers. Each step required the walker to be picked up and placed back down. No matter how light the walker was, this could place a strain on the users.
Since walkers were deemed to not be good enough, rollators have taken over. Rollators look and function in much the same way as a walker. People with mobility issues can place both hands on the rollator and use it to guide them as they walk. It provides them with stability. The difference is they have wheels. This allows them to glide across the ground while walking.
Rollators also comes with one very interesting and useful feature. Most rollators function as mobile sitting locations. People with mobility issues often need to stop and rest for a while. The mobile seat allows just that. The wheels have brakes, which makes the seat more sturdy. Rollators will also often fold up for easier storage or placement while sitting somewhere.
Mobility Scooters
Many people take the next step up from wheelchairs and go for a full mobility scooter. These scooters have more power and are often used to travel everywhere. Scooters allow people to maintain their mobility and a certain level of independence as they travel to work, school or businesses. Like a wheelchair, they require a ramp to enter a building, however, ramp laws have really improved and allowed for more access to both wheelchairs and scooters.
Walking Aids
There are many other walking aids that could be used as well. As mentioned, some people still use walkers. The cane is also a walking aid used by many. People with serious foot issues may use orthotics that allow them to be mobile for longer periods of time. There are many others as well. As long as people continue to be unable the walk, other people will look to assist them in designing tools to get them walking again!