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Volume 18, No. 1 - Winter 2010 |
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Imagine: you’ve injured your lower leg and need to be mobile around your home, work, and community. Crutches aren’t a good choice for you, and your environment isn’t wheelchair friendly. Must you become a hermit while your leg heals? No! Your search for alternative mobility brings you to a device that you may want to consider: the Roll-A-Bout. I bet you’re asking yourself what a Roll-A-Bout could possibly be. Well, let me tell you about this device that was invented and is manufactured right in our own little state of Delaware.
The Roll-A-Bout Corporation has been manufacturing its crutch substitute in Delaware for over 16 years, and, just like the state’s nickname, the company is certainly a “small wonder.” The Roll-A-Bout is the original crutch substitute, often called a knee walker, for lower leg injuries. To use a Roll-A-Bout, the patient simply places the knee of the injured leg on the cushioned platform in order to walk and roll. The Roll-A-Bout becomes an extension of the injured leg! In fact, it keeps the patient’s lower leg 100% non-weight-bearing while allowing them to move about without the use of a wheelchair. As opposed to crutches, the unit’s design allows the patient to have a free hand while moving; and both hands free while stationary.
The first Roll-A-Bout was manufactured in the basement of a Dover home and was created to help the inventors’ friend who was having a difficult time navigating with crutches. Although the original model was assembled from spare parts, the individual’s orthopedic surgeon immediately recognized the value and need for such a device. After many conversations and a lot of research, the Roll-A-Bout Corporation was finally formed, a patent was obtained on the device, and things simply grew from there!
The Roll-A-Bout Corporation ships units all over the world. The company has grown from a small home-based business in Dover to a large facility just outside of Frederica. When it began producing the Roll-A-Bout, only one model was manufactured. As sales quickly grew, the company realized that other models were needed to fit a widely diverse population. More than a dozen models are now available, suitable for nearly everyone—from the 3’2” playful toddler up to a 7’ tall professional basketball player! Some models even feature large, all-terrain tires for those who want to get off the sidewalk and into the gravel or grass.
The company is often asked what type of injury is suitable for the Roll-A-Bout, and their response is simple: “any injury below the knee!” The unit keeps the leg and foot supported to aid in the healing of numerous lower leg injuries—broken bones, fractures, heel spurs, dislocations, Charcot Foot, sprained ankles, and ruptured Achilles tendons. The Roll-A-Bout also allows for proper healing of diabetic ulcers and infections as it keeps the foot from touching the ground. Individuals with amputations and arthritis may also benefit from the Roll-A-Bout.
Since the first Roll-A-Bout was built from spare parts in a garage in Dover, over a quarter of a million people have benefited from its safety, mobility, and ease of use. Not a day goes by that the mail does not bring a thank you note from customers praising how their life was made not just bearable but enjoyable due to their use of the device! Many people postpone their foot surgery because they are afraid of how they will cope afterwards; and others allow their injury to worsen because they do not want to rely on friends and family members following their surgery. With the Roll-A-Bout, all their fears and apprehensions can be put to rest as they simply Roll-A-Bout with ease!
Roll-A-Bout Corporation, www.roll-a-bout.com, is located at 3240 Barratts Chapel Road, Frederica, DE 19946. You are welcome to telephone them at 1-302-335-5057, or you may call toll-free at 1-888-736-6151. Their hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST. Please, don’t hesitate to contact them for more information.
