Rollator walkers are excellent mobility aids that help with gaining more balance and mobility allowing you to get out and about easier. Rollator walkers, basic walkers, and other mobility aids work best when they fit your size and body type properly. When they do they can help you achieve independence again by allowing you to move both indoors and out. Pick the wrong size and it can make moving painful and in some instances actually promote you to fall easier. That’s why we get asked how to measure for a walker more times than not. Because of this, we decided to write an article on how to get your correct measurements before making a purchase.
When measuring for a walker or rollator you have to know your height, weight, and width. Making sure that you match your measurements with the rollator as closely as possible will help with comfort, the correct posture, and safety over long-term use.
In this in-depth guide, we will explain the different types of walkers and rollators you can get, why taking your measurements is crucial to picking the correct walker, and why matching your measurements to a walker will result in a better experience.
Do rollator walkers come in different sizes?
Yes, they do. Rollators will come in a few different sizes. Many are also adjustable allowing for handlebar and in some models, seat sizes to be adjusted for a better fit.
- Bariatric Walkers: Walkers will be for anyone that needs extra support. These types of walkers can support weights from 300 to 800 pounds or more depending on the model.
- Standard Walkers: These are the most used walkers for people that are from 5’3″ to 5’11” in height. They also can support weights that are from 230 pounds to 300 pounds.
- Tall Walkers: These are designed for taller individuals that are from 5’11” to 6’4″ These walkers allow for taller people to walk better and not hunch over causing pain and other back problems to accur.
- Adjustable Walkers: These type of walkers are desinged to allow adjusteing of the handlebars. Adjusting helps to fine tune the walkers size to your size as close as possible.
Why measuring your dimensions is so important for a rllator walker
A poor-fitting walker can be just as dangerous as not using a walker for those that need help and assistance while walking. You can cause further issues to your posture, cause pain, cause joint issues like carpal tunnel, and other issues by not waking correctly because the walker is either too high or too low for your measurements.
Walker or rollator that is too short
Using a walker that is too short will force your body to lean forward when using it. This will cause your walking motion to not be natural and cause poor posture and pain over time. This can cause increased tension in the neck muscles and spine.
Walker or rollator that is too high
Just like if a walker or rollator is too short the risk of using a walker that is too high poses an increased risk of falling. It is imperative to closely match your measurements with the walker you going to use in order to get the safest and best possible use out of the walker.
How to measure for a rollator walker
Measuring yourself for a walker or rollator style walker is not difficult and in fact, doesn’t take much work at all. Here are the measurements that you need to check and know before you make a purchase. All you need is a tape measure and a scale if you do not know your current weight.
You need to know your:
- Height
- Weight
- Seat width
Height
Height is the first thing you should measure. You need a height measurement so you know where the handlebar placement should be. Get this measurement wrong and you could have bars that are too low or too high making it very difficult to get up from a seating position on the rollator.
How to measure the proper height for a rollator walker.
- You will always want to wear your shoes when doing this. Then stand up straight on a flat surface.
- Hang your arms naturally at your side.
- You will need to have someone measure from the floor next to your foot to the start of your wrist.
- Write this measurement down. This is how tall the handles should be to get the best position for your height.
Weight
Like other wheelchairs, canes, and other mobility aids rollators have a maximum weight limit that should be followed. This limit is the amount of weight the rollator can safely support.
How to measure the proper weight for a rollator walker.
- Weight yourself on a reliable scale.
- Be sure to have your shoes on when you weight yourself.
- Wear normal clothes, this slight weight should also be calculated in the total weight.
Seat Width (Measure Your hips)
You will need to know how wide your hips are. This will allow you to know how wide the seat must be.
How to measure the proper width for a rollator walker.
- Sit down on a standard chair. A dining room chair will work fine.
- Sit with your legs as natural as possible with your feet flat on the floor.
- With the help of someone have them measure the distance between your hips.
- This measurment will be how wide your walker seat must be at a minium.
Final thoughts on measuring for a walker
Knowing how to measure for a walker or rollator style walker is not difficult. When taking the time to take the proper measurements can dramatically affect how the walker performs overall.
Measure wrong, or not at all can result in a walker that causes more harm than good in terms of posture and pain.
When you start to measure for your rollator walker be sure to measure your height, weight, and width at your hips to determine the best possible fit for your walker and experience.
