The 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".
Some are designed for special purposes such as allowing a disabled person to maneuver in the bathroom or in the shower. Ones such as these and those for use in a sport are distinctive from the kind used for more general use. In fact its not uncommon for a wheel chair user to have a small "fleet" of wheel chairs each for different purposes.
Primarily you will want to make sure you have one that you can get around in while performing basic activities of your life.
The type of wheel chair that best suit's a person depends on what's happened. The confinement to a wheel chair may be temporary in the case that someone has broken a leg or been in an accident that it is possible to recover from. For a time, then, a wheel chair may well be needed. If it is strictly leg injuries then a manual will often do the trick.
In the case that someone has suffered from a severe onset of muscular dystrophy or some other radically debilitating disorder. For such people, the electric powered wheel chairs with greater neck support may be needed.
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.
Manual wheel chairs tend to be lighter. Some are designed to be transportable more effectively than others. The axles are designed to enable wheel folding and collapse of the total structure. Electric wheel chairs are more likely to also require special vehicles for transport. For wealthier clientele this can be viewed as both fun and as a wise investment. For those with lower budgets it might make the decision for you to buy a manual wheel chair.
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.
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