Increased handle height for rollator walker
Matt needed his existing rollator handles raised by 2-3 inches to aid his recovery following brain injury. Matt is 6’2″ and his rollator was too low to provide the correct posture.
The Challenge
Following a brain tumour removal and subsequent hypoxic brain injury Matt has significant disturbance to his vision, balance and coordination and vestibular system. He also has significantly reduced proprioception in his right leg. He needs assistance to walk (including 2 carers when walking outdoors).
His walker is used to aid his recovery under the guidance of a physiotherapist. But to provide the correct posture, the handles need to be raised by 2-3 inches. He has trialled alternative larger rollators but he did not get on with them, and is keen to keep one he knows he can walk with. He keeps the brakes on when using the rollator – it is used more like a walking frame.
The solution
The rollator Matt had did not lend itself to further extension using the existing vertical tubes. It runs the brake cables internally and this limited further extension. So new handles were made using aluminium tube and 3D printed parts to clamp over the existing handles. The height is adjustable in 20mm increments. As Matt currently uses it with the brakes locked on there was no need to transfer the brake function. The modifications can be simply removed to revert rollator back to its original form as requested.
Adapted rollator with adjustable height handles fitted over existing handles
The benefit
Matt can now continue his recovery with help of his team of carers and physiotherapist.
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