I have rented one of these for $120 per month. I have a foot injury which just won't seem to heal. I tried using crutches and they're so hard on the rest of your body. This device puts a little stress on the good foot, but nothing like crutches, and very little strain on your upper body. It has sturdy, wide wheels that roll very smoothly. The rear wheels being placed close together leaves space for the foot that you are propelling yourself with. The front wheels turn pretty sharply, but due to the length of the unit, the overall turning radius is still pretty big. The front tiller folds down for transport, although it doesn't lock in place in the folded position, so it can flop around when you try to pick it up to stow it in the car. The mechanism to lock/unlock the tiller in the upright position is a little cumbersome, but workable. When I got the unit, the tiller was unstable when I leaned on it, but I was able to tighten various joints to eliminate this problem. In addition to resting your knee on the pad to move about you can sit on it to do tasks. The brakes are pretty effective and the unit feels quite stable, so I have no fear of gliding down a long decline. It's possible to go up or down a short step, but a little tricky. The unit is very solidly built, with heavy duty welds at all major joints. It is also a little heavy for getting in and out of the car.
I'm writing this first of my Amazon reviews because I am a huge fan of this product. I had ankle surgery four weeks ago. For the first week and a half I had too much pain to lower my leg and return to the world. Once the pain was gone, remembering life on crutches from earlier broken bones, etc., I dreaded making my way around. My doctor recommended a knee walker, and Mayo Clinic rented me one of these. Amazing. I scoot down the halls where I work, through grocery stores, anywhere with a smooth surface, even sidewalks outside. Not much effort to it, and it's no trick to balance. I did test drive another at a clinic where I live--a kneebop, I believe, and found it much less substantial and stable that the Essential Medical. If you're interested in having a knee walker, this is the one for you. My only complaint is that when you take the brakes off lock they spring up hard. One whack and next time you'll keep your fingers out of the way.
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I purchased this for use after my foot surgery. I am not strong enough for crutches, and due to an old back injury I can't hop with a walker. The knee walker is perfect. I lock the wheels and use its handle bars to help me stand from a sitting position. When sitting in a chair, I can use it to elevate my foot. It easily supports my weight (>200lb) and clears the smallest doors in my house. It took a little practice, but I can now maneuver in the smallest places.
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I was THRILLED to pick up my Free Spirit Knee and Leg walker today, after spending a week on crutches following Achilles tendon surgery. This device has given me a huge boost emotionally as well as practically. First of all, it's easy to navigate, and I haven't had any problems with balance or the ability to move it easily. It's compact, and rolls very smoothly and feels stable. The knee cushion is especially comfortable. The little bag in front is handy and holds even a tall cup pretty well (it's been very constraining not to even be able to get from the kitchen to the sofa with a drink you'll still need a cap on that drink though). It's narrow enough to go through smaller doorways easily, but wide enough to make me feel stable as I use it. I used it to run into Walmart for just a couple of things, and it was a breeze to use, though of course I couldn't carry much up to the checkout. The brakes work well, and you can lock them and even sit down on the little seat if you need to give your knee a break. One note though this device requires a lot less strength to use than crutches, you will still have to use your "good leg" pretty extensively. Also, the scooter is not super-light if you are weak, you may not be able to easily get it into a vehicle by yourself. I personally didn't have a real hard time leaning on the car to get to the back door and pull the scooter out, but it was a little tricky. If you have any issues with balance, you may still want to use your crutches while you're getting the scooter out of the vehicle. Also, you will have to plan your trips to use EITHER the scooter or the crutches, because you sure can't carry crutches while scooting on this thing, and it definitely will not work if you have to go up any steps. Overall, though, this little device is a real life-improver in my opinion, and I am very glad I shelled out the money for it. It's given me a level of independence that I didn't have before, and lessened both my frustration, as well as my husband's!
One note I called all over town trying to find one of these in stock somewhere, and local medical suppliers (and even my doctor) acted like they had never seen one, like this was some sort of novel, weird idea. One supplier did tell me he had stocked one at one time, but that he felt like it was dangerous, so he didn't re order it when it sold. After using this product, I don't know what he's talking about. I'll tell you what's dangerous CRUTCHES. I struggle MUCH more with balance and the fear of falling on crutches than I do using this product. I love it.
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This is a really good product. The description says it fits 5'4" but I am only 5'0" and it fits me with the knee pad in the lowest position. It is sturdy and well built. I have found that I need to release the brakes by pulling up on the bottom of the loop instead of the top so I don't snap my fingers. It is actually pretty fun to use!
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