Powered Wheelchairs
Powered wheelchairs are used by people who may have difficulty propelling a manual wheelchair or who simply wish to have powered mobility.
Powered wheelchairs have battery-powered motors. The wheelchair user controls the speed and direction of the chair by means of a joystick or other control device. Other devices for controlling power chairs include directional switches and scanning devices. The batteries are mounted on the chair frame and are recharged using a mains power supply when the chair is not in use.
There are many types of powered wheelchair ranging from the standard powered chair which is similar to a manual chair but has motorised wheels, to heavy-duty power chairs, which have many powered features such as seat elevation, tilt-in-space, back recline and stair climbing.
Folding Frame
This type of powered chair closely resembles the standard transit type manual wheelchair but includes rear wheels which are powered by motors. The chair has on-board batteries to power the motors and has a joystick which the user operates to control the speed and direction of the chair.
This type of powered chair is the smallest type of powered chair and can usually be dismantled and folded for transport, but they are much heavier than manual chairs due to the weight of the motors and batteries. As with all types of powered wheelchairs these chairs come in both adult and paediatric sizes.
Fixed Frame
This type of wheelchair, as the title suggests cannot be folded. However, component parts can be removed to make handling easier. Non-folding chairs tend to be more robust and durable than folding frame chairs, and may be fitted with options such as powered seat elevation, tilt-in-space and back recline.
Due to the design of the rigid frame larger and heavier batteries can be used to power heavy duty motors and therefore greater speeds and longer running times may be obtained than with folding frame chairs.
Due to their larger overall size, these types of chair are best suited for use outdoors or in wheelchair-accessible living and working environments.
Additional Options for Powered Wheelchairs
Recent advances in design and technology have led to the manufacture of innovative powered wheelchairs to meet specific needs of users.
Attendant Controlled
A power chair can be supplied with the drive controls mounted to the rear of the chair in order to permit a carer to drive the chair. In most cases the control of the chair can be switched between the person sitting in the chair and the carer so the wheelchair user can drive or be driven depending on the circumstances. It is of particular use where the wheelchair user has limited endurance.
Elevating Seat
The powered elevation mechanism permits the user to adjust the seat base height in order to access counters and shelves and to interact with other people at eye-level.
Tilt-in-Space
Other available powered functions include tilt-in-space, where the seat can be tilted rearwards if the user wants to take a rest, or tilted forwards if they want to work at a desk or transfer out of the wheelchair. Tilt-in-space can also facilitate hoist transfers as the seating can be tilted back to facilitate insertion and removal of the hoist sling. Powered back recline enables to user to recline the backrest if they want to change position.
Sit-to-Stand Riser
A powered sit-to-stand function is available as an option on some powered wheelchairs. This function enables people, who could not stand independently and who do not have the upper body strength to operate a manual sit-to-stand function to stand and perform functional tasks, interact, or simply enjoy the physiological benefits of standing.
Switch Driven
Some people have difficulty operating a joystick to drive their powered chair and use directional switches or scanners to drive the chair. Although these control devices may be difficult to learn to use at first, when the user masters them their potential for independence in mobility may be realised fully. Find out more about Electronic AT.
