For complex rehab users with any neurological condition such as congenital skeletal deformity or myopathy, need to choose the right motorized wheelchair for themselves.  This chair needs not only to maneuver the path at home, but is also a power chair which can help to retain a quality of life.  Choosing the right motorized wheelchair allows the person to be more mobile whether it is going to the grocery store, working or going to school, or raising a family, it is vital that the right power chair is chosen.

Obtaining the right motorized wheel chair involves several factors:

  1. Range
  2. Minimum obstacle climb
  3. Speed
  4. Dynamic stability incline
  5. Durability
  6. Range of the Motorized Wheelchair

First of all, consider the range of the power chair you wish to purchase.  Light duty motorized wheelchairs have less range.  For example, community use electric motorized wheel chairs can go four miles further than the light duty wheelchairs.  This is very convenient for the user because daily tasks such as going to work or school, looking after children, visits to the doctor, shopping, religious and community activities are simplified.

A power chair with the extra range enables the user to go without charging the battery during the day.

Speed of the Electric Motorized Wheelchair

An electric motorized wheelchair that has a high speed adds to the safety of the chair in such places as busy streets and parking lots.  Speed adds efficiency to the day, making activities quicker to achieve and places easier to get to while saving time.

Durability

An electric power wheelchair must have the durability and quality to last over time and repeated usage.  Busy lifestyles require a durable power wheelchair.  Motorized wheelchairs have been tested for their durability.

Minimum Obstacle Climb

Three inch or higher obstacles should be no problem for the durable motorized wheelchair.  For a chair that will get a lot of activity in the community, it must be able to traverse terrain that a light duty wheelchair cannot.  Uneven landscape such as ranches, playing fields, and farms should be no problem for a power chair.  Access to buildings, ramps, sidewalks and walkways is possible with the obstacle climbing ability of the power wheelchair.  Terrain such as this would definitely be a problem for a wheelchair that is not designed for this purpose.

Dynamic stability incline

The dynamic stability incline of a motorized wheelchair must be known for one to make the correct decision in what power wheel chair to purchase.  This factor will enable the community user to maneuver steeper inclines  on ramps into public buildings, steeper hills on streets or other hilly terrain, thereby giving the user more freedom of movement and capability.

Questions to ask yourself when trying to choose the right electric motorized wheelchair:

Does the patient require additional battery range either because of extended daily use, or the type of terrain that is traversed?

Does the patient require a power wheel chair to use out of doors and do they need to consistently climb three inch or higher obstacles?

Does the patient need a power chair that can traverse hilly terrain or steep ramps frequently?

Does the patient need the speed in a wheelchair because they are frequently in high traffic areas, whether due to work or school?

Does the patient require a higher durability in wheelchair choice for their lifestyle which is more rigorous than others on a daily basis?

Compare a light duty wheelchair to a community use power wheelchair.

You would choose a light duty wheelchair if the chair is used indoors and only for short period out of doors.  Light duty wheelchairs have a 12 mile range before they need to be recharged.  Light duty wheelchairs are best for flat, indoor surfaces with a maximum of a 2.3 inch obstacle climbing ability.  They come with only a 7.5 degree of stability incline usually found only indoors.  For low activity usage, the power chair has a 4.5 mile per hour speed.  The durability of a light duty wheelchair is able to meet all the demands of light activity, smooth surfaces and only moderately varied terrain.

A power motorized wheelchair for community use comes with a higher range of travel (16 plus miles) for those who work or go to school.  They are suitable for uneven, hilly terrain with the ability to climb obstacles of three inches high.  Motorized wheel chairs come with a nine degree stability incline for outdoor travel.  For safety in high traffic areas such as parking lots and busy streets, community use wheelchairs have a speed of six miles per hour.  These power wheelchairs have been tested for durability and are capable of meeting the demands of rugged terrain.

It’s all about quality of life when choosing the right motorized wheelchair for you and your lifestyle.  Know your options as to what is available and know what you are going to require.

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