Archive for Wheelchairs
How Fast of a Power Wheelchair Do You Need?
Posted by: | CommentsElectric wheelchairs come in various types. One main concern is speed. If this is your first time buying a wheelchair then this will force you to think about things you had not even considered before. If not, then you may know what you hope you can get but not be sure whether or not you can. In this article we survey the norms for speed in electric wheelchairs and show which brands and designs may be best suited to your real needs.
The base standard speeds for wheelchairs is 5mph. The reason for this is that they can be maneuvered indoors at a speed similar to a relaxed walking pace. This is enough for young children and the elderly and slower paced business atmospheres.
The truth is that not everyone needs the same amount of speed for their wheelchair although there are large groups of those using them that do want about the same amount of speed. The most commonly used top range of wheelchair speeds is 5 – 7 mph. There are some that go 11 mph which is about 5 minutes per mile – the same as many joggers.
The fastest ones are best for pet owners who walk their pets and for people working with children mature enough to run around and young enough to really need you with them. People that engage in these activities or who play a lot of sports are most likely to need a high speed wheelchair.
The average person will do fine with a 5mph top speed wheelchair. Often though those with a more active lifestyle might require up to 8.5mph. But almost never do you need a 11.6mph wheelchair. It is advisable especially if this is your first wheelchair, if you are elderly, or if you have severe disabilities that may hinder your control and maneuvering of the power wheelchair for you to go for a 5mph wheelchair.
To find the best wheelchair speed for you, ask those who are going to sell you one. Think of the circumstances under which you are most likely to need speed and make inquiries about those times. The retailer might well have plenty of experience with this and be able to tell you how it usually handled.
Learn more about San Diego wheelchairs. Stop by Access Medical’s rehab wheelchairs site where you can find out all about power wheelchairs and what they can do for you.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Wheelchairs
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the worst tragedies in life is the loss of one’s ability to walk. It happens to most of us at one period in our lifetimes, especially if we live long enough to have various health problems. Also, those who are unlucky enough to encounter accidents are especially prone to impairing their mobility.
This is, truly, a depressing time in life. Ambulating to where you like to go might seem like a mundane experience for most of us. But to people who have lost this privilege, the want to go somewhere becomes more emphasized, and the inability to do so makes things increasingly frustrating. The most horrible part about it is that with the loss of mobility also comes the limiting of freedom. Sometimes it can be restored in a few weeks time, but there are times when it can’t. Still, you must not lose hope. It’s not the end of everything. You can buy a wheelchair. It won’t restore your freedom completely, but it’s infinitely much better than nothing.
First, though, you have to determine particularly what type of wheelchair you require.
Manual Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs are those that can be moved by mechanical means. Mainly, this type of wheelchair is utilized when the person still has use of both his arms and has enough strength in them to move the wheels and move himself forward or backward. Or, if the patient has a caregiver who can move the wheelchair when needed, then the manual wheelchair can also be used. What’s good about it is that it’s quite inexpensive and it can aid the person maintain strong muscles, at least in the arms.
Electric-powered Wheelchairs
Electric-powered wheelchairs, on the other hand, are wheelchairs that are propelled through the power of electricity. Commonly, this is used for elderly people and for those who cannot use their arms for propulsion. They’re also used by those who have heart problems. Its speed and direction can usually be controlled by the use of a joystick. Those who are unable to use a joystick, however, have choices such as chin control. Also, electric-powered wheelchairs are oftentimes designed for indoor use exclusively or for outdoor use. But it’s generally better to buy the one designed as both an electric-powered wheelchairs can be very costly. Luckily, those who truly need one but cannot buy an electronic wheelchair can be issued one by various organizations.
Don’t buy a wheelchair for your kid before reading James’ advice on wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Short And Long Term Wheelchair Users Want The Same Thing
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The view that wheelchairs are restrictive is an example of ignorant and regressive thinking. This is because in some ways, wheelchairs can be liberating for those who would otherwise have been robbed of their ability to live their lives. Life is all about perspective and ‘how you take it’. You may not be able to always change your circumstances and the fact that you are in a wheelchair could be a given, based on a medical condition or health problems or perhaps some accident. But you can certainly change your response to the fact that you are in a wheelchair and look for ways and means to make your life more enjoyable, productive and a help to others too.
While in a wheelchair, it could help if some measures are taken to ensure that life is made a little more comfortable. It really does not take too much to do this, because that is what accessories are all about. Around the world, whether it is trains or subways, airlines or ships, cup holders have been widely used to bring about this kind of comfort and convenience right to where one is. If you are in a wheelchair for whatever reason, you can certainly look forward to using a specially designed cup holder that brings a world of convenience.
People in wheelchairs often need something to sip while they are in the wheelchair, waiting for a diagnosis or some kind of treatment. This may be some coffee, a cola or an energy drink to perk them up and keep them going the whole day long. If they have the use of cup holders, they can do so without creating a mess which makes these quite convenient and easy to use too.
Using cup holders is quite simple in this day and age as there are quite a few simple technologies that can be used to fasten these to the wheelchair sides. Velcro straps do come in very handy as these can be used with the least fuss.
Looking for cup holders is an easy task in this day and age. There are a number of websites that provide ample info about cup holders as accessories for various objects, including wheelchairs.
Blake Masters has several friends and family with special needs. He is amazed by the creativity of the beverage holder and how it relates to travel accessories.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Save Some Cash When Buying Wheelchairs
Posted by: | CommentsThe reality cannot be ignored that wheelchairs can cause a person a big sum of money, especially if the patient is going to utilize the specialized ones. Some of these patients are those that are completely paralyzed and are in need of a special kind of assistant device to use inside the house as well as outside. But the wheelchair they require can be a bit costly. For this reason, you can turn to used wheelchairs.
The Benefit of Used Wheelchairs
Obviously, used wheelchairs are those that have previously been used by another patient. But just because they are already secondhand does not mean that its worth is poor. In truth, some of these wheelchairs are still in very good condition and appear almost like new. Aside from the assistant device itself, you can also buy secondhand accessories to attach to the wheelchair to add more comfort to the patient.
The very apparent benefit of buying a secondhand wheelchair is that it allows you to put aside some money that you would otherwise have used on a new wheelchair. You could even buy well-known wheelchairs at a very reasonable price, a wonderful bargain for a quality item.
Because the prices of things and services are now going up, a used wheelchair is ideal for those who are on a tight budget, and couple this to the increasing health cost, and you have yourself some extra money to deposit back into your funds.
What to Look for in Used Wheelchairs
Since this is a used item, you really have to ensure that the wheelchair you are going to purchase is still in very good condition. You have to look at the wheelchair yourself before purchasing one if you need to make sure that it is appropriate for the patients need.
The things that you have to look into include the frame of the wheelchair as well as its detachable parts. Make sure that the frame of the assistant device is still in good condition and that the detachable parts are in one piece. You also have to make sure that the mechanisms and technical capabilities of the wheelchair are functioning well. For practical reasons, try it out yourself first to ensure that it really is in good working form.
Doing so is important because used wheelchairs no longer have warranties, and you would want to purchase a quality wheelchair at a low-priced price.
Don’t shop for a wheelchair for your kid before reading James’ advice on wheelchairs and similar mobility aids.
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Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?Types of Wheel Chairs
Posted by: | CommentsThe world of wheel chairs is larger than you think. One of the most common ways people categorize the different kinds is by the type of power they use: there are the manual ones and there are the electric ones. Electric ones are also often simply called “powered”.
There are so many types of wheel chairs that if your budget is large enough you will be able to invest in more than one kind to fulfill more of your needs.
Even if you can buy more than one wheel chair to take care of all your needs you will still want one for general purposes. This one you can use when you attend a wedding or a funeral. You can also use it while you are at work or at school or university. If you spend time on the street then you are likely to want one that suits movement during lunch hours or for other reasons.
There are a few reasons why you will tend to prefer either a manual or electric wheel chair. The primary issue is whether or not you have full use of your arms. If you do then you will still have the option to go for a manual wheel chair. If not, then you don’t.
There are electric wheel chairs which offer thorough support for your neck and back and features enabling you to control the steering with minimal difficulty. For those living with severe muscular dystrophy or who have suffered from severe nerve damage this type of wheel chair will make the most sense.
You may want to look into sports wheel chairs to encourage a lot of physical activity even though you are confined to a wheel chair. To avoid unnecessary muscle atrophy and many other conditions, remaining as active as possible is always top priority for wheel chair users.
Transportation of wheel chairs is also important. Manual wheel chairs aren’t as heavy as the powered ones. This can make a big difference if you need to be able to put them into and out of cars yourself. Even in the best of cases this might prove to be a bit challenging, but its good to know that you can get ones that fold in the middle and that there are ones with axles designed so that the wheels can be tucked out of the way.
The diversity of wheel chairs may seem overwhelming at first, but once you get accustomed to it, you will be relieved to have so many options available. Invacare, Guardian, Top End are examples of major wheel chair brands. Prices for wheel chairs vary, but the best require investments of $20,000 or more for an electric wheel chair.
With medicare willing to subsidize your wheel chair purchase by as much a 80% and insurance willing to pick up the rest, getting into a wheel chair has never been easier.
Nathan Mattel is a consultant primarily working with patients requesting a San Diego wheelchair. With over 15 years of experience in manual and electric wheel chair consulting for the San Diego California disability community, he can help you find the right wheelchair for you or your loved one.
Have You Tried The SilverGlide Stair Lift?