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Wheelchairs have evolved since the introduction of the manual wheelchair. Wheelchairs can now be electric meaning that users no longer need to rely on their carers; however there are many types of electric wheelchairs and not all of them would be suitable for a single person. There are things that have to be considered when purchasing a power wheelchair, which we will explain in today’s blog.
1. What’s your weight?
The first thing you need to consider is your weight and the weight capacity of the power wheelchair. It’s not advisable to purchase a power wheelchair that has a weight capacity similar to yours; for example if you are 200kg then it would be best to purchase a power wheelchair with a weight capacity of either 250kg or 300kg.
2. Indoor or outdoor?
Will you be using your power wheelchair mostly indoor or outdoor? While most power wheelchairs are designed for both indoors and outdoors there are some that are specifically designed for one or the other. That’s why it’s important to speak with one of our sales team so that they can find you the right power wheelchair suitable for your needs.
3. Power Base
Power wheelchairs are essentially made up of two major components: the seating system and the power base. What’s a power base? It’s essentially a term that covers a number of parts including the motors, wheels, controller and batteries. There are 3 types of power bases available and each has their pros and cons so it’s important to think about which one would be the best for you.
Rear-Wheel Drive
The drive wheels are at the rear with the castors at the front. It is the most traditional set-up for power wheelchairs.
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Larger turning diameter, which compromises manoeuvrability, especially in tight areas |
Mid-Wheel Drive
Interchangeably used with ‘centre-wheel drive’, but the two are different. The drive wheels on a ‘mid-wheel’ is in the middle of the vehicle, not at the front or back whilst the drive wheels for a ‘centre-wheel drive’ are literally in the centre of the vehicle, which is the distance from the footplate to the middle of the drive tyre and from the middle of the drive tyre to the rear castor.
Pros | Cons |
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Front-Wheel Drive
Drive wheels are at the front meaning that in effect it pulls itself over terrain and obstacles such as kerbs.
Pros | Cons |
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4. Battery Range
If you plan on using your wheelchair to travel around a lot then it would be best to get a wheelchair which has a long battery life. However do note that there are many variables that influence how long your battery will last for such as your weight, the age of the battery and what the terrain is like.
5. Custom-built?
If you have specific requirements then it would be best to have a customised wheelchair. Otherwise if you need a simple power wheelchair then any of our Basic Mobility Power Wheelchairs will help you out. If you’re unsure have a chat with our experienced sales team and they’ll be able to recommend the right power wheelchair for you.
Hopefully these tips will help you choose the right power wheelchair. Remember every person is unique meaning that not all power wheelchairs will be suitable for you. It’s highly recommended that you ask one of our experienced salesperson to help choose the right one.
However don’t think that you have to choose a power wheelchair. We also have manual wheelchairs available or even portable mobility scooters. Whichever you choose remember that Active Mobility Systems is here to help you get moving again.