Electric motorized wheelchairs

Motorized wheelchairs (sometimes called a powerchair) are the best mobility option for anyone who lacks strength or movement in their arms or upper body. When this is the case, a motorized wheelchair will remove the need for a carer or a member of the family to push the manual wheelchair and its passenger. This in turn gives the wheelchair user their independence and freedom of movement.

Equally, an electric wheelchair can be an alternative (or an addition) to a manual wheelchair for anyone who intends to travel significant distances on a regular basis, but who does not want a mobility scooter.

Features and how they work

Motorised wheelchairs use a light but powerful electric motor that runs off a rechargeable battery. This battery is easy to recharge and provides a good range of travel (when fully charged). In this way electric wheelchairs are similar to mobility scooters.

The battery powered motor normally drives the large rear wheels, however some motorised wheelchairs have two central drive wheels with four further wheels (castors), two of which are to the front and two of which are to the rear. It is possible to get an all wheel drive and an all-terrain motorised wheelchair.

Most motorised wheelchairs will have good spring suspension systems that provide a smooth and assured ride and that keep the wheelchair user both comfortable and safe. A highly supportive seat, with padded cushions and extended backrest and arms, offer a level of luxury and postural restraint that exceeds that available on any mobility scooter. Head rests and body control systems, that support the body in a prone posture, are also available.

Advantages of a motorized wheelchair over a mobility scooter

Where motorized wheelchairs differ from mobility scooters is in their seating, range of movement and method of control.

• Firstly, a motorised wheelchair uses a small joystick to control its direction and speed of travel. This joystick is controlled with one hand and requires minimal movements that do not need any physical effort and that do not cause muscular strain. The joystick is normally located on one of the armrests and many models have sensitivity options that allow the precise customisation of any operation to the users specific limitations.

  Alternatives to the joystick control system include "sip and puff" controllers that are operated by the mouth and that enable someone who has no use of their limbs to use a wheelchair. This makes a motorized wheelchair an option in many circumstances where a mobility scooter would be unsuitable.

• Secondly, a wheelchair has a much greater range of movements than a larger and more cumbersome mobility scooter.

  Wheelchairs can turn and manoeuvre in very small tight spaces and they can quite literally rotate through 180 degrees on the spot. This means that, unlike a mobility scooter, a motorized wheelchair is perfectly suited for use in the home, an office or any other restricted space. Standard width motorised wheelchairs can comfortably pass through door openings, the aisles of shops, stores etc and they take up a minimum amount of space when not in use. They are also easier to transport (by private or public transport) than larger mobility scooters.

• Thirdly, the seating options available on an electric wheelchair are far greater than those on a regular wheelchair or a mobility scooter.

  As with all products, many options are available at an extra cost, but the seating choices for these wheelchairs are impressive. Ride and comfort aiding functions can include numerous postural support settings that may be infinite, pre-programmed or programmable by the owner. These electric adjustments will usually see power stand, tilt and recline modes that allow the seat and foot rests to be electrically tilted forwards or reclined backwards. The advantages of such features are that they vary seating positions and reduce (and vary) the location of pressure points on the body.

  The power stand function (which is currently an unusual and uncommon option) elevates the wheelchair user to a near standing posture that can make some interactions easier, e.g. communicating with someone over a high level counter.

Ultimately, there are motorized wheelchairs that can do just about anything and it is even possible to buy a tracked wheelchair that can cross roughed terrains and water hazards.

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