5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR

There are many electric wheelchairs available today and it can be difficult to choose the right one, so you should first discuss with your therapist what features you need in your wheelchair. Even after recommendations, you need to think about more than one thing to find what you are looking for.

1. Portable, medium weight or heavy?

When choosing the right type of electric wheelchair, it is important to consider how often you will use it. Do you need the wheelchair for the whole day? Or will you only need it occasionally?

A travel/portable electric wheelchair can be easily disassembled to fit in the boot of a car or when travelling by plane. Portable trolleys tend to be smaller, making them ideal for apartment living, going to the supermarket or even on a cruise. The chair itself can often have less padding, so wheelchairs are not designed for long periods of sitting or staying in it all day. A good example of such wheelchairs is the Airwheel wheelchair, which weighs only about 18 kg, is small and folds comfortably.

2. Wheels for the electric wheelchair

Front-wheel drive electric wheelchairs can manoeuvre well and negotiate small obstacles. They have a wide turning circle and are suitable for moving in tight spaces. The downside is that an electric wheelchair can fall over when turning at high speeds.

Front- and rear-wheel drive trolleys are ideal for use in apartments, shopping centres and anywhere else where space is limited. They have a good ride on smooth surfaces, but are less manoeuvrable on uneven terrain.

The rear-wheel drive trolley manoeuvres well on uneven surfaces, making it the perfect choice for those who like to be outdoors. This type of wheelchair has a high speed but a larger turning circle, which can make it difficult to move indoors. Some of these models can travel up to 8.5 miles per hour, which can be useful when travelling longer distances.

3. Your environment and possible obstacles

If you live in a smaller space, make sure the electric wheelchair can fit and manoeuvre freely in your home. Measure the doorways of your home and remember that the opening of a hinged door is slightly smaller. It is also very important to measure the smallest spaces, such as bathrooms and toilets. If you live in a multi-storey house, don't forget to provide a stair lift or a ladder to move around all the rooms in the house. Those who like to spend time in their own backyard should remember to choose electric wheelchairs with larger and wider wheels for a smoother ride outside.

4. Seating position and seat selection

Most people with disabilities spend a lot of time in power wheelchairs, so the seat and its position are very important factors for health and comfort. Most electric wheelchairs have a standard, non-folding seat, but the backrest can move and change its position if necessary. If you are unable to sit without an armrest, a tilt, recline and lift function would be useful. For prolonged sitting, the ability to recline the backrest would improve circulation and reduce pressure on the buttocks.

Some of the most popular wheelchair positions are tilt in space, which changes the orientation of the upper part of the body without changing the lower part, or recline, which changes the degree of recline by raising the legs.

When selecting recliners with the right functions, pay attention to the material of the cushion and backrest. Materials are usually filled with air, contour foam, gel or a combination of both. Each material has advantages and disadvantages in terms of stability, pressure distribution, airflow and insulation.

5. Choosing the control panel

The most common controller for electric wheelchairs is the joystick or keypad. The joystick usually controls direction and speed. The keypad can also control the speed and other functions such as the degree of recline and audible alarm. However, manufacturers can offer other ways of controlling the wheelchair if required: inhalation or exhalation control via a tube, head control (switches are attached to either side of the headrest), foot control, chin control or voice control.

An electric wheelchair is a chance to get moving again and plan your own time. It is pleasing to see that many new electric wheelchairs are quite functional, easily adaptable to the user and able to move in small spaces, regardless of their weight and power.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Rehastar.com staff by phone on weekdays 08:00 - 17:00 or by email at any time and we will do our best to answer you as soon as possible.

Email: info@rehastar.com

Phone: +370 626 11553