Knee Scooters: The Perfect Injury Recovery Solution

You fell during your daily exercise and broke your foot or ankle. You went to the doctor, got a moon boot and are recovering from the pain. It is now time to think about your mobility. You wonder how to move around your house and travel to the grocery store and back for your essential errands.

You have used crutches before and do not like the pressure under your arms. Of course, being confined to a wheelchair is not an attractive option either. 

Therefore, a knee scooter hire could be the perfect solution. It can help you recover from your injury while allowing extra mobility to continue living your daily life. 

What is a knee scooter?

A knee scooter also called a knee walker is a device that helps you roll around freely and safely. It is a perfect solution to help with recovery.

Knee scooters take the weight off the injured leg allowing it to rest on the padded part of the device. The knee scooter resembles a regular scooter but has padding to support your leg. 

With 3 or 4 wheels, handlebars, and a knee resting pad, knee scooters are manual (non-motorized) devices. 

To use a knee scooter, make sure the brakes are locked and hold the handlebars. Place your injured leg onto the padded knee platform. Once you are comfortable and stable, you can unlock the breaks and start moving. This is accomplished by using your healthy leg to propel your movement. You can also steer in different directions by holding and turning the handlebars. 

What are the benefits of a knee scooter?

Compared to other mobility devices such as crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs, knee scooters allow increased comfort, freedom, support, and confidence. While using a knee scooter, your leg can rest and recover while you continue walking and working. 

Here are some other benefits of a knee walker:

• Hands-free movement- Using a knee walker frees up your hands.
• Easy turns- The size and shape of the knee walker allows you to make sharp turns and easily maneuver in and out of small spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.
• Stability- Knee walkers provide a degree of stability that is difficult to achieve with other devices. Depending on the knee walker you hire, they can be suitable for both indoor and outdoor use

Knee scooters also reduce muscle atrophy after an injury or surgery since both legs are required to maintain balance. 

Due to the increased movement and flexibility that knee scooters provide, having one can increase social and emotional well being. This can be essential to staying positive during a long recovery process. 

How do they compare to other mobility devices?

Many people who use knee scooters may consider other devices to help recover from injury or surgery. Here is how these devices compare:

• Crutches-They promote hunched posture, have less stability, and hands are used to hold the crutches. There is also a need to stay balanced and they can be dangerous to use on uneven ground.
• Wheelchairs- They offer significant stability, but less independence. Often someone is needed to help you move and it is hard to get around small spaces.
• Knee Scooters- These encourage an upright posture, allow you to rest your hands while resting your leg. They also encourage independence and allow you to move in small spaces.

What should I look for in a knee scooter hire?

Depending on the required usage, knee scooters have a variety of different features and structures that you should keep in mind when choosing a device. 

• Knee rest- Of primary importance is the knee rest. This part of the device should be big enough for your leg to rest with additional space on either side. The padding should be comfortable, especially if you plan to use the knee scooter for long periods.
• Frame- Secondly, the type of frame is important. It should be strong and durable and made from materials like steel or aluminium (not plastic). Having something foldable is also helpful to store it and transport it more effortlessly. 
• Wheels- If you plan to use your knee scooter outdoors, it is important to find one with thicker wheels for different surfaces. With exclusive indoor use, smaller wheels are sufficient and could be easier to navigate smaller spaces.

Knee scooter rent or buy?

Generally, knee scooters are required for a relatively short time to recovery from an injury or surgery. In these cases, knee scooter hire is usually the more cost-effective option. This is especially true if you do not know exactly how long the recovery period. Hiring the device means you can simply return the device after your recovery. 

However, if you require the knee scooter for the long term or have many surgeries planned that will each require long recovery times, buying a knee scooter could be the better choice. Even though it is a greater financial investment upfront, it should pay off in the long run. 

How can I stay safe?

Safety is very important with any mobility device, and the same is true with knee scooters. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure that you are operating the device as safely as possible. These will minimize the risk of further injury.

• Make sure the device is adjusted to an appropriate height for you
• Do not use the device on stairs, steps, or escalators
• Keep the wheels on the ground at all times
• Do not carry a baby or toddler while on the scooter
• Move slowly and avoid sharp turns

Statewide Home Health Care in Melbourne has the Knee Scooter heavy-duty and Nova Knee Scooter available to hire or purchase. Feel free to call or visit our showroom to try out these devices. Our friendly staff will provide advice on the right device for you. 

Statewide Home Health Care: Your Home. Your Health. We Care.