Have you recently suffered from a serious leg or foot injury? Mobility aid devices can help you stay functional and improve the quality of your life as they provide support when you’re moving around inside and outside the house.
Knee scooters or walkers are designed to take the pressure off your feet when you’re recovering after surgery. They’re also prescribed for people who suffer from chronic knee joint problems that deprive them of standing and walking comfortably.
As an alternative to other mobility aids, learning how to use a knee scooter will have a huge impact on the quality of your life. However, you should learn how to use your knee walker properly for maximum safety and convenience.
Why Should You Use a Knee Scooter?
People who suffer from lower-body injuries, knee problems, or are currently recovering after serious surgery, have several options that can help them increase their mobility. Canes, walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs are other alternatives, so what makes knee scooters better?
- Unlike other alternatives, scooters require minimum upper body strength. This means that they won’t represent an extra pressure on your shoulders, arms or back.
- They put the weight off your legs. With walkers, canes, and crutches, your legs will still be carrying some of the weight which can make your condition worse.
- Canes usually push you to press on one leg, putting a strain on your spine and shoulder over time. Walkers require that you always bend in order to help the walker support your body as you move forward. Knee scooters keep your body in a comfortable and natural upright position so they minimize the risk of lower back injuries.
- Your hands are free so you can use them while working, cooking, or shopping. You can grab objects and open doors because your hands aren’t occupied. This isn’t the case with canes, crutches, and walkers.
- A knee walker doesn’t promote muscle atrophy. Other mobility devices might increase the pressure on your healthy leg, knee or foot but this is not the case when you’re using a knee scooter.
- These devices are designed to work on all terrains so you can use your scooter to move on grass, gravel or dirt. They help patients feel more confident when they’re alone.
How to Use a Knee Scooter – Step by step instructions
There’s a single problem with knee scooters; there’s a learning curve to using them successfully. Some people might find them a little bit difficult to handle at the beginning, although they’re extremely helpful. Here are some tips to help you use your first knee scooter.
- Take a look at the knee walker before mounting it. It should be at the right height that fits properly while you’re standing.
- The handles and the knee cushion are adjustable so you should customize them for your comfort.
- Check the lever on the seat or cushion to make sure that the seat won’t accidentally move while you’re moving. Most reliable knee scooters feature a safety pin that keeps the seat in place.
- Make sure that the brakes are locked. This will prevent the knee walker from moving accidentally.
- Move your injured leg onto the knee platform to make sure that it’s in a comfortable position.
- Unlock the brakes and use your uninjured leg to move around.
- Push your body forward while supporting your upper half using the handles.
- If you feel that you’re unable to maintain your balance, lock the hand brakes and adjust your body. Once you feel you’re comfortable, you can start moving one more time.
- You can engage the hand brakes if you feel that you want to go a little slower. Knee scooters are fast, so you might want to slow down a little, especially at the beginning.
Knee scooters are more practical than crutches and walkers as they don’t limit your movement. They also reduce the stress and strain that other mobility devices might cause.
However, you might face a few problems before you master the art of using the knee scooter. Practice makes perfect so in no time, you’ll be able to move around comfortably and on your own.
Bottom Line
Although there are other alternatives, most people prefer knee scooters over other options because they’re practical to use. Moreover, they don’t much pressure on the back and shoulders like crutches, canes, and walkers.
If you’ve recently decided to use a knee scooter, then you should be ready for some practice. It doesn’t take much time before you’re ready to move around comfortably and on your own.