Electric motorized wheelchairs: Getting you from here to there – with drive!
Last time around, I took a look at some of the general ideas and concepts behind the modern manual wheelchair and some of the ways in which it has continued to evolve, remaining a very adaptable mode of access for many physically disabled individuals. This time, I would like to take a similar look at the contemporary motorized wheelchair or power chair as it is also commonly known. I mentioned last time that over the more than ten years that I have been employed in the community health care field I have had ample opportunity to see first hand the variety of wheelchairs that are in use out there. This is true of both manual and electric wheelchairs. During that time I have come to appreciate that there are a number of subtle differences among the many different models and manufacturers of power chairs. through my time in health care, I have had numerous opportunities to speak with a number of people involved with the maintenance of motorized wheelchairs. As well, out of simple curiosity I have searched out some information on the different chairs of my clients. I feel that these experiences have helped me to over time gain a stronger understanding of how power chairs work and how they can truly benefit those dealing with a restriction of their mobility.
So when I am talking about a motorized wheelchair, what exactly am I talking about? A motorized or electric wheelchair, as they are also commonly referred to, is an electrically powered wheelchair that makes use of either a series of belts or a system of gears and sometimes even both. Typically, the powered wheelchairs that rely on a system of belt drives are very quiet when in operation, however they will often require more maintenance on average to keep them in peak operating order. In contrast, the contemporary gear drive based motorized chairs are fairly quiet and relatively low maintenance, however they are known to wear out more quickly than equivalent chairs using belt drives and as the gear drives wear out the chairs become much noisier while in operation.
Wheelchair durability is something that varies from model to model and appears to correlate with the cost or price range of any particular chair. The motorized wheelchairs that one would consider to be more ‘low end’ in their construction seem to have lighter frames and seem better suited for mostly indoor use. These lighterwheelchair frames can start to crack more easily and the front fork area of these chairs can be bent more easily. As well, it seems like the motors on the lighter, cheaper chairs can die out faster when they are used excessively (ie. alot) travelling around outside – in an outdoor environment. The higher priced power chairs with the heavier frames seem more durable and reliable to me with their frames designed to handle more weight in the chair. Some of these newer motorized chairs are even designed with a spring-based suspension, an addition which now allows for much smoother travel over even more uneven terrain.
A powered wheelchair could run you anywhere from $1800 and up, whether you are shopping around for one either at a brick and mortar retail outlet or an online retailer. Obviously with this kind of expense involved, you should have some kind of idea what your specific needs in a powered chair are. From my experience, electric motored chairs are available in three basic categories or builds: a front-wheel drive, a rear-wheel drive and a mid-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive electric chair now seems more common since it offers the user a tighter turning radius. Actually, many of the front-wheel drive power chairs appear to have a somewhat lower maximum speed than equivalent rear-wheel drive chairs because the front-wheel drive design has been known to turn too readily at the higher speeds. Never a good thing. The rear-wheel drive powered chair is a much more traditional and more widely owned style or design of chair. It is overall a speedier chair than the front-wheel drive models, hitting higher top speeds than them while in motion, but it has a much less impressive turning radius than many of the front-wheel and mid-wheel models of chairs. The mid-wheel drive powered wheelchair offers its users a tighter turn radius or turning ability than the afforementioned rear and front-wheel drive design but there is a tendancy for these chairs to be rather unsteady whenever stopping or starting. One thing about the mid-wheel drive chair design is that it has a caster wheel assembly in the rear and an extra set of anti-tip wheels at the front which, ironically, actually limits the effectiveness of the mid-wheel drive wheelchair on the more uneven outdoor terrains and surfaces.
There are also a couple of options available when it comes to controling the recline ability of a motorized chair. Many chairs come with an electric wheelchair power tilt function, which is a feature that allows the chair’s occupant to tilt the entire chair’s seat assembly and footrests upwards to a forty five degree angle. Another option is the electric wheelchair recliner, which is a feature that allows the chair’s occupant to both tilt the seat back and raise the the leg rests up horizontally. These actions can be performed in tandem or seperately as desired, allowing for a greater range of flexibility in one’s sitting position. Of course either of these tilt design features can provide some measure of added relief to the chair’s occupant and can be a big factor in helping to reduce the development of pressure sores on a physically disabled individual.
So there you have it: I know what I know. I won’t claim to have an extensive knowledge of all things motorized wheelchair, but you pick up some stuff over a decade of working with various mobility aids, you know? The next time that I am brave enough to post on here, it will probably be to share some of what I have picked up about handicapped or mobility scooters over the years here.
No related posts.
