March 20, 2021

Guide to Best Knee Scooters in the Market

Written by: Syed Naqvi, MBBS
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What is a Knee Scooter or also commonly known as a Leg Scooter?

A knee scooter is a mobility aid for people who cannot ambulate due to a leg injury. A knee scooter for broken foot may have three or four wheels and provides a resting platform for the knee of your affected limb and is a good alternative to crutches or cranes. The knee of the affected limb is rested on the resting platform while the unaffected limb is used to force oneself towards a particular direction while hands are used to steer. It is known by a lot of names, including knee scooter, knee walker, knee roller, broken leg scooter, or orthopedic scooter.

 

You may want to consider buying a leg scooter for leg injury if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. It is a good choice for those who have ankle or foot injuries including fractures, ulcers, sprains, or amputation. A leg scooter also helps in providing near-normal ambulation to patients who are awaiting prosthesis installation after amputation. The reason behind its use is that it allows the injured leg to heal without facing the unnecessary stress of daily ambulation.

 


There are several different types of leg scooters depending on the ease-of-use and terrain. Foldable knee scooters are popular these days since they can easily be folded to put into the car if you need to be driven to a distant location. Depending on the terrain you’ll be facing, there are two different types of knee scooters: standard knee scooters and all-terrain knee scooters.

 

Standard Knee Scooter:

A standard medical leg scooter is an ideal aid for easy indoor ambulation. If you are the type of person who likes to spend most of their time indoors, a standard knee scooter is the way to go. They are usually small in size and easy to maneuver inside the home.

 


All Terrain Knee Scooter:

All-terrain knee scooters are aimed at providing easy maneuvering for the outdoors. You might have to face ambulation through dirt, gravel, grass, or icy surfaces and a standard knee scooter will not work efficiently on those surfaces.

 

Quick Table of The Best Leg Scooters of Our Choice

Click Here for a more detailed product description

 

Reasons to Go for Knee Walkers Rather than Crutches


At this moment, you might be thinking, why go for knee walkers when there is the option of crutches available. There are a few reasons why knee scooters are better than crutches and a few reasons where crutches might be preferred.

 


Mobility:

Leg scooters offer more mobility as compared to crutches. You might need assistance from others in your daily life if you are using crutches. With crutches, getting in and out of the vehicles may be difficult on your own. Reaching for groceries and handling objects with both hands may be difficult since your arms are required to help you keep standing. On other hand, leg scooters leave your hands free to do whatever you want them to do while the leg scooter’s brakes are locked.
 

Crutch Palsy:

Due to the immense strength needed to hold your bodies up, your armpits may have to bear an excess load that can lead to compression of radial nerve passing through that area. This causes weakness of arms, especially extension of the wrists. Patients with crutch palsy may also have difficulty holding objects firmly.
 


Need of Strength:

The use of crutches demands increased strength to ambulate. A knee scooter is comparatively easier to operate and is easy on the body where the affected knee is placed on the resting platform while the other leg is used to push the orthopedic scooter forward, whereas crutches require immense effort with every step.
 


Slippery Surfaces:

The rubber feet of the crutches may be slick and increase the risk of falls on slippery surfaces. On the other hand, knee walkers make use of the wheels and can be used in different kinds of terrains with a low risk of falls.
 


Weight Restrictions:

Crutches come with weight restrictions and are not ideal for individuals on the plus side. Knee rollers are designed for a vast variety of individuals from children to the elderly and also accommodate heavier individuals.

 


Situations where Knee Walkers Cannot be Used


There is no doubt that leg scooters are an incredible invention for ambulation in patients with leg and foot injuries but there are a few limitations when knee scooters cannot be used.

 


Injury to both Legs and Feet:

We have already mentioned that the affected leg is the one placed on the resting platform while the unaffected leg is used to push the knee scooter forward. Hence, patients with involvement of both legs are unable to use knee scooters.
 


Injury to Knee or Hip:

The knee is the part of the leg that is placed on the resting platform in a flexed position. Patients with knee fractures managed with plaster cast are not able to assume that position of their legs and are unable to use knee scooters. Similarly, patients with hip injuries may not be able to use knee scooters.

 

 

Best Knee Scooters for Broken Foot

At this point, many of our readers who have ankle or foot injuries may be considering buying a knee scooter for broken ankle or foot. There are a lot of options in the market and you need to consider different aspects before buying one. Before buying a leg scooter, one must know the ideal size, ease-of-use, comfort, type, and portability of the leg scooters. Try to look for a knee scooter for sale at fair prices, but the best scooter is the one that provides stability as well as mobility in different terrains. Lucky for you, we have compiled a list of the best knee scooters based on our extensive research and personal experience with them.
 

1) KneeRover All Terrain Steerable Knee Scooter Knee Walker Heavy Duty

 

KneeRover is one of the leading brands that make exceptional orthopedic scooters. KneeRover All Terrain is a knee walker that aims for free navigation in different settings, both indoors and outdoors. It comes with a lightweight body that is easy to lift and has a high weight capacity of up to 350 lbs, hence making it a good choice for heavier individuals. Its tie-rod steering mechanism provides automotive-style steering and provides increased stability. The brake locks allow the leg scooter to be placed in a parking position for increased stability when your hands are off the handlebar. It is installed with a single back wheel which might cause it to be a little unstable compared to other models that have two back wheels. On the bright side, a single back wheel means that your good leg is less likely to bump the wheel while you push forward. You may use a training wheel opposite your good leg to increase stability, but it still does not provide the level of stability that you can get from two back wheels. The front wheels are larger compared to other knee walkers on the market. This upgrade may provide increased stability and easy motion on rough terrain; however, it makes the turning radius wider and users may face difficulties in making sharp turns indoors. The seat is solidly built covered with vinyl which makes it easily washable. Probably one of the best features isthe foldable steering column for easy portability and a detachable basket that can come in handy for storing things while you are on the move.
 

Pros:

  • High weight capacity.
  • Brake lock.
  • Large front wheels provide easy mobility on rough terrains.
  • Solid knee platform.
  • Foldable steering column.
  • Detachable basket.

 

Cons:

  • Single back wheel makes the device somewhat unstable.
  • Large front wheels prevent sharp turns indoors.

 

2) KneeRover Hybrid Knee Walker

If you are looking for a lightweight knee walker with combined stability of KneeCycle and All Terrain feature of KneeRover All Terrain then KneeRover Hybrid Knee Walker is the best choice for you. Although KneeRoverAll Terrain provides exceptional durability and ease while navigating rough terrain, it is somewhat less stable indoors. The Hybrid version combines the ease of navigating rough terrains along with increased stability both indoors and outdoors with its four-wheel arrangement and large front wheels. It is also perfect for tall people and covers a height range of 5’-6’6”. It weighs only 25.9 lbs and can hold weights of up to 300 lbs.
 

Pros:

  • Brake lock.
  • Increased stability with a four-wheel arrangement.
  • Lightweight
  • Foldable steering column.
  • Detachable basket.
  • Tie-rod steering mechanism.

 

Cons:

  • Somewhat wide turning radius due to large front wheels.
  • Unclear instructions to set up.
  • The knee platform gets uncomfortable after some time.

 

3) KneeRover Economy Knee Scooter Steerable Knee Walker Crutch Alternative with DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM in Matte Black


KneeRover Economy Knee Scooter is an affordable device for non-weightbearing mobility. It is one of the best leg scooters at an affordable price. It is extremely lightweight, weighing 21 pounds, yet it can hold a weight of up to 300 lbs. It is recommended for users with heights 4’9” to 6’6”. It comes with dual locking hand brakes which is pretty great but the locking mechanism is not great compared to the other models. It is an excellent device for use indoors, however, outdoor use comes with instability since the small front wheels may result in a bumpy restricted motion on rough terrain. In short, if you are the type of person who likes to spend most of the time indoors, KneeRover Economy Knee Scooter with its lightweight build and brilliant turning radius is an amazing choice for you.
 

Pros:

  • Brake lock.
  • Increased stability with a four-wheel arrangement.
  • Lightweight
  • Foldable steering column.
  • Great for indoors.

 

Cons:

  • No detachable basket
  • No tie-rod steering mechanism
  • Not a great option for outdoors

 

4) ELENKER Steerable Knee Walker Deluxe Medical Scooter for Foot Injuries

ELENKER Steerable Knee Walker is another knee walker out there that may be used by customers who do not want to purchase a KneeRover. ELENKER knee walker weighs 23 lbs and can hold up to 300 lbs of weight. So we can count it among the lightweight knee walkers with a strong body. It can support heights of 4’9” to 6’6”. 8-inch solid PVC wheels are great for indoors. The company says that the knee walker is equally efficient for outdoors but our experience has shown that this knee walker does not have great mobility on the rough outdoor terrains. In contrast to many other knee walkers on the market, this one comes with dual brakes that help in providing a better sense of security and functional control of the speed. However, the locking mechanism, although great, is not the best one out there and you may notice the knee walker isn’t completely “parked” with the brakes locked. The knee pad may be comfortable initially, but our experience has shown that prolong use may end up bruising your knee. It is advisable to get a soft pad cover to prevent any discomfort.
 

Pros:

  • Dual brake system.
  • Increased stability with a four-wheel arrangement.
  • Lightweight
  • Foldable steering column.
  • Great for indoors.
  • Basket

 

Cons:

  • Not a great option for the outdoors.
  • Knee pad could be better.
  • Brake locks are not great.

 

5) KneeRover QUAD All Terrain Knee Walker in Metallic Blue

This thing is a beast when it comes to knee walkers and is one of the best knee walkers in the market. With a robust built, lightweight body (26 lbs), quick release folding mechanism, and all terrain mobility, this knee walker is an all-in-one product. It can hold a weight of up to 350 lbs and accommodate a height range of 5’ to 6’4”. The 12” pneumatic tires work exceptionally well in the outdoors as well as indoors, although the turning radius may be a bit wide for your liking. The drum brake system stops the knee walker in its track whenever you want. The premium tie-rod steering mechanism once again provides high stability while maneuvering the knee walker. One downside is that it does not come with a detachable basket, but you can buy it separately if you want.
 

Pros:

  • Drum brake system.
  • Increased stability with a four-wheel arrangement.
  • Lightweight
  • Quick-release folding mechanism.
  • Great mobility on all terrains, indoors or outdoors.
  • Premium tie-rod steering mechanism

 

Cons:

  • No basket but can be bought separately.
  • A bit of a strain on the wallet.
  • Turning radius could have been better in this price range.

 

6) Drive Medical 796 Dual Pad Steerable Knee Walker with Basket

The last item in our list of best leg scooters is Drive Medical 796 Dual Pad Steerable Knee Walker. It is a lightweight (22 lbs) knee walker that offers durability and ease in mobility. With small wheels, you would assume that the turning radius would be great but that is not the case and you are likely to find yourself struggling with sharp turns indoors. However, a wide turning radius is compensated with improved stability due to the fact that this knee walker is less likely to tip over. However, we would still not suggest trying to make sharp turns in speed since that will likely tip over the knee walker. A detachable basket is a nice addition and a great accessory to keep your snacks while you are on the move. The tool-free assemble of 796 model makes it easy to assemble. This knee walker is a great device for indoors and would be ideal for you if you prefer to spend most of your time inside the house. The small wheels are not likely to provide stable and easy mobility on rough terrain.
 

Pros:

  • Increased stability with a four-wheel arrangement.
  • Lightweight
  • Foldable steering column
  • Great for indoors.
  • Detachable basket

 

Cons:

  • Wide turning radius
  • Not great for outdoors

 

 

Article written by Syed Naqvi, MBBS
Dr Syed Naqvi is a graduate of King Edward Medical University which is one of the top medical schools in his country. He has a 10-year editorial experience working on different projects. He has spent countless hours in pursuing his lifelong dream as a doctor. Ever since clearing his United States Medical Licensing Exams, he has been pursuing different aspects of medical education to broaden his scope. His interests lie in medical education, philosophy, and writing. He likes to write books for personal use and recently finished a 3000-page medical book. He likes to spend his free time reading philosophy, psychology, and medical books.

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