It sounds comical at first doesn’t it, glide skis, beacause gliding, skis and mobility are not usually words that you would find grouped together but give me a moment to explain and you will see how these additions that can be added to your walking frame might help you.

Generally a walking frame is there to assist and it should require as little effort as possible for the person to use as the user doesn’t need anything that is going to make it even more difficult to get around, so walking frames are designed with that in mind.

Sometimes though a small addition can make quite a difference and an example of this would be the walking frame glide skis that you see pictured above.

They can be fitted to the back legs of a wheeled walking frame and allow it to glide, though not too freely so as to be dangerous, but enough that it makes it easy for the user to move the frame foward.

Whether they would be suitable for outdoor use is questionable because i imagine that they might wear down too quickly so are probably more suited to indoor use, but they definately can assist the user in moving the walking frame around as easily as possible.

They are priced at £13.65 inc VAT each and are available at epc-wheelchairs.co.uk

As some people like the use of a rollator and some of the added features that you get with one, like the brake levers that are attached and a carry and storage area where you can keep a few items as well as seating, they are popular with people who have limited strength and grip, as well as larger individuals needing a suitable walking aid.

For a larger person, they may find a standard sized rollator less suitable, fortunately there are rollator walkers that are specifically designed for larger individuals.

A bariatric rollator will have a wider frame but not so wide that it will cause any problems as you pass through a doorway with it, the frame itself is not designed to be heavy as the issue is not how heavy the frame needs to be but how strong to provide enough support and a bariatric rollator is specifically designed to support a heavier body weight easily.

Another benefit is the seating area of the rollator, any user who needs to take regular breaks while walking will appreciate being able to side down on the rollator whenever they need to.

A bariatric rollator walker will usually support up to 40 stone in body weight, both as a seat and when the walker is in use to move around.

The brake levers are designed to require minimal pressure for the brakes to take hold so if strength and grip pressure is an issue for the user then they wont be needing to exert themselves to apply the brakes safely.

Bariatric rollator walkers are foldable too for easy storage and transport in vehicles, pricing is often around £200 – £300 depending on the model that you choose, some may have more wheels than others, depending on design but all are specially designed to support the larger individual safely and comfortably.

For some people that need to use a walking frame they may not find the standard type suitable for them, issues with grip and the persons own disabilities may make it more difficult to grip the frame in the usual hand grip area and this could cause the user to feel more unsteady and vulnerable.

What may be more suitable for some users is a forearm walker, there are padded cushion areas on each side section of the frame and the frame is height adjustable so that the person can rest their forearms on the frame which can create more of a secure feeling for the user and better balance and allows them to rest comfortably in between movements.

There are upward facing handles at the front ends of the forearm cushions for the user to grip with their hands, this mean that the user has a comfortable grip without downward pressure on their hands and comfort for their forearms and a much easier resting position.

Castors on the front aid the user in moving forward, with rubber tips on the back legs of the frame for safety when stationary, the frame is still lightweight but also still able to support substantial bodyweight like other types of frames available, the max user weight is up to 25st.

If you find the usual type of walker less suitable for you, you may get on better with a forearm walker and feel more steady with a frame of this type.