A Primer on Motorized Wheelchairs

In years past, being dependent on a Motorized Wheel Chair gave a person two options; keep sufficient upper body strength to move yourself, or employ another person to move you around every day. Naturally, not every wheelchair bound person has a fit and functioning upper body. Very few people have the resources to employ a full-time attendant, and it is even less common to have a spouse or other relative with the time and devotion required to be an assistant. Happily, these days we are able to own motorized wheelchairs which allow us to preserve our independence without presuming on another person.

Motorized wheelchairs are steered by mounted joysticks, so you merely need the use of one hand to guide the chair. Powered wheelchairs are usually more maneuverable than normal wheelchairs, since the rider isn’t required to place their arms beyond the edges of their chair. The motor allows the chairs to provide power-assisted postural supports, such as power tilt and recline. These capabilities allow the user to alter their position often enough to prevent pressure sores.

One or two types of motorized chairs can lift the rider to a standing position enabling them to move around upright rather than seated. Motorized wheelchairs are made with more tire and power base options, and normally have spring suspensions, which help them to handle unpaved surfaces easily. While transporting a motorized wheelchair in a wheelchair accessible vehicle, a motorized chair could be connected to the vehicle and employed as a normal car seat; an option which is not offered by many normal wheelchairs.

Motorized wheelchairs have their problems, though. First, they will prove especially heavy and may need a Wheel Chair Lift. The chairs are run by powerful batteries which weigh more than enough alone, and when their weight is thrown in with the substantial suspension in addition to the overall support frame, you could be dealing with as much as 300 lbs of wheelchair before the person is even in it. As a result of the standard poundage and bulk, even travel power chairs are not very user friendly to travel with, and if you want to take apart and stow these types of chairs, you will probably want the help of an extra person. Naturally, Motorized Wheel Chair & Lift can also be incredibly expensive. They usually are priced between $1800 and $8000, yet in quite a few situations, Medicare can subsidize as much as 80% of that expense. The majority of retailers are alarmingly willing to help you with the Medicare paperwork, fortunately, and often they will turn in the paperwork for you.

Motorized wheelchairs are handy vehicles for folks with extremely limited mobility who choose not to limit their lives. These chairs could provide any user the mobility and independence required to maintain an active lifestyle.

Tariq Yaman manages a Wheelchair Disability Scooter Site that educates and teaches consumers everything there is to know about the Motorized Wheel Chair.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Bumpzee
  • De.lirio.us
  • Furl
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • Propeller
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • Yahoo! Buzz

No related posts.

Comments are closed.