There could several reasons why you need to use a wheelchair. Perhaps it was a small accident that requires you to move around using one for a short while, or maybe it’s permanent damage to your spine or legs, thus hindering your movement completely. However, these are no reasons to be sad, especially with the different kinds of wheelchairs available today. All you have to do is find the one which suits your needs the best.
There are two kinds of wheelchairs; manual ones and powered ones. As the name suggests, manual wheelchairs do not come with any kind of battery and require the user or another person to move it around. Powered wheelchairs, on the other hand, are battery operated and rarely need someone else to move it around. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right wheelchair for you:-
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Clinical needs: Depending on your particular needs, you have to decide between a manual or powered wheelchair. You need to assess the amount of time you would spend on the wheelchair or how long you would need it for. In doing so, make sure to choose one which offers appropriate support to your back, ensures blood flow and is not likely to cause any further damage. If you require the wheelchair for a short duration, maybe a manual one might be a better and feasible option while a powered one might suit your needs more if you require it for a long period or are likely to travel without assistance quite often. Similarly, you might require more body strength to sit into a manual wheelchair versus a powered one.
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Lifestyle and Environmental factors: Quite easy to be overlooked; these are important factors to consider. A powered wheelchair is likely to occupy more space and power while a manual one is not. One can fold a manual wheelchair and keep it in a corner when not in use, but the powered one might need to be kept as it is, thus occupying a larger area. Your day to day activities and the size of your house or place of work do determine which one of these suits you better. Another factor to consider is your level of activity. If you go out more often or for longer periods, especially on your own, it makes more sense to opt for a powered wheelchair and not a manual one since you wouldn’t require external help to move around.
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The transportation factor: Most of us are always on the go and do require the use of some means of transport to get somewhere. In such cases, one needs to make the right decision when choosing the kind of wheelchair. A manual wheelchair is easier to travel with since it is lighter and can be folded to occupy less space. A powered wheelchair like Karma Wheelchair, on the other hand, is heavier to lift if needed and could cause some delay when traveling if it needs to be accommodated in a smaller space, like in public transport.
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Maintenance: Since a manual wheelchair is a simpler object, it is quite easy to maintain and take care of. It doesn’t come with a lot of parts and is thus much simpler to handle. In cases where an elderly person or even a child might need to operate one on their own, manual wheelchairs are easier. Powered ones, on the other hand, are much more complex since they require power and come with features like remotes or joysticks. It makes sense for someone with a higher understanding of the working of electronic devices to use a powered wheelchair.
These are just a few factors to take into account when choosing the right wheelchair for you. The decision to pick a particular kind is a serious one since it would directly affect your body and any further developments. With so many different kinds of wheelchairs available in the market suited for every requirement, Karma Wheelchairs are options great to choose from.