Quantum’s Guide to Power Wheelchairs

Have you recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that affects your ability to walk? Has your condition progressed causing a reduction in your mobility? A power wheelchair is designed to be used by individuals who struggle to walk or complete activities of daily living independently. Typically, power wheelchair users are unable to use a scooter or manual wheelchair. If you think you might benefit from a Quantum power wheelchair, read on to learn more about the process of how to qualify for a wheelchair and the different types of power wheelchairs available.

How to Get Fitted for a Motorized Wheelchair

A power wheelchair is customized to meet the needs of the individual. Before a wheelchair is ordered, a physician or physical therapist conducts an evaluation with the patient in person. The clinician decides if complex rehab technology is medically necessary for the patient’s medical condition. If so, a prescription is written, and measurements are taken of the patient to ensure that the wheelchair ordered is fitted correctly. Click to learn more about the fitting process for a wheelchair.

Types of Motorized Wheelchairs

When considering the right wheelchair for you, there are different types of wheelchairs that offer varying drive wheel configurations. With front-wheel drive power chairs, the drive wheels are in the front of the base and are the first to encounter obstacles like curbs. With front-wheel drive, the drive tires “grab” the obstacle like a curb or step and go over it, pulling the rest of the chair with it. Mid-wheel drive is another configuration, and an excellent choice for first-time wheelchair users. When it comes to stability, mid-wheel drive power chairs are extremely stable and offer a tighter radius, which is ideal when moving the chair through doorways and around corners in a home. Rear-wheel drive motorized wheelchairs have drive wheels on the back of the base and is considered more aggressive, making it ideal for outdoors. Rear-wheel drive had more power to propel a wheelchair forward when driving across softer terrain. Read more on different wheelchair drive wheel configurations.