The invention of the walker How to use the material You can use this post in social media to tell the story of of how Aina Wifalk invented the walker, or rollator.
Please make sure to include the name of the photographer when using the photos.
Captions 💡 Today we’d like to pay tribute to Aina Wifalk, the Swede behind an innovation that has truly helped improve the everyday lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.
In 1978, Wifalk (1928–1983), who worked as a curator at an orthopedic clinic in Västerås, designed the prototype to what is also known as the ‘four-wheeled walker’.
Her invention would provide enhanced stability and independence for users with mobility impairments, allowing them to move more freely and safely. 🚶
Wifalk, who herself struggled with mobility after contracting polio in her twenties, wanted the walker to be accessible to as many people as possible – so she never patented it.
She did get royalties from the sales, though – money that Wifalk donated to the Nordic Church Association on Spanish Costa del Sol, where she spent some time every year. ☀️
#Swedishinvention #Innovation
{
"slug": "the-invention-of-the-walker",
"type": "MaterialCollection",
"theme": "theme-light",
"pageProps": {
"appProps": {
"socialMediaUrls": {
"facebook": null,
"twitter": null,
"messenger": null,
"vk": null,
"spotify": null,
"instagram": null,
"whatsapp": null,
"youtube": null,
"telegram": null,
"__typename": "SwedenSettings_SiSettings_SocialMediaUrls"
},
"cookieSettings": {
"cookieBanner": {
"bannerText": "<p>Sharing Sweden uses cookies to improve your experience of the website. Read more in our <a href=\"https://cms.sharingsweden.se/cookie-policy\">Cookie policy</a>.</p>\n",
"bannerTitle": "<p><strong>Cookies</strong></p>\n",
"__typename": "SwedenSettings_SiSettings_CookieSettings_CookieBanner"
},
"settingsButtonText": "Cookie-settings",
"settingsConfirmButtonText": "Confirm settings",
"settingsText": "<p>A cookie is a small text file stored on your device that allows us to recognise and remember you.</p>\n<p>Sharingsweden.se uses cookies and other data in order to deliver and improve your experience of this website. For instance, we and our partners may use information about you, your devices and your online interactions with us to provide, analyse and improve our services.</p>\n<p>The categories of cookies that we may use are necessary as well as statistics and analytics cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our <a href=\"https://cms.sharingsweden.se/cookie-policy\">Cookie policy</a>.</p>\n",
"acceptButtonText": "Accept all cookies",
"categories": [
{
"alwaysCheckedText": "always on",
"hasAccepted": null,
"id": "cookie_consent_essentials",
"isCheckedText": "active",
"isNotCheckedText": "inactive",
"optional": null,
"text": "Necessary cookies are essential for you to browse our website and use its features. We are using cookies to remember your consent. This type of cookie is activated by default and you can only deactivate it by turning off cookies in your browser. ",
"title": "Necessary",
"__typename": "SwedenSettings_SiSettings_CookieSettings_categories"
},
{
"alwaysCheckedText": "always on",
"hasAccepted": null,
"id": "cookie_consent_statistics",
"isCheckedText": "active",
"isNotCheckedText": "inactive",
"optional": true,
"text": "Analytical cookies are used to measure how often our website is visited and how it is used. We use this information to get a better sense of where our users come from and how they interact with our content. For this, we use third-party cookies, the Google Analytics Cookies. These cookies are deactivated by default. If you choose to activate statistics and analytics cookies, we use IP anonymisation. You can deactivate these cookies at any time. ",
"title": "Statistics and analytics",
"__typename": "SwedenSettings_SiSettings_CookieSettings_categories"
}
],
"__typename": "SwedenSettings_SiSettings_CookieSettings"
},
"fallBackImage": {
"src": null,
"alt": "",
"height": 0,
"width": 0,
"title": null,
"caption": ""
},
"articleAuthorSettings": {
"textBeforeDate": "Published at"
},
"shareWidgetSettings": {
"headerText": null,
"shareButtonIconProps": [],
"copyText": null,
"afterCopyText": null,
"failedToCopyText": null
},
"navBarSettings": {
"navBarLogos": {
"mainLogo": null,
"mainLogoAriaLabel": "Sharing sweden logo",
"darkTextLogo": null,
"lightTextLogo": null
},
"navigationLabels": {
"toggleMenuLabel": null,
"toggleSearchLabel": null
}
},
"menu": {
"selectLabel": null,
"selectGroupLabel": null,
"selectOptions": [],
"linkGroup": [
[
{
"link": {
"title": "About Sharing Sweden",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/about-sharing-sweden",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "Contact",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/contact",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "FAQ",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/faq",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
}
],
[
{
"link": {
"title": "News",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/news",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "Newsletter",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/newsletter",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "Financial support",
"url": "https://sharingsweden.se/promotional-material/financial-support-and-how-to-apply",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
}
],
[
{
"link": {
"title": "Accessibility",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/accessibility",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "Cookies policy",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/cookie-policy",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
},
{
"link": {
"title": "Terms and conditions of use",
"url": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/terms-and-conditions/",
"__typename": "AcfLink"
},
"__typename": "FooterApi_Footer_linkGroup_links"
}
]
],
"iconLinks": [],
"mainMenuContent": [
{
"id": 250,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/",
"title": "The Sweden brand",
"subMenuItems": [
{
"id": 255,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-strategy/",
"title": "The brand of Sweden as a strategic asset",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 329,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/the-image-of-sweden-abroad/",
"title": "The image of Sweden abroad",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 2392,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/",
"title": "Brand visual identity",
"subMenuItems": [
{
"id": 328,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/how-to-use-the-identity/",
"title": "How to use the identity"
},
{
"id": 327,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/design-principles/",
"title": "Design principles"
},
{
"id": 326,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/brand-marks/",
"title": "Logo and other brand marks"
},
{
"id": 325,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/colour/",
"title": "Colour"
},
{
"id": 324,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/accessibility/",
"title": "Accessibility"
},
{
"id": 323,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/typography/",
"title": "Typography"
},
{
"id": 322,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/grid/",
"title": "Grid"
},
{
"id": 321,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/tone-of-motion/",
"title": "Tone of motion"
},
{
"id": 320,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/illustration/",
"title": "Illustration"
},
{
"id": 319,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/graphic-element/",
"title": "Graphic element"
},
{
"id": 318,
"href": "/the-sweden-brand/brand-visual-identity/best-practice/",
"title": "Best practice"
}
]
}
]
},
{
"id": 241,
"href": "/promotional-material/",
"title": "Promotional material",
"subMenuItems": [
{
"id": 247,
"href": "/promotional-material/trade-and-talent/",
"title": "Trade and talent",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 244,
"href": "/promotional-material/culture-and-lifestyle/",
"title": "Culture and lifestyle",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 243,
"href": "/promotional-material/democracy-and-governance/",
"title": "Democracy and governance",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 246,
"href": "/promotional-material/the-swedish-film-selection/",
"title": "The Swedish film selection",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 245,
"href": "/promotional-material/image-bank-sweden/",
"title": "Image Bank Sweden",
"subMenuItems": []
},
{
"id": 242,
"href": "/promotional-material/toolkits-social-media-video-and-more/",
"title": "All toolkits, social media, video and more",
"subMenuItems": []
}
]
},
{
"id": 291,
"href": "/calendar/",
"title": "Calendar",
"subMenuItems": []
}
]
},
"footer": {
"copyright": "Copyright © 2023 Swedish Institute",
"linkGroup": [
[
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/about-sharing-sweden",
"name": "About Sharing Sweden"
},
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/contact",
"name": "Contact"
},
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/faq",
"name": "FAQ"
}
],
[
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/news",
"name": "News"
},
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/newsletter",
"name": "Newsletter"
},
{
"href": "https://sharingsweden.se/promotional-material/financial-support-and-how-to-apply",
"name": "Financial support"
}
],
[
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/accessibility",
"name": "Accessibility"
},
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/cookie-policy",
"name": "Cookies policy"
},
{
"href": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/terms-and-conditions/",
"name": "Terms and conditions of use"
}
]
],
"logos": [
{
"ariaLabel": "Link to sweden.se",
"logo": {
"anchorProps": {
"href": "https://sweden.se/"
},
"imageProps": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/08/sweden_logo.svg",
"alt": null,
"height": null,
"width": null
}
}
},
{
"ariaLabel": "Link to si.se",
"logo": {
"anchorProps": {
"href": "https://si.se/"
},
"imageProps": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/08/si_logo.svg",
"alt": null,
"height": null,
"width": null
}
}
}
]
},
"skipToContent": null,
"cookieLabel": null,
"previousSlideLabel": null,
"nextSlideLabel": null,
"toolkitApplyButtonText": null,
"searchFilterProps": {
"topic": "Topic",
"format": "Format",
"topicFilters": [
{
"item": "Arts & design"
},
{
"item": "Business & entrepreneurship"
},
{
"item": "Celebrations"
},
{
"item": "Children & youth"
},
{
"item": "Democracy"
},
{
"item": "Food"
},
{
"item": "Gender equality"
},
{
"item": "History"
},
{
"item": "Innovation"
},
{
"item": "LGBTQI+"
},
{
"item": "Society"
},
{
"item": "Sports"
},
{
"item": "Study & research"
},
{
"item": "Sustainability"
},
{
"item": "Sweden in general"
}
],
"formatFilters": [
{
"item": "Toolkit"
},
{
"item": "Feature film"
},
{
"item": "Exhibition"
},
{
"item": "Manuals"
},
{
"item": "Presentations"
},
{
"item": "Print materials"
},
{
"item": "Quizzes"
},
{
"item": "Social media content"
},
{
"item": "Templates"
},
{
"item": "Video"
}
],
"languageOptions": [
"albanian",
"arabic",
"armenian",
"bosnian",
"chinese",
"croatian",
"cypriot greek",
"english",
"estonian",
"filipino",
"french",
"georgian",
"german",
"italian",
"japanese",
"korean",
"latvian",
"lithuanian",
"macedonian",
"polish",
"portuguese",
"russian",
"slovenian",
"spanish",
"swedish",
"thai",
"turkish",
"vietnamese"
]
},
"searchComponentData": {
"searchComponent": {
"beforeQuery": null,
"afterQuery": null,
"preResultText": null,
"afterResultText": null
},
"searchField": {
"placeholder": "Search social media, video, toolkits and more",
"submitButtonText": "Search",
"label": "search",
"searchPageUri": "/promotional-material/toolkits-social-media-video-and-more/"
},
"hijackData": []
}
},
"post": {
"uri": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/",
"seo": {
"head": "<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\" />\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\" />\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" />\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" />\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden\" />\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\" />\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\" />\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sharing Sweden\" />\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-16T10:57:09+00:00\" />\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1653\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2480\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image/jpeg\" />\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" />\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" />\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" />\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\",\"url\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\",\"name\":\"The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-16T10:55:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-16T10:57:09+00:00\",\"description\":\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.sharingsweden.se%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\",\"contentUrl\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.sharingsweden.se%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":1800,\"caption\":\"Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/#website\",\"url\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/\",\"name\":\"Sharing Sweden\",\"description\":\"A comprehensive collection of resources to promote Sweden to an international audience\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/search?query={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}</script>\n<!-- / Yoast SEO plugin. -->",
"shareUrl": "https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/",
"title": "The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden"
},
"date": "2024-09-16T12:55:52",
"type": "MaterialCollection",
"breadcrumbs": [
{
"title": "Start",
"href": "/",
"isCurrentPage": false
},
{
"title": "Promotional material",
"href": "/promotional-material/",
"isCurrentPage": false
},
{
"title": "Toolkits, social media, video and more",
"href": "/promotional-material/toolkits-social-media-video-and-more/",
"isCurrentPage": false
},
{
"title": "The invention of the walker",
"href": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/",
"isCurrentPage": true
}
],
"searchPage": null,
"featuredMedia": {
"imageBlockProps": {
"imageProps": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"alt": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll.",
"title": "Mobility aid",
"height": 2480,
"width": 1653,
"caption": "Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se"
},
"caption": "Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se"
},
"embedDataProps": null
},
"featuredImage": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"alt": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll.",
"title": "Mobility aid",
"height": 2480,
"width": 1653,
"caption": "Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se"
},
"title": "The invention of the walker",
"subHeading": null,
"slug": "the-invention-of-the-walker",
"toolkitData": [],
"eventData": [],
"sidebarMenu": [],
"rows": [
{
"left": [],
"right": [
{
"type": "heading",
"anchorId": "",
"h2": true,
"children": "How to use the material"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "You can use this post in social media to tell the story of of how Aina Wifalk invented the walker, or rollator."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Please make sure to include the name of the photographer when using the photos."
},
{
"type": "materials-block",
"heading": "Images",
"firstMaterialFullwidth": false,
"materialList": [
{
"id": 24507,
"downloadTitle": "Walker image selection",
"title": "Images of people using walkers",
"format": "",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"alt": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll."
},
"download": false,
"buttonText": "Download images from Image Bank Sweden",
"hidePopup": null,
"mediaLink": "https://imagebank.sweden.se/search?q=rollator"
}
]
},
{
"type": "heading",
"anchorId": "",
"h2": true,
"children": "Captions"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "💡 Today we’d like to pay tribute to Aina Wifalk, the Swede behind an innovation that has truly helped improve the everyday lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "In 1978, Wifalk (1928–1983), who worked as a curator at an orthopedic clinic in Västerås, designed the prototype to what is also known as the ‘four-wheeled walker’."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Her invention would provide enhanced stability and independence for users with mobility impairments, allowing them to move more freely and safely. 🚶"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Wifalk, who herself struggled with mobility after contracting polio in her twenties, wanted the walker to be accessible to as many people as possible – so she never patented it."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "She did get royalties from the sales, though – money that Wifalk donated to the Nordic Church Association on Spanish Costa del Sol, where she spent some time every year. ☀️"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "#Swedishinvention #Innovation"
},
{
"type": "material-collections-block",
"heading": "Related content",
"materialCollectionsList": [
{
"title": "The invention of the coat hanger hook",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/Coat-hanger-hook-by-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The metal hook of a coat hanger.",
"height": 1616,
"width": 1080,
"title": "Coat hanger hook by Swedense",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-coat-hanger-hook/"
},
{
"title": "‘Jonas’ potato peeler – a Swedish innovation",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/11/Potato-peeler-1-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The potato peeler and some potatoes",
"height": 2248,
"width": 1500,
"title": "Potato peeler",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/jonas-potato-peeler/"
},
{
"title": "The story of IKEA",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/09/IKEA-self-service.jpg",
"alt": "A couple in the sixties collecting furniture at IKEA.",
"height": 2479,
"width": 2497,
"title": "IKEA-self-service",
"caption": "The first “self-service” department store, Kungens kurva, southern Stockholm, opened in 1965. Photo: IKEA Press"
},
"href": "/materials/ikea-history/"
}
]
}
],
"fullWidth": false,
"stickyLeft": true,
"reverseColumnOrderOnMobile": false
}
],
"blocks": [
{
"left": [],
"right": [
{
"type": "heading",
"anchorId": "",
"h2": true,
"children": "How to use the material"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "You can use this post in social media to tell the story of of how Aina Wifalk invented the walker, or rollator."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Please make sure to include the name of the photographer when using the photos."
},
{
"type": "materials-block",
"heading": "Images",
"firstMaterialFullwidth": false,
"materialList": [
{
"id": 24507,
"downloadTitle": "Walker image selection",
"title": "Images of people using walkers",
"format": "",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"alt": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll."
},
"download": false,
"buttonText": "Download images from Image Bank Sweden",
"hidePopup": null,
"mediaLink": "https://imagebank.sweden.se/search?q=rollator"
}
]
},
{
"type": "heading",
"anchorId": "",
"h2": true,
"children": "Captions"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "💡 Today we’d like to pay tribute to Aina Wifalk, the Swede behind an innovation that has truly helped improve the everyday lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "In 1978, Wifalk (1928–1983), who worked as a curator at an orthopedic clinic in Västerås, designed the prototype to what is also known as the ‘four-wheeled walker’."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Her invention would provide enhanced stability and independence for users with mobility impairments, allowing them to move more freely and safely. 🚶"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "Wifalk, who herself struggled with mobility after contracting polio in her twenties, wanted the walker to be accessible to as many people as possible – so she never patented it."
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "She did get royalties from the sales, though – money that Wifalk donated to the Nordic Church Association on Spanish Costa del Sol, where she spent some time every year. ☀️"
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"anchorId": "",
"children": "#Swedishinvention #Innovation"
},
{
"type": "material-collections-block",
"heading": "Related content",
"materialCollectionsList": [
{
"title": "The invention of the coat hanger hook",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/Coat-hanger-hook-by-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The metal hook of a coat hanger.",
"height": 1616,
"width": 1080,
"title": "Coat hanger hook by Swedense",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-coat-hanger-hook/"
},
{
"title": "‘Jonas’ potato peeler – a Swedish innovation",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/11/Potato-peeler-1-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The potato peeler and some potatoes",
"height": 2248,
"width": 1500,
"title": "Potato peeler",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/jonas-potato-peeler/"
},
{
"title": "The story of IKEA",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/09/IKEA-self-service.jpg",
"alt": "A couple in the sixties collecting furniture at IKEA.",
"height": 2479,
"width": 2497,
"title": "IKEA-self-service",
"caption": "The first “self-service” department store, Kungens kurva, southern Stockholm, opened in 1965. Photo: IKEA Press"
},
"href": "/materials/ikea-history/"
}
]
}
],
"fullWidth": false,
"stickyLeft": true,
"reverseColumnOrderOnMobile": false
}
],
"calendarItems": [],
"extra": {
"content": {
"__typename": "MaterialCollection",
"slug": "the-invention-of-the-walker",
"uri": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/",
"date": "2024-09-16T12:55:52",
"databaseId": 24505,
"breadcrumbs": "[{\"title\":\"Start\",\"href\":\"\\/\",\"isCurrentPage\":false},{\"title\":\"Promotional material\",\"href\":\"\\/promotional-material\\/\",\"isCurrentPage\":false},{\"title\":\"Toolkits, social media, video and more\",\"href\":\"\\/promotional-material\\/toolkits-social-media-video-and-more\\/\",\"isCurrentPage\":false},{\"title\":\"The invention of the walker\",\"href\":\"\\/materials\\/the-invention-of-the-walker\\/\",\"isCurrentPage\":true}]",
"seo": {
"opengraphUrl": "https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/",
"title": "The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden",
"__typename": "PostTypeSEO"
},
"title": "The invention of the walker",
"featuredImage": {
"node": {
"mediaDetails": {
"height": 2480,
"width": 1653,
"__typename": "MediaDetails"
},
"title": "Mobility aid",
"uri": "/material/walker-image-selection/mobility-aid/",
"altText": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll.",
"caption": "Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se",
"sourceUrl": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"__typename": "MediaItem"
},
"__typename": "NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge"
},
"blocks": [
{
"name": "sweden-tsw/article-row",
"__typename": "SwedenTswArticleRowBlock",
"attributes": {
"reverseColumnOrderOnMobile": false,
"__typename": "SwedenTswArticleRowBlockAttributes"
},
"innerBlocks": [
{
"name": "sweden-tsw/left-column",
"innerBlocks": [],
"__typename": "SwedenTswLeftColumnBlock"
},
{
"name": "sweden-tsw/right-column",
"innerBlocks": [
{
"name": "core/heading",
"attributes": {
"level": 2,
"anchor": "",
"content": "How to use the material",
"__typename": "CoreHeadingBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreHeadingBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "You can use this post in social media to tell the story of of how Aina Wifalk invented the walker, or rollator.",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "Please make sure to include the name of the photographer when using the photos.",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "acf/materials-block",
"attributes": {
"data": "{\"heading\":\"Images\",\"_heading\":\"field_64635682c10c0\",\"selectedMaterials\":[\"24507\"],\"_selectedMaterials\":\"field_646352d0e5afe\",\"firstMaterialFullwidth\":\"0\",\"_firstMaterialFullwidth\":\"field_646354954999a\"}",
"__typename": "AcfMaterialsBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "AcfMaterialsBlock",
"heading": "Images",
"firstMaterialFullwidth": false,
"materialList": [
{
"id": 24507,
"downloadTitle": "Walker image selection",
"title": "Images of people using walkers",
"format": "",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg",
"alt": "A woman uses a walking aid on her forest stroll."
},
"download": false,
"buttonText": "Download images from Image Bank Sweden",
"hidePopup": null,
"mediaLink": "https://imagebank.sweden.se/search?q=rollator"
}
]
},
{
"name": "core/heading",
"attributes": {
"level": 2,
"anchor": "",
"content": "Captions",
"__typename": "CoreHeadingBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreHeadingBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "💡 Today we’d like to pay tribute to Aina Wifalk, the Swede behind an innovation that has truly helped improve the everyday lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "In 1978, Wifalk (1928–1983), who worked as a curator at an orthopedic clinic in Västerås, designed the prototype to what is also known as the ‘four-wheeled walker’.",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "Her invention would provide enhanced stability and independence for users with mobility impairments, allowing them to move more freely and safely. 🚶",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "Wifalk, who herself struggled with mobility after contracting polio in her twenties, wanted the walker to be accessible to as many people as possible – so she never patented it.",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "She did get royalties from the sales, though – money that Wifalk donated to the Nordic Church Association on Spanish Costa del Sol, where she spent some time every year. ☀️",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "core/paragraph",
"attributes": {
"anchor": "",
"content": "#Swedishinvention #Innovation",
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "CoreParagraphBlock"
},
{
"name": "acf/material-collections-block",
"attributes": {
"data": "{\"heading\":\"Related content\",\"_heading\":\"field_64660c568b7c9\",\"selectedMaterialCollections\":[\"24499\",\"6007\",\"3924\"],\"_selectedMaterialCollections\":\"field_64660c568b836\"}",
"__typename": "AcfMaterialCollectionsBlockAttributes"
},
"__typename": "AcfMaterialCollectionsBlock",
"heading": "Related content",
"materialCollectionsList": [
{
"title": "The invention of the coat hanger hook",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/Coat-hanger-hook-by-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The metal hook of a coat hanger.",
"height": 1616,
"width": 1080,
"title": "Coat hanger hook by Swedense",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/the-invention-of-the-coat-hanger-hook/"
},
{
"title": "‘Jonas’ potato peeler – a Swedish innovation",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/11/Potato-peeler-1-Swedense.jpg",
"alt": "The potato peeler and some potatoes",
"height": 2248,
"width": 1500,
"title": "Potato peeler",
"caption": ""
},
"href": "/materials/jonas-potato-peeler/"
},
{
"title": "The story of IKEA",
"image": {
"src": "https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2023/09/IKEA-self-service.jpg",
"alt": "A couple in the sixties collecting furniture at IKEA.",
"height": 2479,
"width": 2497,
"title": "IKEA-self-service",
"caption": "The first “self-service” department store, Kungens kurva, southern Stockholm, opened in 1965. Photo: IKEA Press"
},
"href": "/materials/ikea-history/"
}
]
}
],
"__typename": "SwedenTswRightColumnBlock"
}
]
}
],
"yoastHead": "<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\" />\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\" />\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" />\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" />\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden\" />\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\" />\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\" />\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sharing Sweden\" />\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-16T10:57:09+00:00\" />\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1653\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2480\" />\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image/jpeg\" />\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" />\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" />\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" />\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\",\"url\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\",\"name\":\"The invention of the walker - Sharing Sweden\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https://cms.sharingsweden.se/app/uploads/2024/09/mobility-aid.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-16T10:55:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-16T10:57:09+00:00\",\"description\":\"Aina Wifalk is the Swede behind an innovation that has helped improve the lives of people across the world – the rollator, or walker.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/materials/the-invention-of-the-walker/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.sharingsweden.se%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\",\"contentUrl\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.sharingsweden.se%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2Fmobility-aid.jpg&w=1200&q=90\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":1800,\"caption\":\"Lena Öritsland/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/#website\",\"url\":\"https://sharingsweden-backend.c2673.cloudnet.cloud/\",\"name\":\"Sharing Sweden\",\"description\":\"A comprehensive collection of resources to promote Sweden to an international audience\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http://sharingsweden.se/search?query={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}</script>\n<!-- / Yoast SEO plugin. -->"
},
"events": null,
"searchPage": null
}
},
"category": false
}
}