Steerable knee scooters are a great alternative to crutches.

TOP 4 Steerable Knee Scooters:

1. KneeRover Deluxe

KneeRover Deluxe is our TOP pick from all knee scooters. It has plenty of convenience features and is very safe to use.

While not made for offroad walking (Yes, there are offroad knee scooters too!), it is the best choice for ordinary human.

There’s one awesome thing – the car like steering. It’s not like your childrens toy where whole axle rotates. This is a real tie-rod steering just like in car. Believe me, it’s SO much easier to control.

Pros

Stability and control
Tie-rod steering mechanism
Adjustable locking handbrake
Non-marking rubber wheels
Thick contoured knee platform
Detachable basket
Fully adjustable handlebars
Fully adjustable knee platform
300 lb. weight capacity
Foldable handlebar

Cons

Check out this video of KneeRover Walkers:

Final verdict:

KneeRover Deluxe is an all round best choice. Awesome car-like steering mechanism, foldable handlebar and overal very nice design makes it a perfect choice for anybody with lower leg non-weightbearing injuries.

2. All Terrain KneeRover

If you love going off road, or if you want a little more versatility, then All Terrain KneeRover is the one for you!

Grass? Gravel? Dirt? Not a problem with 12 inch pneumatic tyres. You will be able to overcome obstacles which you can’t with ordinary knee scooter. Gaps in sidewalk? Much better in this offroad knee walker.

This model also has the awesome car like steering. That means a real tie rod. This makes the steering, especially in terrain, much more easier and precise.

Double bar contructions provides very good stability and strength.

Pros

Stability and control
Tie-rod steering mechanism
Adjustable locking handbrake
Thick contoured knee platform
Detachable basket
Fully adjustable handlebars
Fully adjustable knee platform
350 lb. weight capacity
Foldable handlebar

Cons

Final verdict:

All Terain KneeRover is a number one choice for anybody who plans on walking through unpaved surfaces. It also makes walking through gaps in the sidewalk much smoother.

Super rigid construction and big pneumatic tyres make is the best offroad choice from all knee scooters!

3. Health Port Knee Scooter

Main benefit of health port leg scooter is that it’s foldable.

While the steering is not as advanced as in our first two choices – that means it’s not a tie-rod car like steering, it is still a good choice as an indoor & outdoor knee walker. But we suggest you really stay on the pavement with this one, as steering on uneven terrain like grass is pretty difficult with this one.

It comes with a detachable basket.

It’s rather small wheels will not provide as much comfort as the allterain knee rovers wheels.

Pros

Fully adjustable handlebars
Fully adjustable knee platform
300 lb. weight capacity
Easy to assemble
Completely foldable
Suitable for anyone above 5'3"

Cons

Final verdict:

Health port knee scooter is a good choice for someone who plans to use the knee scooter on hard floors and paved surfaces.

If you don’t mind giving up car-like steering for a very foldable and space saving knee walker, this one might be the best for you.

4. KneeRover Green

KneeRover Green is a very sturdy knee walker with rigid construction. With a weight of 22.3 lbs it is considered a lightweight knee scooter.

While great on paved and hard surfaces, it will struggle on rough terrain or bumbs in pavement with it’s not so big wheels. But, still much better than crutches!

KneeRovers use a very effective rear drum brake, so they are safe on an incline.

The supported maximum weight is 300lbs. There are models that support more, but this is a standard number.

Pros

Fully adjustable handlebars
Fully adjustable knee platform
300 lb. weight capacity
Easy to assemble
Lightweight

Cons

Final verdict:

KneeRover green is a good alternative to Health Port Knee Scooter. It can’t fold in a way the health port can, but it weights less.

Not suitable for offroad walking with it’s small wheels, but offers great brakes which make going downhill not so stresful.

How to Choose the Best Knee Scooter?

Knee scooters, also called “knee walkers” or “leg scooters” (We’ve even heard someone call it a “knee wheelchair” or “orthopedic scooter”) are a popular type of medical equipment that have proven to be of great value to the recovery of patients who have gotten a knee, leg, or foot surgery.

They are highly recommended to speed up patients’ recovery and there are thousands of purchases and rentals for knee scooters everyday because they work so well. You can find many different types of knee rollers out there and although they may look pretty much the same, not every medical scooter will be ideal for you. It can be a difficult decision and your doctor would not necessarily recommend a specific product for you.

So how do you choose the right one? There are a few things that you need to consider when buying a medical knee scooter, depending on your condition.

How Does It Work?

Before we look at the factors that should affect your decision in choosing the right knee cart, it’s good to first have a better understanding of how it works and how to use it. It’s fairly simple to operate but if used carelessly, it can cause damage to your leg or foot.

To use a knee scooter, you place your injured leg on the center of the pad, the one that looks like a bicycle seat, with your knee bent to a 90-degree angle. Your weight should rest on your shin. You use your uninjured foot to propel you forward. Take it slow and keep your eyes where you’re going and you should be alright.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Knee Scooter

Body Type

Knee scooters come in different styles and sizes. Larger models with greater weight capacity are more suitable for adults. You should also consider your height and the height of the scooter. If possible, choose a model that offers adjustable seating. Some scooters can handle up to 300 pounds. For those with smaller frames, the junior models may be more suitable. These are also great for children.

Comfort

A lot of factors contribute to comfort and ease of use. The wheels will determine the smoothness of your ride as well as your safety. Scooters with 4 wheels are often more stable and more comfortable than those with 3 wheels, but there are still 3-wheeled scooters that offer a smooth ride.

Maneuverability or ease of steering is also a factor. The scooter should be easy to maneuver. As much as possible, look for one that features car like steering or some manufacturers call it tie-rod steering.

The knee platform should also be well padded. A contoured knee pad offers more comfort because it follows the contour of your knee so it doesn’t cause strain to it.

Terrain

It’s also very important to consider where you will be using the knee scooter most of the time. What type of terrain would you be walking on? Some scooters are designed for off-road use. Others have slightly bigger tires that are suitable for grass or gravel. Pneumatic tires help you overcome obstacles on the road like gaps in the sidewalk and are best when traversing on dirt. Consider your neighborhood. Do you live in an area that has steep sidewalks or hills?

If you will be using the knee scooter indoors, you’re better off with smaller rubber wheels. These don’t make marks on the floor so you don’t have to worry about damaging your home flooring.

Portability

If you expect to be traveling a lot while in recovery, there are knee scooters that are completely foldable or collapsible. These can be stored in the trunk so you can still be on the go.

Attachments

Since you’re very limited on what you can carry while using the knee scooter, some attachments will be very useful, especially if you’re going to use it regularly. If you’re planning to use it to go to the grocery store or need to carry a few items around regularly, choose a model that has a basket attachment. Some portable models feature a removable basket so it’s easier to fit in the trunk.

Brakes and Locks

The handbrake should be adjustable and lockable. It should be powerful enough to keep you safe and in control especially when going downhill or when climbing an incline.

Ergonomic Grips

You will be using the scooter a lot so the grips on the handle should be ergonomically designed and comfortable. Otherwise, they will strain your hand after some time of use. Rubber is typically a good material but it should also be easy to clean especially if your hands tend to sweat a lot.

Weight

Aside from the weight capacity, you should also consider the actual weight of the knee scooter. Lightweight models are easier to drive and steer than heavier ones. But they should be sturdy enough to handle your weight and activities.

Adjustable Handlebars

It’s also a great advantage if the handlebars are adjustable. This will help you stand in a comfortable position and adjust it to suit your activities.

Those are some of the most important things you need to consider when choosing which knee scooter is the best for you.

Advantages of Using a Knee Scooter Over Crutches

Knee scooters or one leg scooters offer great advantages compared to crutches. Using crutches require you to support your body weight by your forearms and underarms. This is not only inconvenient but also painful. You might even injure your nerves in your underarms.

With the help of a knee scooter, all of your weight can be put on your shin instead of your arms. The tibia or shin is one of the strongest bones in your body and can hold your weight for prolonged periods without straining you too much. You can also get around much faster.

A knee scooter offers you a lot of convenience and stability. Best of all, it gives you the freedom to do a lot of things you couldn’t normally do while trying to recover from an injury or surgery.

Is a Knee Scooter Better than Crutches?

Whenever you injure your leg, the first thing that comes to your mind is “I need to buy crutches,” because crutches have been used since we can all remember. What if I told you there’s a better way to get around when your leg is injured and you need to get around quickly?

Remember when you were a kid, and your main source of entertainment was that scooter you always carried around?

A knee scooter is the medical version of that fun gadget you always played with. It comes in all shapes and sizes, so you can have one with only two wheels, or you can have one with three or even four wheels.

In this article, we will be discussing the pros of using a knee scooter compared to crutches. Along with tips on how to use it, and how to know which one is a better option for you.

Knee Scooters as an Alternative to Crutches

Up until recently, crutches have been almost the only good option for an assistive mobility device. However, better alternatives are now widely available.

The knee scooter is one of the best alternatives to crutches. It simplifies even the most basic tasks and makes your life easier.

Let’s discuss the features of knee scooters that differentiate them from crutches.

Ease of Use

A knee scooter is easy to use once you’ve grasped how to handle and steer it. It makes a lot of things easier in return. When you’re not moving, your hands will be free, unlike using crutches.

Even when you stop, you have to keep holding the crutches, which makes it challenging to do basic tasks like checking your phone or getting something out of your wallet.

Less Body Strength Required

Using crutches requires massive upper body strength, and even then, they put on a lot of pressure on your shoulder and back muscles.

On the contrary, knee scooters don’t require that kind of upper body strength. You can use a knee scooter no matter what your weight is. This makes it suitable for people who are overweight, whereas crutches are hard to use by overweight individuals.

Comfort

Knee scooters are more comfortable compared to crutches.

Crutches are usually very irritable to your armpit area. They can even cause a lot of pain to your armpits.

On the other hand, knee scooters provide you comfort that crutches can’t. Resting your injured leg alone provides comfort, since you don’t have to just let your leg hang while moving.

Most doctors recommend that your injured leg should stay elevated after an injury, and crutches don’t allow you to do that, which is the whole point of a knee scooter.

A lot of knee scooters are equipped with a knee pad that makes resting your injured leg on smooth and cozy.

Stability and Safety

Since knee scooters are very close to the ground, they’re more stable compared to crutches. No matter how windy or rainy the weather is, knee scooters are a lot safer to use than crutches.

Shortly, using a knee scooter decreases the risk of falling or slipping.

Speed

Crutches slow you down. It can take you almost two times the time it usually takes you to get somewhere. With knee scooters, you can move almost at your normal pace, once you get the hang of it.

You wouldn’t have to slow your friends or family down when you’re walking together, and you most certainly won’t get those sympathy looks people give you when they’re walking with you.

You can resume all of your daily activities in a normal pace, and you won’t ever get left behind!

Exercise

If your injury is a long-term one, your healthy leg and your hip will be at risk of getting weak if you don’t move them constantly.

Check out our favorite non-weight bearing exercises.

Knee scooters are excellent for your hips and your healthy leg, since they allow you to move them safely. This motion of gliding your foot on the floor to make the knee scooter move exercises your leg’s muscles.

Unlike crutches, as the effort you put into walking with them can actually be harmful to your muscles in general.

Tips for Using a Knee Scooter

Using a knee scooter is easy, it just needs a little getting used to, just like any assistive mobility device. There are some things that you need to make sure of before using a knee scooter.

Try it out at home first, until you get a grip on how to use it effectively.
Make sure that the height of the knee platform is adjusted perfectly to your height and is allowing you to use the knee scooter comfortably. You’ll know when exactly the knee platform is in the right place when your injured leg is folded at a 90-degree angle.
Ensure that the handlebars are adjusted comfortably, so it’s easy for you to steer and go in the right direction.
Make sure that the knee pad is comfortable enough and that it doesn’t cause your injured leg any pain.
Try to keep your weight balanced in the center of the knee scooter to avoid losing your balance and falling.

What Are Knee Scooter Limitations?

Knee scooters are usable most of the time, but there are some situations where you can’t use them.

Although knee scooters are very stable to use in almost any kind of weather, they can’t be used in deep snow.
You can’t use a knee scooter if your injury is in the upper part of your leg, like your knee or hip, or if you’ve injured both of your legs.
If you have a hard time balancing yourself, knee scooters won’t be a safe choice for you.
A knee scooter is a medical device and it shouldn’t in any way be used for high speed or racing

Wrap up

To sum up, knee scooters allow you to go on with your daily life as smoothly as possible. They make having an injury much easier to deal with, and daily tasks that seem impossible are no longer a problem because of them.

On top of all the advantages knee scooters provide, they’re fun to use! They take you back to your childhood when playing with a scooter was the most entertaining thing to do!