Factors To Check For Before Buying Heavy Duty Power Wheelchairs

By Author: Steev Smeeeth
Total Articles: 38
Comment this article

When buying heavy-duty power wheelchairs, you need to consider certain factors before making a final decision. Ask some questions to yourself like:

Will you use it for a long time of the day?
Will you use it only occasionally?
How often do you travel in your car?
What is your body weight?

By considering these questions and the below factors, you will get the best power heavy-duty wheelchair to resolve the problem of mobility in your life.

• Body Size

People with a bodyweight of over 300 lbs will require a heavy-duty product with extensive seating space and a reinforced frame. The casters and the wheel tend to be broad in these products to support the user sitting on them. The highest weight-bearing capacity for the most heavy-duty wheelchairs is 450 lbs. There are some specialized models also with a weight capacity of up to 600 lbs. Even some manufacturers include rare models of up to 1000 lbs.

• Portable or traveling

Most of the traveling ...
... heavy-duty power wheelchairs include rear and front-wheel drive. You can fold it easily or disassemble it by removing the battery, seat, and base for fitting it inside a vehicle trunk or an airplane cargo. These products are smaller in a frame and are perfect for moving in packed-up areas.

• Full Size

A full-size feature might be a better alternative if you have to spend most of your day in a wheelchair. They usually include enormous armrests, footrests, seats, and enhanced padding for greater comfort. It also includes a higher traveling range since the batteries are massive than the portable or traveling wheelchairs.

• Recline

This feature allows the user to change the backrest position in a heavy-duty power wheelchair when elevating the legs.

• Controllers

Some of the controllers commonly visible in almost all heavy-duty power wheelchairs are a keypad and a joystick. The joystick helps in controlling the speed and direction in some products. A keypad can also manage the speed and other functions like degree of horn or recline. Most of the models require continuous pressure for operating and will break once you lift the pressure from the control.

• Positioning and Seating

Seating and positioning are the two significant factors to consider for the comfort and health of the user. The power heavy-duty wheelchair should include seat cushions according to the body contouring forms, gels, and other materials for additional back support.