Knee Scooter Information
Knee scooters have some serious limitations to be aware of as you choose a mobility device for lower leg injuries and foot injuries such as sprained ankles, Achilles tendon ruptures and Jones fractures. These four-wheeled knee walkers, or knee rollers, have been gaining in popularity as a crutch alternative despite being so large and cumbersome. The bulkiness of the knee scooter makes them difficult to transport, and their large turning radius makes navigating in small spaces impossible. While knee scooters do eliminate the pain associated with conventional under arm crutches, you must use both hands to steer, so they are not hands free, making even simple tasks difficult to accomplish. Also, since they have wheels, uneven or sloped ground is extremely challenging, and forget all about going up or down stairs!
Knee Scooter vs iWALK2.0 Comparison
When comparing knee scooters to iWALK2.0, it is clear that the iWALK2.0 is the best crutch alternative. While the iWALK2.0 works similar to a knee scooter in that you kneel on your shin, it offers so much more in mobility and freedom. The iWALk2.0 is a hands-free, pain-free crutch that solves the limitations of bulky knee scooters. It is lightweight, so it is easy to transport, and as an extension of your leg, it is easy to navigate very small spaces. In fact, you can even use your iWALK2.0 in the shower! The iWALK2.0 is pain-free like knee scooters, but since it is also hands-free you can return to your normal day-to-day activities unrestricted, so that you can take care of yourself, and those around you while your lower leg injuries heal. The iWALK2.0 is more than a knee walker, it’s a temporary lower leg! See our iWALK2.0 and Knee Scooter Comparison Chart below to see why the iWALK2.0 is the BEST mobility device for lower leg injuries!
Will this device work for lower leg injuries?
iWALK2.0: YES – iWALK2.0 is indicated for virtually all lower leg non-weight bearing injuries
Knee Scooters: YES – Knee scooters are indicated for almost all lower leg non-weight bearing injuries
Will this device eliminate pain in my hands, arms, wrists or underarms?
iWALK2.0: YES – Your hands and arms are completely free, just like normal, so it’s pain free
Knee Scooters: YES – You are not bearing your weight on your hands, wrists or arms so typical crutch pain is eliminated.
Will it keep my injury partially elevated?
iWALK2.0: YES – Elevation of the injured area is known to speed healing, and iWALK2.0 provides partial elevation.
Knee Scooters: YES – Elevation of the injured area is known to speed healing, and knee scooters provide partial elevation.
Is this device hands free?
iWALK2.0: YES – iWALK2.0 is 100% hands free, so you can return to a normal, functional, independent lifestyle.
Knee Scooters: NO – You need both your hands to steer and balance on the knee scooter. You can’t do normal daily activities.
Can you use this device on stairs?
iWALK2.0: YES – We don’t know of a safer mobility device for stairs. Not only are using your legs for balance and support, you have full access to the hand rail.
Knee Scooters: NO – For obvious reasons, you cannot use a knee scooter on stairs. Even going up or down a curb can be dangerous.
Can you use this device on different terrain (grass, gravel, concrete, carpet, etc.)?
iWALK2.0: YES – You can certainly adapt to different surfaces and terrain in confidence.
Knee Scooters: NO – Scooters work best on flat, hard, level ground. Surfaces such as gravel, grass, slopes, curbs, carpet or other uneven terrain are difficult or impossible on scooters.
Can this device be used in tight spaces (kitchens, bathrooms, etc.)?
iWALK2.0: YES – iWALK2.0 can go where you do. It’s simply a temporary lower leg – you can go where you want and do what you need..
Knee Scooters: NO – The turning radius is too large to allow efficient navigation of tight spaces such as a kitchen or bathroom.
Is this device easy to transport?
iWALK2.0: YES – iWALK2.0 is light (4.2 lbs) and compact, and easily fits onto a car seat. Disassembled (2 minutes without tools), it’s about the size of a shoebox.
Knee Scooters: NO – Scooters are large and bulky, and typically weigh over 20 pounds. They are hard to fit into a typical car trunk, plus you then have to somehow hop to the car door unassisted.
Will this device enable me to continue my daily activities?
iWALK2.0: YES – You won’t be running any marathons, but iWALK2.0 lets you do just about everything you used to do in your daily routine.
Knee Scooters: NO – Other than getting from point A to point B on level ground, scooters won’t allow you full hands free functionality. Access and navigation in small areas is also restricted.
Will this device reduce atrophy in my injured leg?
iWALK2.0: YES – All of the muscles of your upper leg are used like normal when walking on the iWALK2.0, so muscle atrophy is significantly reduced.
Knee Scooters: NO – Other than kneeling, your leg is stationary on a knee scooter.
Does this device increase patient compliance?
iWALK2.0: YES – Because you can do all your daily tasks on the iWALK2.0, there’s no need to be non-compliant.
Knee Scooters: NO – Scooters have significant limitations which leaves users little option but to “cheat” (non-compliance).
iWALK2.0 – There’s No Comparison!
When you consider having the use of your hands and arms, the ability to navigate small spaces, uneven terrain, and go up or down stairs, iWALK2.0 is clearly superior to knee scooters. So why would you roll, when you can walk?