January 27, 2026

Living with Multiple Sclerosis: How a Rollator Can Keep You Moving Forward

According to the World Health Organisation and the MS Trust, an estimated 1.8 million to 2.9 million people suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) worldwide. In the UK alone, the figure is put at approximately 150,000, with around 7,100 new patients diagnosed every year. MS impacts a person's ability to function in all kinds of areas, including visual, sensory, motor, emotional, and cognitive. While any person of any age can be affected by Multiple Sclerosis, it is most common in young adults and females.

That is exactly why companies such as Assist Mobility provide state-of-the-art rollators in order to aid those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis from physical and mental pain. Let's take a look at exactly how a rollator can transform your daily life.

What is Multiple Sclerosis and How Does it Impact People?

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that impacts both the spinal cord and the brain. There are three main types of Multiple Sclerosis:

Relapsing Remitting: Patients have flare-ups and then periods where things get better, going through a cycle from relapse to remission. This type of MS often eventually develops into secondary progressive.
Secondary Progressive: Symptoms are always there and getting progressively worse.
Primary Progressive: Symptoms get slowly worse over time without any period of remission.

You are more likely to suffer from Multiple Sclerosis if you are aged between 20 and 50, if you are a woman, if you have a brother, sister, or parent with MS, if you smoke, or if you have had the Epstein-Barr virus. Multiple Sclerosis symptoms include:

Extreme fatigue
Blurred vision or eye pain
Numbness and tingling in parts of the body
Issues with balance and coordination
Muscle spasms, cramps, and stiffness
Weak bladder
Struggle to concentrate or remember things
Issues with mobility

How Does Multiple Sclerosis Impact Walking?

Multiple Sclerosis impacts a number of key areas that hinder a person's ability to walk safely and comfortably. With symptoms including blurred vision, muscle spasms, and issues with balance, walking medium-to-long distances can be extremely difficult for someone suffering from an MS flare-up. It really all depends on the individual person and the severity of their Multiple Sclerosis. Some only experience a small impact with walking, while others will have severe symptoms that reduce their ability to walk. While there is currently no cure for MS, treatment and support today are better than ever. This includes things like physical therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and medications. The NHS also recommend the use of mobility equipment, like rollators, to help with day-to-day activities.

How Does Multiple Sclerosis Impact Day-to-Day Life?

Suffering from muscle cramps, spasms, a lack of coordination, extreme fatigue, and vision issues can have a significant impact on a person's day-to-day life. When symptoms become severe, many MS patients have to adjust their lives by working reduced hours, working from home, resting more often, and using mobility aids. When something as simple as walking to the shops to get a loaf of bread becomes a painful and arduous ordeal, it can not only lead to physical symptoms, but also mental health challenges too. A loss of independence is a difficult thing to come to terms with, but investing in a walking aid like a rollator can help to take back an element of control.

Anji with her byACRE Carbon Ultralight during the 2025 London Marathon — MS Warrior Anji with her byACRE Carbon Ultralight rollator during the London Marathon in 2025

How Rollators Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Balance and Safety

Let's take a look at exactly how a rollator can improve the day-to-day life of someone suffering from Multiple Sclerosis:

Helps with Stability and Balance: MS symptoms include balance issues, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination, all of which can make walking difficult. A rollator offers enhanced stability, indoors and outdoors, with four-wheel rollators even offering four points of stable contact with the ground.

Fatigue Respite: Extreme fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, and it can appear rather suddenly. Therefore, having a rollator for support at short notice, as well as a potential built-in seat for rest breaks, can be extremely helpful.

Safe Independence: A rollator gives those suffering from MS the chance to reclaim their independence without putting themselves at needless risk of injury. By providing a secure frame on which to lean, rollators significantly reduce the risk of painful falls.

Pain Management: Walking with cramp, stiffness, and muscle spasms can be extremely painful, especially over longer distances. Rollators take some of the strain away from those aching limbs and redistribute to provide lasting relief.

Posture and Gait Assistance: Some Multiple Sclerosis patients suffer from poor posture or gait abnormalities. A rollator helps to provide a straight back and a confident gait.

Rollators Have Key Features That Specifically Help With Multiple Sclerosis

Modern rollators come with a wide variety of features and benefits specifically designed to help people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Built-in Seats for Resting

As MS fatigue can arrive unexpectedly, it is always important to invest in a rollator with a built-in seat. That way, no matter where you are, you can always take the weight off your feet when fatigue strikes.

Lightweight and Transportable

Multiple Sclerosis patients often deal with fluctuating strength. Therefore, lightweight and portable rollators are seen as the most sensible option, as they are easy to lift and operate day-to-day.

byACRE Nordic Pionner in the back of the car

Wheels Add Manoeuvrability

Not every MS sufferer will have the consistent strength to lift and push a two-wheel rollator, especially when dealing with cramps or fatigue. Four-wheel rollators provide smoother movement with less effort.

Hand Brakes Help With Control

It is important to stay in control of your rollator at all times, even during muscle spasms or extreme fatigue. Fortunately, easy-to-use hand brakes keep the user in control at all times, even on tricky down slopes.

Upright Design For Back Pain

Forearm rollators put more emphasis on forearm supports, allowing the user to stand up straight and look straight ahead. This can help with posture, gait, and back pain.

Rollators Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients With More Than Just Pain Relief

While the primary job of a rollator is to help those with Multiple Sclerosis safely move without pain, fatigue, and imbalance, they also have benefits beyond pain relief. Let's take a look at the other positives that come with a rollator investment.

Keep Your Mind As Healthy As Your Body

Dealing with the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis can be difficult enough, but dealing with the knock-on effect of not being able to move like you used to can be particularly challenging. Using a rollator to get out and about will not only keep you physically fit, but it will also help boost your mental health. No one wants to be confined to their own home, and a rollator helps to break down those barriers to the outside world.

Attend Those Events!

When dealing with the risk of sudden fatigue, issues with your vision, or muscle spasms in your leg, it can be easy to sit things out. Whether it's a friend's wedding, a catch-up with old colleagues, or something as challenging as a walking holiday, a rollator ensures you do not have to compromise on who you are. Humans are made to socialise and go on adventures, so don't let your MS hold you back.

Rollators Help To Build Confidence

Once you lose confidence in your own body, it can be a difficult thing to get back. However, learning to put that confidence in your rollator can be a great way to make significant physical and mental progress. Much like we rely on planes to take us on holiday or cars to drive us to work, your rollator is there to take the burden of painful walking away from you. To make matters even better, the more you use your rollator, the more confident you will become!

Choosing the Perfect Rollator for Your Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis symptoms differ from patient to patient. Some may suffer with irregular flare-ups, while others may experience consistent and severe side effects. It is important that you invest in a rollator that helps you with the day-to-day tasks you struggle most with. Remember, a rollator is there to support you and fit as seamlessly into your life as possible. Fortunately, there are a wide range to choose from.

What Type Of Rollator Is Best For Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis comes with a very unique set of challenges. While symptoms include muscle spasms, imbalance, severe fatigue, vision problems, and more, some sufferers deal with these side effects in bursts. That means some MS sufferers may not even know when extreme fatigue is about to hit them. Therefore, it is important to invest in a rollator that best suits your needs when your symptoms are at their worst.

Lightweight rollators are easy to lift and transport, which makes them perfect for travelling. It also makes them perfect for MS patients who suddenly find themselves unable to lift heavier objects. Three-or-four-wheel rollators provide smoother movement, both indoors and outdoors, while also removing the need to lift and push while walking. These lightweight frames are often made from rust-resistant aluminium, but they have a maximum weight limit. For heavier users, you can opt for a carbon fibre frame, which is five times stronger than steel, and will increase that weight tolerance.

Heavier rollators can provide extra stability, while the bigger wheels are better suited to rough, outdoor terrain. However, you should always make sure that you are able to operate and lift your chosen rollator, even when struggling with fatigue and muscle pain.

Whatever option you go for, those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis often benefit from purchasing an forearm rollator. These walking aids significantly reduce back pain by allowing you to relax your shoulders and stand straight. A built-in seat is also a must for unexpected bouts of Multiple Sclerosis fatigue.

Indoor, Outdoor, or All-Terrain? What is best for spinal conditions?

Your rollator should fit your life. Whether you need an indoor rollator, outdoor rollator, all-terrain rollator, or something else depends on your hobbies and daily habits. For example, if you like to take long, daily walks across all kinds of different surfaces, then an all-terrain rollator may be required. However, if you just need a rollator to help you around the house, then a lightweight, indoor model would be best. Also, make sure to invest in a fold-up rollator that fits in the boot of your car if needed.

Let's take a look at the features and benefits of indoor, outdoor, and all-terrain rollators!

Indoor rollators: