Odds are that someday in your life you will be challenged with using or getting a mobility aid device. Thanks to my conversation with medical devices provider Mike Messer, I was able to write this very useful article on manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, and powered scooters. Knowing the distinction between these units is very important if you are preparing a purchase so we sincerely hope that this info will be very helpful.
The two major types of manual wheelchairs are foldable frame wheelchairs and rigid frame wheelchairs. Rigid frame wheelchairs include a seat back that folds up for transportation. The wheels have axles that can be quick released making it easy to enable them to fit into a motor vehicle. Most people are able to load their rigid wheelchair into a car without help, because they are made of light aluminum and generally weigh a mere 10 to 20 lbs with out wheels. Foldable frame wheelchairs are standard wheelchairs or sometimes known as as conventional wheelchairs. They are often weighty and sometimes difficult for a user to load up into a motor vehicle. They are constructed with a frame that may be easy to fold, but as pointed out before, these sorts of chairs may call for you to need help loading them into your vehicle.
Electric wheelchairs typically make use of belts and gears in order to function. They are typically quiet in their operation. Belt drive models require more routine maintenance than gear drive versions. These styles come in all shapes and forms and greatly vary in their toughness. Light frame units usually are great for indoor use while the heavy frame types fair better outside the house. There are rear wheel drive units which are the most conventional and popular. They provide poor turning abilities but have faster speeds. There are Front wheel drive units which offer much better and tighter turning attributes. Because of the ease of turning however, these types have a slower speed to insure safety. Mid wheel electric powered wheelchairs have the tightest turning capabilities but also have the tendency to be unsteady when halting and starting. They use additional castor wheels and tip-over proof wheels but this may possibly make it more challenging to use these on harsh terrain.
Mobility scooters are the most preferred type of power-driven chair. They can be bought in three and four wheel styles and are obtainable with front and back wheel drive. They are more affordable than electric powered wheelchairs and many are designed for their ease of mobility and ease of transportation. They steer just like a bicycle and have controls which allow you to manage acceleration. They are much lighter in weight and can be disassembled easily to transport around town. Front wheel Drive units can typically carry up to 160 lbs. and are designed more for inside use while rear wheel drive models can carry a maximum of 250 to 500 pounds depending on the model, and can better deal with the outdoor terrain if necessary.
Many thanks and I hope you learned some beneficial information from this write-up. Good luck and I hope you are ready to make an educated decision when purchasing the mobility equipment that is most effective for you.
arnoldstansbury 