Motorized Wheelchairs, Scooters Provide Universal Mobility

A person who is unable to walk because of a physical problem, injury, or illness which affects only their legs can adapt to the use of a manual wheelchair and achieve independent mobility with some practice. Other types of mobility problems require additional assistance. Equipment such as motorized wheelchairs, scooters, and power-base chairs help people become mobile and independent in any situation.

Power wheelchairs are light-weight motorized versions of the manual wheelchair design. Power-base wheelchairs are larger, heavy duty devices consisting of a chair mounted on a motorized wheel base. Scooters are larger platforms with a chair in the back and steering apparatus in front.

If your mobility is limited because of a condition which affects your muscle strength, coordination, or motor skills, work with a physical therapist to determine what type of mobility device is right for you. If your condition is degenerative or may worsen over time, even if you are currently a good candidate for using a scooter to extend your mobility to longer distances and periods of time, you may want to invest in a power wheelchair in case your condition changes in the future. A power wheelchair is easier to control without much strength or motor ability, more appropriate for indoor or domestic use, and easier to get in and out of than a scooter.

Power-base wheelchairs have similar seating options to scooters, with “pilot seats” which resemble car driver seats, or seats which are similar to office chairs. If you are capable of walking short distances with a walker or cane and cannot enter and exit a power scooter easily, a power-base wheelchair may be a better option than a scooter. Rather than having to step onto the platform between the chair and the steering apparatus to mount the scooter, you can sit in a power-base wheelchair from in front as you would in a normal chair. If you have trouble changing from a sitting to a standing position, you may also want to look into purchasing a power life recliner for your home. These are comfortable chairs with a mechanical lifting apparatus which pushes the chair forward at an angle to help you reach a standing position, allowing you to easily stand and use a cane or walker to walk.

A power scooter is a good solution for anyone who can easily enter or exit the scooter and has the arm coordination to control it but cannot walk for extended periods of time or make an extended physical effort to push a manual wheelchair. Arm mobility is necessary to move the steering apparatus, but it doesn’t require too much strength and one-handed models are available. The controls on a power wheelchair are designed to be simple to use with minimal strength and coordination. Both heavy duty scooters and wheelchairs are available if weight capacity is a factor, with some power-base wheelchairs capable of carrying over 600 pounds.

Motorized wheelchairs, scooters, and power-base wheelchairs are designed to accommodate the mobility needs of anyone with mobility problems of any kind. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you decide which apparatus best fits your situation.

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