The brakes of the rolling walker give you an added layer of safety for stability and balance. They allow you to come to a halt if you lose control while moving forward. If you want to know how to lock and adjust these brakes effectively, stick around for a bit.
In this blog, I’ll show you how your rollator brakes function and how to apply them with absolute precision. Rollator brakes are sometimes called ‘loop lock’ brakes, and they work similarly to how the bicycle brakes work. Push-down brakes (another type of brakes) are weight-activated to help control the walker’s movement. They are less prevalent. However, they serve an essential function for seniors with weak grip strength, hand dexterity issues, and impaired memory.
How Do Rollator Brakes Work?
The hand brakes on a rollator are located just below the handlebars and are often larger than the bicycle ones. The rationale behind it is that your hands are already on the handlebars. And you can pull the brake levers in an easy-to-squeeze motion in a fraction of seconds.
These hand brakes are connected to the brake pads via a rollator brake cable. Located at the back of the wheels, these brake pads clamp down to slow or completely stop the motion when the hand brakes are pulled.
The rollator brakes also work independently of each other. Meaning, if you pull the left-hand brake, the left wheel of the rollator will stop. The same goes for the other side as well. It’s necessary to use both brakes at the same time to slow down the rollator. If you only engage one brake, you may lose balance.
Locking The Wheels On A Rollator
If your rollator has a seat and you want to sit, you need to lock in the brakes first. Otherwise, there is a high probability that you’ll fall while sitting. Locking the wheels isn’t complicated. All you have to do is push down the rollator brake levers, the wheels will lock, and your rollator will not move.
How To Turn A Rollator By Using Your Brakes
It is straightforward. As we know, the rollator brakes work independently of each other. So, for instance, if you want to make a left turn, pull the left brake lever up. Note: you can pull both the levers up but make sure the left lever is tighter than the right one. When that happens, the left wheel will stop while the right wheel will make the turn. The exact process applies when you want to make a right turn. Pull up the right brake lever and allow the left wheel to make the turn.
How To Adjust The Brakes On A Rollator?
Adjusting the brakes on the rollator isn’t complicated. If you want to tighten the rollator brakes, here are some things that you can do:
- Identify the adjustment screw located at the rear wheel.
- Turn the brake adjustment screw counterclockwise.
Similarly, if you want to loosen the rollator brakes:
- Identify the adjustment screw located at the rear wheel.
- Turn the brake adjustment clockwise.
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