Electric Mobility Scooters

Certain features of your new wheelchair will make your chair more comfortable.
Know what “extras” will make it easier for you to do your daily activities.
Also, make an informed decision about the “extras” you don’t need.
Consult your physical therapist and the sales person about all of the structural features of the wheelchair. Utilize interactive websites to provide measurements, for a comfortable fit. The right fitting chair gives you the best mobility, range, stability, and comfort.
 
Find out if the controls or brakes are easy to use and reach. Consider if the footrests should be adjustable, movable or detachable. Depending on the surfaces/ terrain you anticipate using most, and whether or not you will propel the chair, the wheel size is a major factor when making a selection. Certain style armrests work better than other’s depending on how you transfer and your level of activities. A lap tray might be helpful to have on your wheelchair. 

Proper seating is an important part of wheelchair fitting. There are many different seat cushions and backrests that can be added to your chair. The newer model wheelchairs have anti-microbial stain-resistant fabric. There are also ergonomic designs, with S-shaped seating. These features help you sit with better posture, and reduce pressure sores, back pain, and spinal deformities caused by chronic poor posture. A good seat cushion is a must to help prevent pressure sores, especially for anyone who has a loss of feeling in their buttocks. 

Tilt seating distributes your weight in the chair. This is ideal for prolonged sitting, and provides an alternative to tranferring in and out of the chair to recline.  Anti-tippers can prevent you from flipping over backwards or falling out of your chair. 

There is a wide range of prices and styles of wheelchairs on the market. However it is important to remember, the one you choose should be specific to your personal needs. This is not a “one size fits all” item.

The American Heart Association states the following:

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease and stroke. It also contributes to other risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, a low level of HDL (”good”) cholesterol and diabetes. Even modest levels of physical activity are beneficial.

The AHA says that older adults and those with disabilities can gain significant health benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. Physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to bring health benefits. What’s important is to include physical activity as part of a regular routine.

For older adults, this moderate amount of activity can come from

• longer sessions of moderately intense activities such as walking or swimming
• shorter sessions of more vigorous activities such as fast walking, moon-rocking or stair-climbing

Greater amounts of physical activity can bring more benefits. But it shouldn’t be done excessively, or your risk of injury will increase.

People with disabilities are less likely to engage in regular moderate physical activity. Still, they can benefit from 

• moderately intense activities (such as 30–40 minutes of using a manual wheelchair)
• shorter sessions of more intense activity (such as 20 minutes of wheelchair basketball)

Selecting the right chair, especially for a first-time wheelchair user can be confusing. It’s always a good idea to work with an occupational therapist who has experience with various kinds of wheelchairs, but here are some mobility basics on wheelchairs.

Manual Wheelchairs

People with upper body strength typically use a manual – they propel it with their arms on the rims of the wheels.  Today’s standard comes in every color and designed for much superior performance. Newer chairs ride truer and are much easier to push than the old-fashioned one. The lightweights, whether with either a rigid frame or a folding frame, are also easier to transfer in and out of cars.

Power Wheelchairs

Many people cannot push a wheelchair with their own arm strength and may require a wheelchair powered by batteries. Power chairs come in several basic styles. The traditional style looks like a beefed up standard manual plus the batteries, motor and control systems. There are also platform-model power chairs with a more ordinary seat fixed atop a powered base. Scooters come in three- and four-wheel configurations and are typically used by people who don’t require them full time.

Tilt or Recline Wheelchairs

Some people use special wheelchairs to distribute pressure and thus reduce the risk of skin sores. These chairs also increase comfort and sitting tolerance. One type of chair, called “tilt in space,” changes a person’s orientation while maintaining fixed hip, knee, and ankle angles. The whole seat, in effect, tilts. The other chair option is called a recline system, which basically changes the seat-to-back angle, flattening out the back of the chair and in some cases raising the legs to form a flat surface. 

You can literally rise to any occasion in this State-of-The-Art Power-Standing/Drive Lightweight Wheelchair, the New XO-202:
With a USA Patent /CE Approved. The frame is made with durable 6061 T-6 Aircraft-grade Aluminum. Features also include see- through Sleek Side Panels, Flip-back Concaved Armrests w/SHARK II Easy To Use Joystick Remote For Drive & Stand, Denmark Linak Control Box, Adjustable Backrest Height, Adjustable Footrest Height & Angle, Knee Support, Safety Belt, Chest Support & Leg Strap, Gel Memory Cushion Back and Seat, Weighs Only: 110 lbs w/o Battery, Breathable Nylon Upholstery, Flat Free Rear Wheels & Front Wheels, Motor: DC24V. 320W, Maximum Speed: 5 Mph (Moving slowly is recommended while standing up), Battery: 12V/36AH x2pcs, Range per Charge: ~20 Miles.  

Though the common perception is that world travel is an activity for younger people, it can be just as fun and enlightening as an elderly person.  Even if you can’t move around on your own, with a power chair, a travel agent, and a bit of savings, there’s no limit to the locations you can visit.  For most every person out there, there’s some location they always wanted to visit but never had the chance.  What better time than right now?

Don’t wait until it’s too late, find a travel partner, and hit the road!

Increasingly more popular are sports for people in wheelchairs.  One of the most popular, wheelchair basketball, is played frequently in urban areas and is often organized into tournaments.  There also exists a National Wheelchair Basketball Association which is comprised of over two hundred teams hailing from all major cities.  Each year the top teams compete in conferences. In addition to wheelchair basketball, there are wheelchair teams for almost every kind of sport including baseball, tennis, and even street hockey.

Step 1.  Position the tire changer at a right angle to you with the clamp on your left.

§  Swing the adjustable handle counter clockwise as far as it will go.

§  When the clamp is fully open, place the tire on the tire guide and under the tongue with the spoon on the inside.

Step 2.  Place the wheel onto the axle shaft.

§  Put the wheel rim on the lower clamp pad. §  Seat the part of the tire resting on the pad fully into the rim space and firmly lock the clamp down, so the clamp is holding the rim onto the lower clamp pad      

Step 3.  Now, grip the handle and turn clockwise.§  Guide the tire into the rim space clockwise direction of the handle. §  When the tire is fully seated, open the clamp, grip the wheel with both hands, and snap it straight up and off the tool. Complete instructions and tire changing kits are available at: WheelchairsAbound.com online store at a competitive price.

      Oh SNAP!!  Get ready to ascend! This is not your average wheelchair. It’s lightweight design of Aircraft-grade aluminum frame in a Silver Powder coating with flip-back armrests, side panels, a Linak Controller Box, powered by Nickel Metal Hydro battery, a convenient push-button for Stand-Up Position. It also features quick release axles, 24” x 1” high profile polyurethane tires, flat free front casters. It only weighs 56 lbs including the on board battery. The upholstery is made with high-grade flame retardant, breathable nylon, for easy cleaning. You could certainly “elevate” your independence with this.

It may often be hard to travel, or even just get around town with a bulky wheelchair in tow. That’s why folding wheelchairs are a smart choice for the days when you’re on the move.

Wheelchairs Abound offers a variety of folding wheelchairs. These simple chairs are easy to lift, and fold up small enough to fit into a car for easy, everyday use.