Battery-powered wheelchairs use motors and controls selected for the user’s abilities. They can support independence when manual propulsion is difficult or contributes to overuse.
Front-, middle-, and rear-wheel drive bases offer different handling characteristics. Turning space, outdoor stability, and obstacle handling involve different tradeoffs.
What parts of a power wheelchair should I know about?
Controls, seating, and other components can be tailored to physical abilities and needs. Head, chin, and breath-based controls can provide alternatives to hand-operated joysticks.
Terrain, equipment configuration, use, and other factors affect battery range and lifespan. Some factors are fixed by the chair design, while others vary with loads and travel conditions.
Scooters and other powered devices may meet particular community mobility needs. Scooters typically offer fewer seating adaptations and require more turning space than power wheelchairs.
