Walking aids look similar in a product listing, but they do quite different jobs. A walker is something you lean on. A rollator is something you walk behind. In the first days after a hip or knee operation that difference matters a great deal, and buying the wrong one is one of the most common mistakes people make before surgery.
This guide explains the three main types, who each one suits, and how to tell when you have moved from needing one to needing the other.
A standard walker (no wheels). A light metal frame with four rubber feet. You lift it, set it down a step ahead, then step into it. It is the most stable of the three because it cannot move while your weight is on it. OrthoInfo describes the four-legged walker as the most stable option and the one suggested after a total hip or knee replacement.
A two-wheeled walker. The same frame with wheels on the front legs and rubber feet or glides on the back. You push it forward instead of lifting it, which gives a smoother, more natural walk, but the back feet still drag and stop it running away. Many hospitals send people home after joint replacement with this type.
A four-wheeled rollator. Four wheels, hand brakes, and usually a seat and a basket. It rolls freely, so it is much faster and easier to push, and you can sit down whenever you need a rest. The catch is that it only stays still when the brakes are on. It is designed for someone who can walk but tires quickly or needs a little balance support, not for someone who needs to put a lot of weight through their arms.
If you have just had a hip replacement, knee replacement, or any operation where you have been told to limit the weight on one leg, you need a walker that will not move when you lean on it. That means a standard or two-wheeled walker. Your arms are doing part of the work your leg cannot yet do, and a frame that rolls away under that load is how falls happen.
A rollator is the wrong tool at this stage. The wheels, the brakes and the seat that make it pleasant later make it unstable now. If you push down hard on a rollator with the brakes off, it moves.
The good news is that you probably will not have to choose. Your physical therapist will pick the type, set the height and teach you to use it on the ward. In the UK walkers are usually lent, and in the US they are commonly provided on discharge or covered as durable medical equipment when your doctor prescribes one. Ask at your pre-assessment before you buy anything. Our guide to what not to buy before surgery explains why.
A few weeks in, many people reach a point where the walker starts to feel like a nuisance. You are walking well, you are not leaning on it much, and lifting or pushing a frame everywhere slows you down. That is usually the stage your therapist moves you to a cane or crutches. But some people do better with a rollator from here on, particularly:
The seat is the real reason to own one. Being able to stop and sit turns a five-minute walk into a twenty-minute walk, and walking is how most operations on the legs and spine get better. Ask your therapist before you switch, so they can check you are ready to walk behind something that rolls.
Shop these: Two-wheeled walkerTwo-wheeled walker · Rollator with seatRollator with seat · Walker bagWalker bag
| Standard walker | Two-wheeled walker | Rollator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability when you lean on it | Highest | High | Low unless braked |
| Walking speed | Slow | Moderate | Fast |
| Good for the first weeks after hip or knee surgery | Yes | Yes | No |
| Seat to rest on | No | No | Yes |
| Use on stairs | No | No | No |
| Best for | Heavy reliance on the arms | Most people after joint replacement | Later recovery, stamina, longer walks |
None of them goes on stairs. MedlinePlus advises against using stairs with a walker unless a physical therapist has trained you, and OrthoInfo says never to climb stairs with one. If you have stairs at home, your therapist will show you how to manage them with a rail and a crutch or cane.
A walker at the wrong height makes you hunch, which hurts your back and shoulders and throws your balance forward. Whichever type you use:
On a rollator, also check that you can squeeze both brakes firmly and that the parking lock holds when you lean on the frame.
Do not pull on it to stand up. Push up from the arms of the chair, then reach for the walker once you are standing. A walker tips if you pull on it, and a rollator rolls.
Keep your feet inside the frame. Step into the middle of it, not right up to the front bar.
Clear the route. Rugs, cables, and the edge where carpet meets a hard floor catch the feet of a walker. MedlinePlus suggests removing loose rugs and keeping floors dry and clear.
Carry things in a bag, not your hand. You need both hands on the walker. A bag or basket that clips to the frame lets you take a drink, a phone and a book from room to room.
Brakes on before you sit. On a rollator, lock both brakes before you turn and sit on the seat, and never let anyone push you along while you are sitting on it. It is not a wheelchair.
Wear proper shoes. Shoes or slippers with a closed back and a non-slip sole. Socks on a hard floor and a walker do not mix.
For the first weeks after hip or knee surgery, use the standard or two-wheeled walker your therapist gives you, and do not buy a rollator in advance. Once you are walking steadily and putting little weight through your arms, a rollator with a seat is worth considering if stamina, balance or longer walks are your problem. Get the height right, keep both hands on the frame, and ask your therapist before you change from one aid to another. Follow your surgical team’s advice on walking aids, which comes first.
The clinical guidance this guide was checked against. Where your own surgical team's advice differs, follow theirs. How we research and review guides
A note from after ♥ surgery
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow the specific guidance of your surgical team, as recommendations vary by procedure and individual circumstances. If you have concerns about your recovery, contact your healthcare provider.
Checked against the sources listed above. Editorial policy