5 Benefits of an Upright Walker

Updated on September 28, 2020

As we age, our sense of stability and self-reliance tends to deteriorate. After a hip replacement or musculoskeletal disorder diagnosis, you may need assistance to sit, stand, or walk around. 

When coming to terms with your limited mobility, there are a couple of mobility options to consider. For instance, you could use a cane, rollator, or a standard walker. These traditional mobility aids have remained more or less the same throughout the years, with a few exceptions. 

At the peak of the Digital Age, recent technological advancements have entirely revolutionized the mobility aid world and inspired the upright walker’s launch. Engineers have thoughtfully developed upright walkers with the intention of modernizing the standard walker and addressing users’ primary complaints and concerns.

Inevitably, elderly folks will become stiff due to brittle bones and conditions like arthritis. Long-term use of standard walkers can exacerbate this chronic pain, as they compromise on safety and comfort and exert undue pressure on the user’s wrists.

Luckily, with upright walkers for seniors, maintaining one’s day-to-day routine reenters the realm of possibility. Unlike standard walkers, you won’t have to worry about your elderly loved ones suffering from unnecessary neck or wrist strain. Similarly, the upright walker will ensure the senior citizens in your life are safe, supported, and pain-free. While some may believe these claims are too good to be true or another marketing gimmick, users can attest to their benefits.

For more information on the advantages of using an upright walker over a standard walker, read on. Don’t settle for a limited range of motion. Regain your sense of independence by investing in a well-reviewed upright walker. 

Features of upright walkers

Before exploring the advantages of upright walkers, it would be in your best interest to review the features that aid in their functionality.

• Adjustable armrests

• Top-of-the-line stability and easy portability

• Lockable handbrakes

• Delivered fully assembled

• Easy-to-navigable both outdoors and indoors

• Can support the weight of up to 300 pounds

• Soft-padded armrests

• Easy to fold when storing

It’s important to note that the above features could differ from one company to another. When shopping for an upright walker for yourself or a loved one, scan through online customer reviews to ensure you purchase your mobility aid from a reputable company. When partnering with a reliable mobility aid vendor, you can benefit from their all-encompassing warranty policy and depend on an upright walker built to last.

Benefits of using an upright walker

Without further ado, here’s a quick rundown of the advantages of using an upright walker over any other mobility aid on the market. While the standard walker yields unique benefits, you’ll want to study the upright walker’s exclusive benefits before making your final decision.

Improved posture

One of the drawbacks of using traditional walkers is that users have to bend forward into a back-contorting position. Failure to maintain an upright posture while walking or standing poses health risks and complications. Experts warn that prolonged slouching can lead to muscle pain, poor blood circulation, joint pain, and back pain.

However, thanks to upright walkers, users that require assistance with mobility don’t need to force themselves into awkward posture while standing or walking any longer. Upright walkers have features like adjustable armrests that promote comfort and good posture simultaneously.

Stability and safety

Senior citizens, children, disabled persons, or those with neuromuscular conditions are at risk of falling when using mobility aids that aren’t stable. Fortunately, upright walkers eliminate this risk with features like padded handlebars, making it easy to transition from a sit position to a standing position.

Upright walkers are also equipped with lockable breaks to facilitate the device’s immobilization when you want to sit or briefly rest. These brakes are ergonomically designed for efficiency and ease of use.

Comfort

Upright walkers are designed with comfort in mind. Besides enhancing a user’s posture, the devices are fitted with comfortable features like padded armrests to prevent hand or wrist strain.

When seated, upright walkers have a backrest made of mesh materials to improve breathability. Lockable brakes also enable you to sit and rest where and when you want. For some chronically-ill users, frequent breaks are necessary. Even a thirty-minute trip to the grocery store can tire those with limited mobility. Luckily, engineers have designed these upright walkers with your loved one’s health and safety in mind. 

As if that’s not enough, upright walkers are designed to ensure even body weight distribution. How so? This mobility aid is fitted with armrests that relieve your wrists from the responsibility of supporting your entire body weight during your daily errands. This comfort-enhancing feature is crucial for those users with joint conditions like arthritis.

Flexibility

You can use your upright walker both indoors and outdoors. Are you worried about the dangers of rough or uneven terrain? Don’t be. The devices are built with sizable rubber wheels to maneuver different surfaces. However, you’ll need to practice operating your mobility aid when treading through soil-heavy surfaces and hilly terrain.

When on-the-go, caretakers can fold the upright walkers into a compact shape, allowing the mobility aid to slide easily into your trunk or backseat. However, you might need to measure your vehicle’s trunk dimensions and compare it with those of the unit you want to carry. Upright walkers come in different sizes, and some may not fit in specific types of vehicles.

Better social interactions

With upright walkers, you restore your loved ones’ sense of independence and grant them the freedom to move freely from point A to point B. When a mobility-impaired person doesn’t require assistance to complete daily tasks, you’ll notice a boost in self-esteem seemingly overnight.

Similarly, the upright walker allows you to interact with your disabled loved ones with ease and look them eye-to-eye like you once did. No longer are the days where you need to crouch down to make eye contact with your elderly grandparents.

To summarize

With these benefits in mind, it’s evident that upright walkers offer various benefits not present in the standard walker. If you or a loved one needs a mobility aid, purchase an upright walker for an improved walking experience. Unlike a run-of-the-mill walker, these mobility devices are comfortable, safe, reliable, and user-friendly.

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.