Walkers are tools used by people with impaired mobility who need additional support to balance themselves while walking. Replacing the walking stick which was only supportive in some situations, walkers today have become an important tool of usage for all people who have trouble balancing themselves while walking. A basic walker is a simple frame with two or four legs and a handle for the user to grip. Many are equipped with wheels while many are foldable.
Also known as the side stepper, hemi walkers are tools that assist ambulatory patients with mobility. It is built with lightweight materials such as aluminum, to make it easy for the user as well the caregiver to carry it around. Since they can be lifted using one hand, they are also called one hand walkers. One can say that hemi walkers are a hybrid between walking canes and standardized walkers. The word hemi means half and so they are also known as half walkers. The frame of a hemi walker is similar to an average walker with four legs and a balance beam that also works as the gripping handle. The base of the legs have rubber tips which makes sure that the walker has adequate traction while in use. Since the walker doesn’t have wheels, the user must have a good amount of upper body strength to use a hemi walker.
Hemi walkers are designed specially to cater to the needs of people who face problems while walking especially while maintaining balance. Stroke patients, patients who have undergone a 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 as it can be used with only one hand. They provide perfect balance and compensate for the loss of dexterity of one side of the body by balancing the body while walking. They are also a good option for people who have had a leg surgery and have been recommended to not apply stress on either leg.
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Essential Medical Pyramid Cane Hemi Walker |
Days Hemi Walker |
Guardian Adult Hemi Walker |
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Carex Folding Hemi Walker | Mabis DMI Folding Aluminum Hemi-Walker |
Also known as knee scooters, they are walkers equipped with wheels and a handle to balance the walker. They are a hybrid between standard walkers and scooters. They are pushed around using the upper body strength of the user and have seat like rest in the center for 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 experience pain in the forearms and underarms after using crutches. Knee walkers eliminate this pain and discomfort by making it a simple and easy tool to use. They are made of sturdy yet lightweight materials and can be easily transported from one place to another.
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Cardinal Health Steerable Knee Walker |
Drive DV8 Steerable Aluminum Knee Walker |
Medline Weil Gen 2 Knee Walker |
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Vive Mobility All Terrain Knee Walker |
Knee walkers and hemi walkers are very different in functioning but the main idea behind the two is the same which is supporting a person while walking. Hemi walkers cater to a different set of patients where as knee walkers cater to people with injuries and disorders in the leg. Here are a few benefits of each which will help you compare and choose according to your needs:
Hemi Walker | Knee Walker |
1. Made for people with balance and dexterity problems | 1. Made for people who have undergone leg or knee surgery |
2. Lightweight and perfect for home use | 2. Sturdy and can be pushed around easily |
3. Comes in standard, heavy duty, and foldable options | 3. Comes in all terrain, steerable, and hands free options |
4. Can be easily taken out for travel purposes | 4. Difficult to carry around as they are heavier than hemi walkers |
5. Requires good strength of the upper body to be used | 5. Doesn’t require good upper body strength but dexterity is important to avoid accidents |
Both hemi walkers and knee walkers have their own pros and cons and choosing the right one for your needs is very important to make sure you do not further injure yourself or aggravate an existing condition.
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