From the early motorized wheelchairs that were used on the beaches of San Diego to provide mobility to the disabled; they have since become quite common fixtures for the disabled. With the added independence as well as better mobility that a disabled person gets from using a motorized wheelchair, it is not surprising that it is becoming more widely used the world over.

From Simple Modified Wheelchairs to Power Devices

Your motorized wheelchair could be no more than a modified manual wheelchair that has wheels added to control movement. Using such a device makes it easier to perform daily chores and means not being totally dependent on others to move about. With the advent of electric wheelchairs, the old manual wheelchairs have given way to power as well as motorized wheelchairs.

Sometimes, you may hear the motorized wheelchair referred to as a power wheelchair because of reasons of better mobility as well as more value gained from not having to exert physical force to move about. The motorized wheelchair lemon law has been enacted in order to protect the rights of users, and it provides for keeping the best interests of such users safeguarded. Undoubtedly, using motorized wheelchairs provides users with the best in terms of becoming mobile, and this has given it added popularity. Even if you are suffering from a severe disability, these wonder devices will restore your independence, and even allow you to take part in sports and other related activities.

The advice of a physician will help you select a proper motorized wheelchair which should meet with your particular requirements is it size, shape or specific features. The motorized wheelchair is the choice of many disabled people who do not wish to, or cannot use physical exertion in order to propel themselves forward. With many different wheelchairs to choose from, the choice is indeed mind boggling.

Picking up a motorized wheelchair could set you back anywhere between $1500 and $7500 depending on the features. You can choose from rear-wheel, front-wheel as well as mid-wheel drives. Using the motorized wheelchair means controlling it with a joystick, accommodating functions for seating as well as posture support, maneuvering in tight places as well as having a number of options with regard to tires and powerbase.

Ask your doctor what kind of wheelchair you need and find out how much your insurance company is willing to pay. Over and above that, you can add as many bells and whistles as your budget allows.

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Manual wheelchairs are one of the greatest inventions of modern times. Many times people start to take great inventions for granted. They have been around for so long that people forget what life was like before some inventions. Manual wheelchairs are a great example of an invention that is taken for granted. When people had a disease or disability in the past, they might have to be very dependent for every movement on other people. Often their spouses, children or parents had to make every movement from one place to another for a disabled person. People could not get from their bedroom to the kitchen without the help of another person.

Manual wheelchairs became a tool of mobility for these disabled people. They did not have to wait for someone else when they wanted to get somewhere. They could get themselves out of bed and to the bathroom or the kitchen. With the proper adjustments, these people could make themselves something to eat because they could get around with a manual wheelchair. These people in need of a manual wheelchair won back their independence and their pride with the great invention of manual wheelchairs.

Manual Wheelchairs Are Still The Choice Of Many Disabled People

Many great inventions improve constantly after the initial design becomes popular. This has been true with the manual wheelchair. These wheelchairs are the basic design of a mobility device that has seen many improvements. The first manual wheelchairs were a platform on a set of wheels. The latest wheelchairs have many variations on those first designs. Now these wheelchairs can be purchased with seats in a variation of sizes for each individual customer. The latest manual wheelchairs have seat belts, drink holders and many other helpful items.

The manual wheelchair is now rivaled by wheelchairs with motors that can move a person around more quickly than ever before. Some of these motorized wheelchairs have options worthy of a luxury car. Some have special drive options that can get the occupant around even more quickly and efficiently. Some of these luxury wheelchairs are custom designed for the lifestyle of the owner. Some are designed for the outdoor life while others are made so getting around inside is easier. These chairs can save the arms and hands necessary for the movement of a wheelchair. No one wants to use a wheelchair, but those who require wheelchairs will find great designs to help them get around in spite of their disability.

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Of all the different types of wheelchairs available on the market, the lightweight wheelchairs are perhaps the most popular. This type of wheelchair is, in most instances, nothing more than a manual wheelchair even though many a light electric wheelchair is also available, but they are still heavier than manual wheelchairs.

The Quickie Could Be Well Worth Buying

If you are looking around for a lightweight wheelchair you will most probably come across the “quickie”, which only costs two hundred dollars upwards, and may even require paying eight hundred dollars for the more advanced versions. Quickie wheelchairs are generally aluminum contraptions which help to make the wheelchair light without in any way taking away from standard features required off a wheelchair.

Quickie wheelchairs are ideally suited for anyone that requires a lightweight wheelchair to help him or her move about as it is much easier to propel yourself, or to have it pushed for you than heavier wheelchairs. A person that is otherwise quite active will also find in the lightweight wheelchair a means to participate in games and activities such as tennis or basketball.

Lightweight wheelchairs may lack the mobility of other models, but it will still, nevertheless, provide added enjoyment as well as delight from ordinary physical motion. Using a wheelchair such as this allows a person to continue with his or her hobbies as well as participate in sports, although differently.

Besides the quickie wheelchair, you may even want to try the folding wheelchair which is another type of lightweight wheelchair that is ideally suited for travel, and such folding wheelchairs can easily be stored in the back of a car for taking to visit family and friends. Portability is the major advantage of the folding wheelchair.

The advantage of using lightweight wheelchairs is many of which their ability to being used when powered by batteries is among the most advantageous. A person that uses such a wheelchair can still get around even if he or she has weak arms. The battery operations allow users to become mobile once again, and a lightweight wheelchair allows a person greater freedom to move, while expending less effort.

Lightweight wheelchairs are also relatively cheap and to get a well suited one, you should consider how its functionality benefits you, and decide accordingly. It is also a good idea to search for accessories that would come in handy to make using lightweight wheelchairs even more beneficial.

Typical weights of a lightweight wheelchair is approximately between twenty-nine to thirty-three pounds, and they have back heights that can be changed as well as other features including flip-back armrests.

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Every independent person needs to be able to use a kitchen. With the baby boomer generation aging, the need to make kitchens accessible to those who need the assistance of a walker or wheelchair is growing by the day. Add those in the younger generations who have needed such assistance from childhood, and you can realize that a request for a wheelchair-friendly kitchen is far from outrageous. It may soon be considered just a normal lifestyle choice.

Barrier-Free Design

Working in a kitchen demands reaching, working at a counter and the ability to move around the space. For those who need to combine kitchens and wheelchairs, that means taking extra care when planning. Kitchen designers are aware of the needs for the usual size wheelchair. When planning to use specific kitchens and wheelchairs, be sure that you know the measurements of the specific wheelchair involved. There are apartments available that have been designed with kitchens and wheelchairs in mind.

Remember that a pre-built kitchen has used the measurements of a standard wheelchair and know whether your wheelchair is far off. The most important measurement is front-to-back including foot rests. This determines the turning radius that’s needed. The standard turning radius is 60” or 25 square feet for a complete turn. An elevated leg will make that much larger. Standard measurements for kitchens and wheelchairs include countertops made to allow an armrest that is about 29” from the floor, knee spaces that are a minimum of 24” off the floor and 30” wide, entrances with an opening of 32”, countertops between 28” and 34” with no more than 2” for the thickness of the counter. The area under the sink should have hot water pipes insulated for burn prevention.

In standard kitchen with wheelchair planning, the sink is only five to six and a half inches deep with the drain at the back to afford more knee space. The faucet is usually either a loop or single lever. Cabinets are designed for easy access and any drawers or doors should need no more than five pounds of exertion to open and close. Light switches are lower and outlets higher than in other kitchens. Several companies offer entire lines of products that can help to customize cabinets for use in a wheelchair. The wall oven and microwave should be installed about 31” from the floor. The dishwasher should be raised and extra six to eight inches and placed where it will be accessible from either side. Today’s attitude of independence and accessibility has made the task of combining kitchens and wheelchairs much easier.

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Everybody Is Different

Sometimes people forget that everyone is different; people don’t know how to react when they see something out of the norm, especially when it comes to kids. When kids see other kids with different colored skin, kids who speak a different language or kids in wheelchairs it can confuse them.

Unfortunately kids and adults can be afraid of something that confuses them or if they don’t know how to react and they forget that each of those children is just that, a child. Kids in wheelchairs like to be treated like any other kid; they like to play sports, tell jokes, go to school, and do everything else ‘regular’ kids do.

Because kids in wheelchairs know they are different they can be intimidated by new situations and places. By treating them the same as any other child will help them to feel at ease.

Reasons Kids Need Wheelchairs – Temporary vs. Permanent

Kids need wheelchairs for many reasons; sometimes it’s just temporary and sometimes they could need a wheelchair for the rest of their lives. A kid in a wheelchair temporarily may have broken their leg or had a surgery which prevents him from walking easily. A kid in a wheelchair permanently may have a disease without a cure or an irreparable injury.

Kids in wheelchairs permanently are strong individuals who need to cope on a daily basis with the reality of living their lives from a wheelchair. Technology and medicine alike make this prospect more positive; technology is making wheelchairs easier for people of all ages to operate and medicine may find cures for diseases and conditions thought incurable. The latest models of wheelchairs allow kids to operate them in many different ways. Electric wheelchairs for example can be operated by buttons, a joystick, or even with a straw!

Scientists are getting closer and closer to discovering cures for many diseases which permanently damage people’s bodies. The polio vaccination is a good example of this, thousands of people died from this disease before a vaccination was found; today the disease is nonexistent in America. All children love to laugh, play, and make friends; kids in wheelchairs are no exception. The best way any person can react to a kid in a wheelchair is to treat them as they would any other child, they don’t need a lot of help or special treatment. How a kid in a wheelchair gets around is the only real difference between them and any other child.

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Wheelchairs have been improved vastly over the years in the constant pursuit of providing lost mobility to those forced to use them. The Jazzy wheelchair line is designed with comfort and mobility in mind in order to bring convenience in the life of its user. Here are some reasons why you too should consider getting a Jazzy wheelchair if you or someone close to you is confined to a wheelchair.

Get Around Indoors and Outdoors Alike

The Jazzy wheelchair line manufacturers a variety of power wheelchairs that can be used with ease indoors and outdoors on all types of terrains so, you can get back to being active and enjoying nature. Many people who enjoy walking or taking part in outdoor activities find this is one of the Jazzy wheelchair’s best features.

Jazzy wheelchairs are also made with corners and turns in mind that exist naturally in our homes and due to which many people cannot use their wheelchairs around the house with ease. The Jazzy wheelchair will get you back in the kitchen cooking, if that is what you enjoy doing or get around doing other daily activities such as going to the bathroom or taking a shower independently.

Different Types of Jazzy Wheelchairs

There are many types of Jazzy wheelchairs and it needs to be mentioned that most of them can be altered and/or adjusted to fit your specific needs. Here are some of the most popular Jazzy wheelchairs in use today: Jazzy Select, Jazzy Ultra (1103), Jazzy 600, Jazzy wheelchairs made especially for obese people that have a weight capacity of up to 650 lbs.

Other features include the easy to control remote placed within hand reach, low power consumption and mid wheel drive for easy maneuvering. It is also easy to disassemble if needed but strong built for durability and comfort. For transporting the wheelchair, you may require to build a ramp. If you have a house and for apartment you may need to ensure that the lift can safely carry its weight with you in it.

Helpful Tip

Due to the fact that most wheelchairs are expensive you may work with your insurance company for coverage and also with the manufacturers to find suitable financing. If your requirements for a wheelchair are due to medical reasons, your insurance may be able to cover at least part of it. Get your freedom back with Jazzy wheelchairs and start enjoying the outdoors, a barbeque, moving around your own home with ease as well as getting back to your favorite activities.

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Many people today are unfortunately forced to restrict the use of their legs due to age, medical condition, obesity or accidents. Wheelchairs have been the only way to gain the freedom of mobility back and thus, get back to leading as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Many manufacturers have invested in making the perfect wheelchair in order to provide the users with comfort, mobility and overall a sense of independence. Here is how Ivacare electric wheelchairs can provide you with your freedom of movement as well.

Features of the Ivacare Electric Wheelchairs

Ivacare electric wheelchairs come with adjustable features such as the height of the seat, power leg rest in order to soothe and comfort swollen tired feet, custom made seats to fit those who are overweight as well as a narrow shaped frame to fit with ease in corners and turns. All Ivacare electric wheelchairs can be handled independently through a jockey stick situated at the reach of the hand therefore you will need no assistance at all getting around indoors or outdoors.

You can get the Ivacare electric wheelchair with wheels made especially for rough terrain if you live in a house and enjoy getting outdoors often. These wheelchairs are built strong enough to last daily extensive usage and are small enough that can be stored away in any room with ease without making an obstacle out of it.

Get Your Freedom Back

Many people who get into a wheelchair for any reason feel trapped and dependent on others for living their life in the way they want. However, with the Ivacare electric wheelchair you will be able to get everywhere around the house to do your daily chores as well as outdoors for shopping or just to enjoy some fresh air.

Most retail stores that stock different brand wheelchairs will usually always have the Ivacare electric wheelchairs. The best way to buy a wheelchair is to get to the store physically and try as many of them as possible before you decide which one is best for you. Many retailers will also provide you with a trial period during which time you can return the wheelchair if you are not happy with it in exchange for another one.

You can also find Ivacare electric wheelchairs online; however, you must be very specific about your needs and requirements in order to get the right wheelchair for you. If you are unable to get to a store in order to try a wheelchair, many retailers will provide a representative who will bring the wheelchair to your home for trial purposes.

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Invalid wheelchairs are wonderful devices that help those who are sickly or disabled for various reasons. Before the invalid wheelchair, people who were elderly or injured might be confined to their beds because of their disabilities. Every move that these people made had to be done with some kind of assistance. Many times these people became a burden on their spouse, their children or their parents. The invalid wheelchair made it possible for disabled people to get around on their own without the continued assistance of others. The invalid wheelchair gave these people a feeling of independence which restored their pride and dignity.

Invalid wheelchairs now are more sophisticated than ever before. These wheelchairs come with many options. People in need of an invalid wheelchair can choose a manual model that is designed for mobility. The manual models can come with many options that make life easier for the disabled person, and those who must provide for their well-being. The invalid wheelchairs have adjustable footrests and armrests that can be adapted according to the preferences of the individual.

Invalid Wheelchairs Are Propelled By An Attendant Or The Disabled Person

Invalid wheelchairs are better than ever before. The latest models of wheelchairs can come with many options that cater to the individual circumstances of each person. A disabled person with a small child can have a wheelchair that can have a place for the child as well as the invalid. A person with incontinence can have special accommodations for their needs. Those people who do not have an attendant at all times can move their wheelchair on their own. The wheels on these devices are made so they are flexible and easy to move.

Invalid wheelchairs are designed to move around in a home or outdoors. The people with disabilities will be able to go out in the world which should help their peace of mind. A disability can be physically challenging but also mentally troubling. The lack of mobility is often very depressing for people. Very few people can remain content when they have to depend on others for every move. Wheelchairs have provided these people a chance to move around to some extent on their own. The laws now make great provisions for disabled people, and wheelchairs allow them to get out and take advantage of the accommodations for disabled people. Those in a wheelchair can attend social, sports and cultural events.

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Invacare wheelchairs are made by one of the greatest manufacturers of medical supplies for the world community. This great company provides many types of devices and products besides the Invacare wheelchairs. The Invacare wheelchairs are a sample of the great quality of products from this company. Invacare wheelchairs are part of the service that this wonderful company provides to people with medical problems throughout the world. Invacare wheelchairs are one of the most popular products which include home care beds and bath safety products from this company. Other products from Invacare include devices for those with respiratory problems.

Invacare wheelchairs come in a model for everyone who has been disabled due to disease or injury. The wheelchairs from the company include great custom designs that are a great help to those who cannot walk around on their own. Invacare wheelchairs that are operated manually provide ease of mobility for many people. There are special manual wheelchairs for small children. Other wheelchairs from this company operated manually are carefully designed for performance and convenience. Some of the wheelchairs in this line can be folded up easily for storage when these are not needed by the owner. The manual wheelchairs are known for their great dependability.

Invacare Wheelchairs Cater To Diverse Needs

Invacare wheelchairs provide a great many besides those that are operated manually. There are great wheelchairs from this company that are power driven for ease of mobility for those in need. The wheelchairs have a variety of options that are helpful to those with some kind of disability. The Invacare wheelchairs are powered but not cumbersome. Sometimes when wheelchairs are powered they become very difficult in other ways. Those with power from Invacare are also easy to move from one place to another when not in use. These machines are easy to fold up and put into a car or closet depending on the situation.

Invacare wheelchairs are of a reasonable size and easy to maneuver. The designs are industry models that make life easier for the disabled and their caregivers. Invacare devices get around obstacles inside of a home or in the great outdoors. These machines make it easier for people to get outside of the home to the grocery store or to a park. Sitting in a wheelchair can be very painful at times, but Invacare has made some of the most comfortable wheelchairs on the market. The quality of the products from Invacare has led to the great success of this company.

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As the average age of the population increases, the number of people who will use wheelchairs temporarily, permanently or occasionally becomes larger. Fortunately, the attitudes of the past that wheelchairs equal immobility are gone. Today, laws protect the ability of the wheelchair-bound person by mandating accessibility for many public places. Public transportation and businesses have become better able to accommodate everyone.

Many products are available to help make life safer for those whose physical abilities are not within the standards that were once considered normal. The responsibility for knowing whether your wheelchair will be able to fit the demands of the accessible society is yours. You need to have some important information on wheelchairs.

Outdoors vs. Indoors

Wheelchairs are designed with certain limitations. Accessibility standards are set within certain norms. It’s up to you to determine which information on wheelchairs is needed to fit your wheelchair into which parts of life. Manual wheelchairs are designed to be pushed by an attendant or to have its rear wheels propelled by the occupant. These chairs are light weight to make this task easier. If you intend to use yours for “strolling,” know whether your chair is meant to be used outdoors and know the distance that you or your attendant is capable of achieving.

The important information on wheelchairs here is that indoor wheelchairs can be damaged by outdoor use. Electric or power wheelchairs are operated by motor and may not be designed for much outdoor use. Check the information on wheelchairs to make sure you don’t plan to exceed the limits of their battery charge. Know how far you can travel safely and leave a little margin of safety.

If you plan to navigate a specific building, find out if there will be any limitations. If the building is “wheelchair accessible,” you may be able to rely on elevators, ramps and accessible bathrooms. Check the information on wheelchairs to make sure that your wheelchair is within length, width and weight standards. If you have an extended leg rest, you will need extra turning space. If your chair is extra wide or has extensions to carry equipment, you may not fit through doorways.

If you carry oxygen, you may be limited in some areas. If your chair is much heavier than normal, you may be barred from certain areas or find yourself in difficulty. Most of the public is concerned about making your life more accessible. Make sure that you have the right information on wheelchairs to make their job easier.

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Those who live in wheelchairs have the same need for exercise as those who can get around on their own. In fact, the health benefits for both groups are about the same. There’s no difference in the warnings, either. Anyone who is planning to begin an exercise program should check with a doctor first and bring up any specific physical concerns. For those in wheelchairs, any kind of regular activity is beneficial. The activity does not need to be strenuous to be helpful. According to the Surgeon General, just 20 to 30 minutes of exercise every other day or so will lead to healthy living in wheelchairs.

Physical Benefits

Just like the so-called “healthy” people, those in wheelchairs can reduce the development of heart disease with exercise. Regular physical activity also decreases high blood pressure, respiratory illness, premature death and some types of cancer. Anyone who exercises will improve their strength and muscle tone as well as physical endurance, agility, and improve their sleep with all the attendant benefits.

The benefits to healthy living while in a wheelchair include decreased anxiety, feelings of loneliness, depression and stress. It also improves self-image, aids in weight management and chronic neuropathic pain. As with any exercise program, the wheelchair-bound person should begin with activities that he or she enjoys. Making exercise a chore is a sure way to fail. If the wheelchair occupant was able to enjoy sports at one time, then an effort can be made to resume similar types of athletics.

It’s best to begin a healthy living wheelchair program with light activity for a short time. For those who have not exercised for a while, five to fifteen minutes every other day is a good way to start. As the physical activity becomes easier the amount of time and the intensity can increase. Health benefits can increase as the exercise increases. As the duration, frequency or intensity grows so does the good that it brings.

For instance, the healthy living in a wheelchair benefits that come from half an hour of propelling the wheelchair are similar to twenty minutes of wheelchair basketball. Watch out for the same symptoms as anyone who is exercising: headache, chest pain, joint or muscle pain or cramps. If that occurs, the exercise should be stopped and re-evaluated. The important thing for healthy living if you are in a wheelchair is to start exercising and keep at it on a regular basis.

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