Power Wheelchairs
A power wheelchair, also called an electric wheelchair, is a chair that is powered by a motor. There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing a power wheelchair. Some of the things you may want to think about include: distance it can travel, type of batteries, size, weight capacity, and whether it is designed for indoor or outdoor use.
The distance a chair can travel between charges is an important thing to consider because you want to make sure that the performance of your new wheelchair will meet your needs and expectations. This amount can vary greatly from 7 to 40 miles. Some of the factors that will affect this distance include weight of user and the type of terrain it is being used on.
The type of battery you choose is a more important decision than you may think. Selecting the wrong battery can leave you stranded because it ran out of power or because it couldn’t handle the terrain you were riding on. In order to choose the correct battery, you need to take a look at the different characteristics of the batteries available to you.
There are two types of batteries that wheelchair manufacturers use, wet-cell and gel-cell. Wet-cell batteries are the lighter, cheaper and the least likely to be overcharged battery of the two. However, they tend to leak and are therefore not allowed on airplanes.
Gel-cell batteries are heavier and more expensive but they usually last longer than wet-cell. They are allowed on planes and are recommended more often by the wheelchair manufacturers because of environmental concerns with wet-cell batteries.
When determining what size of power wheelchair to buy, ask your doctor and/or physical therapist for their input. The most important factors to consider when sizing your wheelchair are:
- Your spine should not have any abnormal curvatures.
- You thighs should be slightly separated.
- When looking straight ahead, your head should be directly over your pelvis.
- You hips and knees should be bent at a 90 degree angle.
- Your weight should be evenly distributed in order to prevent pressure sores.
- Your entire body needs to be properly supported. This includes your back, hips, legs, knees, ankles, and buttocks.
Size and weight of the intended wheelchair user is something to consider when shopping for wheelchairs. However, it is not as critical a factor as some of the others listed above. Wheelchair manufacturers have many different options to fit people of all sizes and weights. The wheelchair vendor you choose to work with will help you decide on a wheelchair that will fit you.
The last thing to take into account is whether you are going to use your wheelchair mainly indoors or outdoors. Manufacturers have different components in wheelchairs depending upon how and where the user intends to use their wheelchair. These can include varied suspensions, drive systems and wheels. If you are looking at wheelchairs through a vendor, it is important to let them know how you plan on using your chair so they can use this information to assist you get a wheelchair that fits your needs perfectly.
Orbit Medical is one of the top power wheelchair providers in
the United States. We have helped people all over the country improve
their mobility and begin new lives by providing them with the highest
quality mobility products. Most of our satisfied patients have been
able to get their new power wheelchairs at little or no cost to
them because all of our products include:
· Free Insurance Filing
· Free Delivery
· Free In-Home Setup and Training
If you have insurance that covers durable medical equipment, then we may be able to help get an electric wheelchair through your insurance coverage. If you are not sure whether or not you would qualify, request information today and a mobility specialist will call you for a free phone consultation.
We offer electric wheelchairs and powerchairs from leading manufacturers such as Pride Mobility, Invacare, and Drive Medical. Chair models include the Jazzy Select, Jazzy Select 6, Jazzy Select Traveller, Jazzy 614 HD, Merits P710 2VHD and more.
Find out how to qualify for an electric wheelchair by clicking on your state below: