Odds are that someday in your life you will be confronted with using or acquiring a mobility aid product. Thanks to my conversation with medical products provider Mike Messer, I was able to compose this very helpful article on manually operated wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and electric scooters. Knowing the distinction between these units is very important if you are planning a purchase so hopefully this information will be quite helpful.
The two principal types of manual wheelchairs are folding frame wheelchairs and rigid style wheelchairs. Rigid frame wheelchairs possess a seat back that folds for transport. The wheels have axles that can be quick released making it easy to allow them to fit into a vehicle. Most people are able to load up their rigid wheelchair into a car without assistance, because they are made of lightweight aluminum and generally weigh a mere 10 to 20 pounds without wheels. Folding frame wheelchairs are standard wheelchairs or sometimes referred to as conventional wheelchairs. They are often weighty and sometimes challenging for a user to load up into a vehicle. They are manufactured with a frame which is easy to fold, but as described before, these types of chairs may require you to need help loading them into your car.
Electric wheelchairs typically work with belts and gears in order to function. They are typically silent in their operation. Belt drive types require more maintenance than gear drive units. These models come in all shapes and sizes and greatly differ in their toughness. Light frame models usually are wonderful for in house use while the heavy frame models fair better outdoors. There are back wheel drive units which are the most standard and popular. They provide inferior turning abilities but have quicker speeds. There are Front wheel drive models which provide much better and tighter turning capabilities. Because of the easiness of turning however, these types have a slower speed to insure basic safety. Mid wheel electric wheelchairs have the tightest turning capabilities but also have the propensity to be unsteady when stopping and starting off. They use additional castor wheels and tip proof wheels but this may make it more challenging to use these on difficult terrain.
Mobility scooters are the most favored type of motor-driven chair. They can be bought in three and four wheel models and are available with front and rear wheel drive. They are more affordable than electric wheelchairs and many are developed for their ease of mobility and ease of transportation. They steer just like a bike and have controls that allow you to manage acceleration. They are much lighter in weight and can be taken apart easily to transfer around town. Front wheel Drive models can typically carry up to 160 lbs. and are designed more for indoor use while back wheel drive models can carry a maximum of 250 to 500 pounds depending on the model, and can better handle the outdoor terrain if necessary.
Thanks a lot and I hope you learned some valuable information from this write-up. Best of luck and I hope you are able to make an knowledgeable decision when acquiring the mobility device that is most effective for you.
arnoldstansbury 