OhGizmo! - Latest Comments in OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

NormanF — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:20:23 -0000

The roll-a-bout is great for a knee injury. Its much better than crutches and even a walker I picked up from the thrift store. Its not difficult to learn how to use and if you've got good upper body strength and a good unaffected leg, getting up to speed is as natural as using a cane. I can recommend it to keep a leg or knee non weight bearing for the time it takes to recover from an injury.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Dogwood — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:13:23 -0000

The roll-a-bout saved my sanity (not to mention my arms, shoulders, etc.) when I had foot surgery a few years ago. It was recommended by my surgeon & my insurance covered the rental costs (I paid for the shipping.) I was over 60 and had no trouble maneuvering the non-steerable version or balancing. It was great to be able to "stand" at a sink and have my hands free. Also great to be able to roll around and carry a cup or a book in the other hand (no fancy model.) This is for people with lower leg and foot injuries, and it is a blessing.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Susan Robbins — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:02:55 -0000

Some of the comments here just amaze me. What if someone takes a swing at your face when you're on this contraption? Well, how about when you're on crutches? No one's ever taken a swing at my face in my life, so that's the least of my worries.

As as far as the drink cup meaning you can be inebriated is concerned: does "drink" automatically mean alcohol? To mean it usually means water. Maybe coffee or tea. To some people it may mean a carbonated beverage. It's really helpful to be able to carry around a beverage so you don't get dehydrated. (Try carrying ANYTHING on crutches sometime.)

I broke my ankle week before last and am in a non-weight-bearing cast. I have not tolerated crutches well at all (my weight plus an old shoulder injury) and have not been able to get around my apartment easily much less return to work, which I very much want to do. Asked my orthopedist on my second visit about one of these things and he said sure. Picked it up Saturday, with the help of a friend, and will be returning to work today. Have been zipping around the apartment all weekend. So many people, young and old, fit or not, have broken lower limbs here in Cincinnati during snow/ice storms recently that the medical supply places can't keep this kind of device in stock.

It has given me my life back, more or less. This non-steerable model is not only collapsable-to-flat (I thought the steerable one was too, actually, but someone else said it is not), but is only 14 lb so I can drag it (folded) up the 7 steps to my apartment, which I can manage by going up and down on my rear. Frankly, it is my new best friend, unlovely though it is. Make fun of it if you wish, but it's relieved a great deal of stress on all the OTHER parts of my body, relieved the depression that was setting in, and allowed me to go back to work.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Gary King — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:13:06 -0000

The roll-a-bout is VASTLY superior to crutches for foot or ankle injuries. First of all, it is much safer. Crutches are difficult to balance. Second, you are bearing weight on your leg, instead of your arms. This is much easier and more natural. Third, you can carry things. There is no way to carry anything when both hands are on crutches, but with the rollabout, you have one hand free. I used the original model 3 years ago. It is steared by simply lifting up on the handle to raise the front wheels a little to turn It's really pretty easy, but a model you can steer is better. Finally, you don't have to buy it, you can rent it, although for me, it would have been worth the price since it made working so much easier and more productive. I would have lost a lot of money being less productive with crutches. Finally, it is much faster. You can get through malls or office buildings (or hospital corridors) VERY fast with it. Overall, I don't know one way that crutches are superior. I am a physician and recommend these to all my patients who will be non weight bearing with foot or ankle injuries or surgeries. G. King, M.D.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Tom Schwab — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:36:36 -0000

There are much better knee scooters that turn. the Turning Leg Caddy provides the mobility and stability at a fraction of the bulk and price of the Roll-a-bout. See www.GoodbyeCrutches.com or www.RammTLC.com

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Heather — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:33:49 -0000

I used a different brand of the same sort of roll-about with the steering capability after I had surgery on my foot, and all I can say is, it was a million times more stable than crutches. It was a real life-saver for me, because I had to stay off my foot for over a month, but due to another medical condition, I wasn't able to use crutches. Sure, it can be a little cumbersome and you can't use it up and down stairs, but if you live in a one-level house, then you'll have no problem.

Just like any other bit of medical equipment, it's not going to apply to every condition, every situation, or every person. But for some people, it will work wonders, just as it did for me.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Jimmy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:08:22 -0000

I recently had a foot injury. I found the Orthopedic Knee Crutch helps in many ways, you can sit on it, use it for going up and down stairs. Also it is alot safer than other devices I have seen. See www.kneecrutch.com

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Val — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:46:58 -0000

The best crutch alternative I've ever used is the iWalkFree. http://www.iwalk-free.com/ I was on it for a few months and it was just the best device I've found. That roller thing is a complete hassle, and you don't have both hands free when you're in motion. We dubbed the iWalkFree the "bionic peg leg" I can't believe I haven't seen them all over the place.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Bill — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:11:22 -0000

I currently am using an Orthopedic Knee Crutch which is supplied by Fabridyne Inc. It works great for me!...There are no wheels and cumbersome straps. It can be used on steps where as anything with wheels can not be.
check it out at www.kneecrutch.com.

Bill

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:54:19 -0000

i've been using a roll-a-bout for 8 weeks now. i have the older version sans the steering. the old one is foldable where as these new ones with steering are not. i had the option of getting the new ones and i opted out because the collapsability of the old one is an awesome feature. can stick it anywhere in restaurants, bars, gyms, etc. Also, the lack of steering actually ensure that you don't get too carried away with speed making potentially dangerous turns.

the way you steer the old one is by lifting up on the handle bar pivoting on the back wheels readjusting your direction then putting the front wheels back down then pushing.

i have broken ankles/feet now for the 3rd time and i can tell you definitely that a roll-a-bout is absolutely freakin' awesome....IF. If that is you have good balance and are comfortable with the rolling motion. i have the distinct advantage of skateboarding for over 20 years so for me it was like being on my board again (which is how i broke my foot).

the roll-a-bout saves you from the pain induced by crutches in your hands, wrists, forearm, tricep and most importantly shoulder. it also saves your working leg and feet from the strain of carrying your entire weight on one leg/foot which over time can actually lead to further injuries.

aside from all that, i am completely enabled with this device. i am an engineer working in an office and this has allowed me to do everything i needed to before without being confined to my chair due to lack of desire to stress my body with crutches. i have been able to go everywhere and behave totally normally. i have even taken it to clubs where people go out of their way to be helpful 'cause this thing makes it look like you have a much more serious injury than you might.

anyway, i can talk about how great this thing is for days. i literally get xrays tomorrow and may be off of it in 2 days.

with all that being said, if you are not an active, balanced person with decent strength ('cause you have to fold it, pick it up and throw it in the back seat of the car then hop to the drivers seat) then i can see this thing potentially being dangerous. but again, if you take it slow you should have no problems.

the ONLY pain that results from the use of this thing which happened to me because i abused the mobility it provides by being overly active is that the padding my get to your kness after a while causing discomfort. also, with how often i was on it the thigh that rests on it sees the majority of your weight if you're wheeling around a lot. but those 2 drawbacks and nothing when compared to the freedom you get from having it. i think i would have been clinically depressed if i had been confined to crutches.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Marius — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:50:45 -0000

This design does not look very solid and stable to me. I do want to see the off-road version in action, I would almost bet that you are better off (a lot safer) with crutches than taking a vehicle like that off the sidewalk.. If the wheels aren't significantly wider than those on the picture chances are you will get stuck.

Best advice would be trying not to break one's legs. That would really help...

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Jj — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:21:48 -0000

And look, there's a drink holder! You don't have to be just injured - you can also be inebriated. But yes, I agree with Earthworm: a device like that would only put stress on the injured leg. Sure, it could work if you managed to stay on the thing by putting pressure ONLY on the upper part of the leg, leaving the lower part sitting there. But I seriously doubt that would happen. If anything swings/comes at the person's face, their natural reaction will be to lean back. And in that instant, pressure will be applied to that lower leg part.

Could you imagine if it was a broken leg? Ouch.

The only injury I can imagine this device would work for is a sprained ankle.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » The Roll-A-Bout - A Questionable Alternative To Crutches Or A Wheelchair

Earthworm — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:53:06 -0000

Wouldnt you be putting more pressure on the injured leg with this? I'd think you'd have to have a very specific leg problem below the knee or foot problem to use this, where as a crutch is more universal.