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Mobility Scooters Views & Reviews
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Mobility Scooter Types
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Understanding Mobility Scooters

Scooters provide power mobility, but have the distinct advantage of “not looking like a wheelchair.” For many people who have experienced difficulty with walking, a scooter is a great benefit to “restore” mobility. Scooters are most often 3-wheeled devices (4-wheeled scooters are also available), equipped with a tiller for steering and a seat mount on a platform, which serves as a footrest.

If you have even a limited ability to walk, there may be some good transportation options, such as using a lift into the trunk of car, when using a scooter. For children, who may be walking only limited distances, a scooter can provide “a cool” option to make longer distances to the cafeteria or recess much more feasible.

Functionally the three-wheel design creates a longer turning radius, when operating indoors as compared to a traditional wheelchair. However, most scooters come with a swivel seat, allowing easier transfers from sitting to the standing position. Outside, the scooter will not be as stable as a power chair, especially when turning the scooter at high speed. Exercise good judgment and slow down when turning or traveling on unfamiliar ground.

An important consideration when considering a scooter is how stable is your medical condition. Unlike many power chairs which can be adjusted and re-configured with changes in your physical status, scooters are not nearly as flexible. You will need to be able to use the tiller to steer (you can not change the drive controller). Changing seating options, if your sitting balance is poor, is much more limited in a scooter than compared to a power chair.

Advantages Disadvantages
Manual Wheelchairs 1. Lighter in weight
2. Greater reliability
3. Easier to transport
4. Less expensive
5. Provides a level of exercise
6. Easier to overcome accessibility problems

Self-Propulsion:
1. Possible secondary complications (sore shoulders, wrists and elbows) after long-term use.
2. Requires physical effort to be mobile

Scooters 1. Aesthetics, does not look like a wheelchair.
2. Increases mobility range without increased exertion
3. Swivel seat may allow for easier transfers in and out of the seat.

1. More complicated to transport in a car than a manual chair.
2. Needs charging
3. Less flexible to modify to changing physical conditions than a power chair.

Power Wheelchairs 1. Greatest mobility range with least exertion.
2. Easier to modify over time, if needed.
3. Available with power seating options – tilt and/or recline.

1. More Expensive.
2. More difficult to transport.
3. Less reliable than manual wheelchairs.
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