Walking Assist Devices Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

Walking Assist Devices Market Size and Forecast

The global walking assist devices market size was USD 3.96 billion in 2023, calculated at USD 4.21 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach around USD 7.30 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.32% from 2024 to 2033. The rising demand for the mobility solutions for the physically disabled people or injured people with difficulties in walking independently is driving the growth of the walking assist devices market. 

Walking Assist Devices Market Key Takeaways

• The North America walking assist devices market reached USD 1.50 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand around USD 2.81 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 6.47% from 2024 to 2033.
• North America dominated the walking assist devices market with the largest revenue share of 38% in 2023.
• Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the market during the forecast period. 
• By product, the walkers segment held the largest market share in 2023.
• By age group, the geriatric population segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By end-user, the homecare segment led the global market in 2023.

U.S. Walking Assist Devices Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The U.S. walking assist devices market reached USD 1.13 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand USD 2.12 billion by the end of 2033, at a CAGR of 6.49% from 2024 to 2033.

North America dominated the assist devices market in 2023.  The growth of the walking assist devices market is attributed to the increasing availability of well-developed healthcare infrastructure and the availability of major market players that support the trend of assisted walking devices. The region has recorded significant growth in surgeries like knee and hip replacement, which is driving the demand for assisted walking devices by patients and hospitals.

The increasing demand for assisted walking devices by patients ' surgeries is due to difficulties due to surgical operations and extreme pain in walking. The assisted walking devices help patients with independent mobility. Additionally, the technological integration in healthcare devices and the ongoing investment in the further launch and innovations in new healthcare devices are contributing to the expansion of the walking assist devices market in the region.

• As per the reports by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, there are more than 300,000 hip replacement surgeries performed in the United States each year.
• The annual expenditure on orthopedic healthcare by the U.S. totals $350 billion to $400 billion or 10% of the total U.S. healthcare expenditure.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the walking assist devices market during the forecast period. The growth of the market is attributed to the rising population and the rising number of geriatric population suffering from some kind of physical pain and challenges in walking due to the aging effect or some kind of disease that drives the demand for assisted walking devices. The rising number of road accidents and surgical treatment is further contributing to the demand for assisted walking devices. The growing disposable income in the population and the surging expenditure on healthcare are also boosting the growth of the market in the region. 

• In India, almost 20 lakh people need knee replacement surgery each year, but 2.5 to 3 lakh people undergo it due to several factors like fear of operation, cost, possible revision in the future, and durability of the implants.

Market Overview

Walking devices are also known as ambulatory-assisted devices that are used by patients suffering from walking issues post-surgery to help support patients in ambulating independently. The assisted walking devices aim to enhance the walking pattern and improve balance and safety while moving independently. There are several types of assisted walking devices, such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and communication aids. The increasing geriatric population and the rising incidents like accidental cases, post-surgical operations, and falls are some of the causes that lead to the challenge in mobility and drive the demand for the walking assist devices market.

Walking Assist Devices Market Growth Factors

• The increasing demand for assisted walking devices due to the rise in the geriatric population and the increasing prevalence of diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and other diseases that drive the demand for assisted walking devices. 
• The increasing demand for innovative solutions for increased mobility solutions and ensuring independence in lifestyle for the aged population is driving the demand for the walking assist devices market. 
• The increases accidental cases, sports injuries, and incidents like falls are severally damage the musculoskeletal system that leads to decrease the ability to ambulate independently that drives the growth of the walking assist devices market. 
• The rising demand for assisted walking devices after severe spine and knee surgeries for rehabilitation, the patients are experiencing severe pain after the surgeries, difficulties in walking, and weakness in muscles that causes challenges in waking or ambulating independently is further driving the demand for the independent mobility solutions that are driving the growth of the walking assist devices market. 
• The rising advancements in healthcare devices and the integration of smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, machine learning, and sensors are driving the innovations, and the new launch in assisted walking devices is further driving the growth of the walking assist devices market.

Walking Assist Devices Market Scope

Walking Assist Devices Market Dynamics

Driver

Increasing geriatric population

The rising global population and the rising aging population are mostly affected by some types of physical diseases, such as arthritis and other orthopedic conditions, due to the aging effects that lead to the difficulties in walking that drive the demand for assisted walking devices. Additionally, the increasing number of surgical operations in the targeted diseases drives the demand for assisted walking devices. The rise in traumatic injuries, such as the risk of falls, road accidents, spinal cord injuries, and brain injuries that may cause physical disabilities in patients, also boosts the growth of the walking assist devices market. 

Restraint

High cost

The higher cost associated with assisted walking devices limits the growth of the market. The increased cost of devices is not afforded by the fixed and limited-income seniors or geriatric population with low monthly incomes. Thus, the higher cost of the devices is restraining the growth of the walking assist devices market.

• The cost of knee replacements in India starts from USD3,900 for a single knee and $7,500 for both knees and further depends upon the technique of surgery, implant, medical history and condition, hospital and the city, and the surgeons.

Opportunity

Integration of advanced technologies

The integration of smart technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics into assisted walking devices is used as the mobility solution for patients with some kind of challenges in walking independently. The expansion of artificial intelligence and robotics are driving the opportunities in the advancements in assisted walking devices. AI helps in enhancing assisting technologies and helps people make their lives easier. Many of the major players in the walking assist devices market are researching the advancements in assisted walking devices like wheelchairs.

• The researchers from Deakin University and the Control Bionics Applied AI Institute (A2I2) designed the world-first autonomous driving wheelchair module known as DROVE. The devices use wheelchair-mounted cameras, sensors, and the NeuroNode interface to achieve centimeter accuracy.

Product insights

The walker's segment held the largest walking assist devices market share in 2023. The growth of the segment is attributed to the rising adaptation of the walkers by the patients with the post-surgical operations that are driving the demand for the walkers. The higher adoption of walkers is due to their advanced safety, which is used to stabilize patients with poor balance. The walker provides more balance and a base of support than other walking devices like walking sticks. It comes with three sides and a side closet. Walker has several benefits, such as promoting independent mobility, increasing metabolic and musculoskeletal demands, optimizing activity levels, and reducing the risk of falls. There are various types of walkers available on the market, depending on the user or patient's requirements. Rollators, knee walkers, and walker cane hybrids. The Rollators are one of the common types of walkers that come with handlebars, four-wheels, and comforting space for seating; they are also equipped with handbrakes for safety concerns.

Age Group insights

The geriatric population segment dominated the walking assist devices market in 2023. The rising geriatric population around the world, which comes under the age group of 60 and above, is more likely to get affected by incidents like the risk of falls and misbalance, weakness in muscles, and pain in joints that may lead to difficulty in mobility independently that may drive the demand for the walking assist devices market. Additionally, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the geriatric population, such as Parkinson’s disease and arthritis, is one of the major reasons for the rising demand for assisted walking devices by the geriatric population.

End-user insights

The homecare segment led the global walking assist devices market in 2023. The increasing demand for home healthcare facilities due to the higher comfort and home healthcare reduces the extra time for traveling. The rising adoption of advanced technologies in healthcare, such as the rise of telehealth, is driving the growth of the home healthcare segment in the healthcare industry. The increasing demand for assisted walking devices is due to the geriatric population's preference for home treatment for comfort, which is also driving the growth of the walking assist devices market.

Walking Assist Devices Market Companies

• TOPRO
• Invacare Corporation
• Drive medical design
• Eurovema AB
• HUMAN CARE
• Medline Industries Karman
• Benmor Medical
• Briggs Healthcare
• Carex Health Brands

Recent Developments

• In January 2024, Samsung is launching the wearable robot EX1 to enhance the mobility of older adults. The wearable robots EX1 allow older adults to perform simple exercises such as fitness and walking and help improve their quality of life. 
• In February 2024, Sunrise Medical, a leading manufacturer of mobility solutions, launched wireless devices that are proportionally head-controlled, enabling drivers to control their wheelchairs and other devices with head movement. 
• In August 2023, the latest app, Walking Tall, was launched and co-designed with people with Parkinson’s disease, aiming to help them walk better. The app was developed by the UNSW Sydney biomedical engineer Dr Matthew A Brodie and a team, and the clinical trial was funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and Shake It Up Australia Foundation. 
• In June 2022, Cionic, a San Francisco-based medical engineering firm, launched the Cionic Neural Sleeve, one-of-a-kind clothing with the integration of smart technologies and sensors for making the wearers gain improvements in areas like balance, walking speed, gait efficiency, and overall safety. 
• In March 2023, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) launched the C+walk S, the second launch in the C+walk mobility series. It is the pedestrian-mobility-assistance model that will be launched in the market at the Toyota automobile dealers and will be available for leasing and renting stores from March 20, 2023.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Products

• Canes
• Crutches
• Walkers
• Gait trainers

By Age Group

• Geriatric
• Adults

By End-user

• Hospitals
• Homecare
• Others 

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa