Electric wheel chair is basically a chair mounted on wheels and can be propelled electrically with the help of joystick. It varies in ruggedness, and are available in the market in three different forms namely, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and mid-wheel drive.
Real wheel drive wheel chairs are the traditional and most popular ones. They are generally faster than the front wheel models but provide poor turning capabilities in comparison to the other. See power wheel chair for comparison.
Front-wheel drive wheelchairs have become more common because they provide tighter turning functions.
Mid-wheel drive wheelchairs provide the tightest turning of all, but have a tendency to be unsteady when stopping and starting.
An electric wheel chair is generally heavier than the manual wheel chair, since the frame has to be stronger to support batteries and motors, and it currently costs between US$1900 - US$30000. Recent technological advances are slowly improving wheelchair technology. The IBOT uses gyroscopic technology and has the ability to climb stairs, bump up curbs, glide through gravel and even elevate a seated passenger to reach the top shelf at a grocery store. However, IBOT is limited to certain types of users and is not covered by most insurance plans.
After getting an idea of what a wheel chair is, comes the question of how to pick the right one? Well, for that there are certain guidelines which needs to be followed. Firstly, contact your medical insurance provider, since they are the ones to tell you how much money you have to actually work with. Secondly, your physical therapist will help you to know the correct height, angle and the control system of the chair. And lastly it is also important to take your electric wheel chair for a test drive. Another option is to get a used wheel chair.
Apart from these, you need to keep an eye on the kind of batteries used while buying the electric wheel chair. There are generally three types of batteries used Wet, Gel and AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat).
Some of the leading manufacturers of Electric Wheel Chairs are Invacare, Perombil, 21st century scientific, Sunrise Medical, Pride Mobility Products Corp., and Teftec Mobility.
By following the right steps while buying an electric wheel chair and keeping a positive approach, anyone can easily overcome the challenges of his/her walking disability and enjoy life to the fullest.
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