Rei's Mobility Device Review After breaking my ankle, I have been fortunate enough to be able to try out some mobility devices that are designed for people who cannot use the foot on one side, but who have nothing wrong with the knee. Just in case this helps anyone I thought I would offer this review ... all just in my opinion only... your results will vary....

Normal Crutches

Received via hospital.

Pros:

  • Once you get used to them, it's fast going

    Cons:

  • Ouch!
  • No hands free while moving
  • When stopped, crutches fall over if not leaned against something
  • Hard to pick up objects or do anything even while standing still
  • Stairs are still scary
  • Wet floors are downright frightening

    RollerAid Knee Scooter

    I have this on rental.

    Pros:

  • Sturdy and mostly stable, but yet quite lightweight
  • Very nice small turn radius becaues the wheels swivel, but takes a little practice
  • Single knee cushion means fast mount and dismount; some may prefer not having the cast on a cushion
  • Can zoom around pretty well, but don't accidentally hit the front wheels - ouch!
  • Once you stop, you can pretty much use both hands. You kind of need both hands to steer well.

    Cons:

  • Unstable if you lean back too far and are off-center
  • Takes a while to learn how to go straight!
  • Wide front wheel base means it won't fit in bathrooms easily
  • Single cushion means you can't rest your cast while riding, which can be awkward for some people

    Pathfinder Knee Scooter (TLC)

    I have this on rental.

    Pros:

  • Has bicycle-style steering
  • More narrow than RollerAid.
  • Has a secondary cushion for resting the cast on, which some may prefer
  • Can go a little bit shorter (knee height) than the RollerAid.
  • Can zoom around pretty well, but don't accidentally hit the front or back wheels!
  • Once you stop, you can pretty much use both hands. You kind of need both hands to steer well.

    Cons:

  • Can be unstable to the front. Do sit too far forward. And never lean on handles if your weight is not fully on the cushion.
  • Turn radius is insufficient in small spaces or around lots of furniture; can't go in a tight circle.
  • Secondary cushion for the cast can be awkward for some
  • Easier to hit the back wheels with the propelling foot, but you learn fast.

    NOTE on the knee scooters: As you can see, something that is a pro for one may be a con to someone else. Unfortunately it hard to find somewhere where you can test drive these. Both are fine mobility aids in my opinion, but depending on your circumstances, one may better suit your needs.

    Knee Crutch

    Bought used off eBay.

    This is a neat device. It has five little feet at the bottom for stability, and a knee cushion, and a long handle. The person I bought from included a thick sponge to go on top of the knee cushion. This combined with a knee scooter is a pretty good combination - take the knee crutch with you on the scooter to get into small spaces or bathrooms; use the knee scooter to travel long distances.

    Pros:

  • You only need one of these crutches, not two.
  • Lets you stand on both legs
  • Enables going up or down non-carpeted stairs
  • With a sponge cushion added, lets you rest your cast on it like a footstool!
  • One hand free while moving
  • Two hands free while standing
  • Can get into small spaces and do work there!

    Cons:

  • Slow going - normal crutches are faster
  • Awkward to lift the crutch sometimes; it's somewhat hefty for people who don't have a lot of upper body strength.
  • Doesn't quite feel stable on thick carpet; I would not use it on thick-carpeted stairs.
    Links to other Mobility Devices I haven't tried, but which I found online....

    Other Knee-Support Crutches

  • http://www.iwalk-free.com/home.html - strap-on hands-free crutch
  • http://www.rammtlc.com/Products/onlyone.php - I really wanted to try this crutch but couldn't find it anywhere
  • http://www.onecrutch.com/home.html - attachment to normal crutch that turns it into a knee-support crutch; very inexpensive compared to other crutches

    Other Knee Scooters

  • Neebop
  • Invacare
  • Weil

    There are some reviews out there of these devices - have fun researching!