subject: Tips For Choosing The Right Wheelchairs [print this page] There is available a wide range of mobility aids which help the individuals with limited mobility. The elderly or disabled individuals can face stern limitations because of lack of mobility. The mobility aids help people to lead their lives in an independent and comfortable way. Also, there are several ways for achieving mobility and one can choose the right aid depending on the individuals ability. Wheelchair is one of the most commonly used aids which help the individual to enjoy an independent lifestyle. While there is manual wheelchair which is tricky and bit difficult to propel and manoeuvre particularly for the individuals that lack strength, electric or power wheelchair is motorized and is thus easy to use. The electric wheelchairs which are available today have brilliant features which were previously not available like back recline, arm and foot rest, alternatives for hand control and many more.
The electric or power wheelchair usually has four major components. These are the motor which propels or manoeuvre the chair, the battery that powers the chair, drive system that consists of the wheels, and the controls that help to steer the wheelchair. These different components can be perfectly altered in order to get different results. There are available various models to suit individuals with different ability levels and needs. One can also consult a therapist or physician who can guide well about the kind of wheelchair which is best suited for them. You can also do a bit of research in order to rightly invest in a wheelchair which perfectly meets the needs of an individual. Electric wheelchairs are considered sophisticated devices owing to their functions and circuitry. You can use the joy stick controller or push button to propel or manoeuvre them. With their functionality and sophistication level these can even be used for rough terrains and irregular services. Power driven, these do not require any effort on the part of the user and thus are very convenient to use. These help the user to lead a comfortable and independent life and also boost up the confidence of the user.
On the other hand manual wheelchair has been in use for many years and comes with sling supports for seat and the back and metal frame, which is foldable. Thus, this kind of wheelchair is easy to store and can be easily carried along when traveling. The design of manual wheelchair has considerably improved today and has become more safe and flexible to cater to the needs and requirements of the users. These kinds of wheelchairs allow the users to carry out their routine activities in an easy and comfortable way. However the user should have enough strength so that they can push the wheelchair without asking for help from anyone. Also, there is available self propelled wheelchair which is particularly designed to provide the user a sense of independence and confidence. These types of wheelchair can be easily moved by the user without seeking any assistance. Thus, while investing in a wheelchair you need to do a bit of research in order to find the best one which perfectly suits the needs of the user.
