title: The impact of rollator loading on gait and fall risk in neurorehabilitation - a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rollator loading is an application used clinically sometimes to improve functional integrity and security of the patients' gait. As empirical evidence supporting this intervention is equivocal, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of rollator loading on several gait parameters and fall risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  An explicatory experiment with a follow-up cohort study of falls was conducted. In the experimental part of the study, participants (n = 25) were evaluated three times by means of different gait and fall risk assessments, whereby each trial was carried out with different rollator loading (0, 4.5 and 9 kg, respectively). Participants were blinded towards the applied load. In addition, the odds ratio of falls with respect to rollator loading in all-day rehabilitation life was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No changes in spatio-temporal gait parameters and fall risk in relation to a particular load could be identified by clinical measures in the tested sample. A separate sub-group analysis (Parkinson's disease, hemiparesis and ataxia) showed only little impact of the load in each case. Rollator loading had no impact on the odds ratio of inpatient fall risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of our findings, weighting of rollators can neither be discouraged nor recommended. Implications for Rehabilitation Unless more research is has been conducted on this topic, rollator loading can neither be recommended nor discouraged in individuals suffering from neurologic diseases. There is more research needed to examine the impact on ambulation in distinct conditions such as severe ataxia and fear of falling.
authors.affiliation: a Hochschule für Gesundheit, University of Applied Sciences, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Physiotherapy Program , Bochum , Germany and.|b Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht, Neurorehabilitation Center , Zihlschlacht , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: b Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht, Neurorehabilitation Center , Zihlschlacht , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: b Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht, Neurorehabilitation Center , Zihlschlacht , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zutter
authors.affiliation: a Hochschule für Gesundheit, University of Applied Sciences, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Physiotherapy Program , Bochum , Germany and.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grüneberg
keywords: Accidental falls; Parkinson’s disease; ataxia; mobility limitations; rehabilitation; walker