With some people finding the cost of buying a new electric wheelchair beyond their means, they need to perforce turn to buying a used electric wheelchair to meet their infirmity. Before taking the option of buying such a wheelchair, you need to take care and ensure that it does indeed fit in with your needs, and is also in good condition so that you do not need to pay extra for further repairs and maintenance.

Many Sellers

You can easily find a used electric wheelchair from near and dear ones, friends as well as from local support groups. There is also the usual classifieds as well as bulletin boards that can be used to gain information about the availability of these items. Other sources for old and used wheelchairs include local hospitals, rehabilitation centers, websites as well as disability organizations in your neighborhood.

Before you actually put down your money on a used electric wheelchair, ask for and get the advice from your therapist or physician who will be the best person to recommend what features the used electric wheelchair should have. You can also save money if the private health insurance or state vocational rehabilitation center covers your cost of this item. There is also instance when sellers of wheelchairs give guarantees and warranties on their used wheelchairs. However, sometimes the warranty on used electric wheelchairs cannot be transferred to the purchaser.

Evaluate Specifics

You also need to consider the physical dimensions which should be appropriate enough to support your physical size and weight, and it should also meet your capabilities. The condition of the used electric wheelchair should also be good enough to warrant purchase. In any case, you need to be well informed about wheelchairs in general and electric wheelchairs in particular before you decide on this option. With the savings in price, you also need to consider its suitability as well as the number of accessories available. There is always the risk that the used electric wheelchair is nothing more than scrap, and the market for such items is heavily in favor of the seller.

There are many shameful ploys that sellers use to sell their used electric wheelchairs – so beware. In case the used electric wheelchair is more than five years old, you can easily pass such items over unless you are in need of spare parts, or specifically need one and even then it is not advisable to pay more than a couple of hundred dollars for them. Always try and inspect the used electric wheelchair before actually purchasing it.

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Wheelchairs are designed to provide mobility to those who are forced to use them due to old age, accidents, being overweight or suffering from any other medical condition. The manufacturers of wheelchairs are in a constant search in order to provide even more to the users beside mobility and comfort in order to get back to a sense of normalcy as much as possible under the given circumstances. Here is how standing wheelchairs can help you go about doing chores and activities you once enjoyed.

The Revolutionary Design

Standing wheelchairs are unique for the reason that they assist you to stand up and take part in activities that you may have given up on when you were forced to use a wheelchair. Things like cooking on the stove, greeting people, take part in a game like a baseball, stand at the blackboard, giving presentations, taking part in church or reaching for things with ease.

Standing wheelchairs are designed specially to fold as you stand up against your body and assist you in your activities while expanding when you need to sit down again. The normal wheelchairs only allow you to tilt or recline while the standing wheelchair allows you to stand up on your feet again. It is important to understand that the standing wheelchair offers full support even when you are standing in case you stumble and/or feel weak and need to be prompted.

The Manufacturer of the Standing Wheelchair

The Standing Company is the manufacturer of the standing wheelchair with headquarters situated in Saginaw, Michigan. They can be reached at the following website www.thestandingcompany.com where you can also find the answers to many other questions that you may have before deciding to purchase this revolutionary product. You can also make an appointment with the company in order to visit them and try the standing wheelchairs and/or find out which type and style is suitable for you.

Other Helpful Features

The standing wheelchair is a half-powered wheelchair, which basically means that you will be able to operate the wheelchair from a remote/joy stick as usual which is situated within your hands reach. The standing wheelchair is designed for rough terrain and indoors use and the standing features can get you through the narrow spaces and corners in the house. Ask your doctor and your health insurance company which kind of wheelchair you need and what you qualify for before making any impulsive decisions.

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Wheelchairs are great inventions that have provided increased mobility and independence for people with temporary or permanent disabilities. Wheelchairs were originally a basic platform on a set of wheels, but these machines have developed many devices for improvement since they were first used to help people. These devices include motors, safety features and spoke guards for wheelchairs that have improved the service for those with problems. Spoke guards were first used by athletes that played their sports in spite of their disabilities.

Eventually spoke guards for wheelchairs have become great tools for all of those confined because of a disability. Athletes first designed spoke guards for wheelchairs because they needed to keep their spokes free during the competition. Many athletes remained competitive although they had serious injuries. These athletes made their spoke guards so they would not lose a competition because another athlete interfered with the spokes on their wheelchairs. These spoke guards for wheelchairs could make the difference between winning and losing.

Several Sources Provide Spoke Guards For Wheelchairs

Accidents do happen to those confined to a wheelchair and spoke guards for wheelchairs can make a significant difference for those involved in a misfortune. Spoke guards will protect this wonderful machine in case it is involved in a collision. The spoke guards for wheelchairs will lessen the effect of the impact on a wheelchair. These spoke guards for wheelchairs will also protect the hands of those pushing the wheels on a chair. Anyone confined to a wheelchair because of a disability does not want further injury. Getting their hands and fingers caught in the spokes can be painful so putting on spoke guards can protect those pushing the wheels around.

Spoke guards for wheelchairs can be purchased from several different sources in a variety of models. Spoke guards can be plain opaque which protect the person powering the wheelchair, but these do not add any color to the chair. There are some other spoke guards for wheelchairs that are bright and colorful Those confined to a wheelchair definitely have a problem, so a bit of color on the chair can be uplifting. Spoke guards for wheelchairs can reflect the personality of the occupant and show others that they are upbeat about their condition. No one wants others to have pity for them because of their problems so a bright sign on their wheelchairs will communicate a feeling of optimism.

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Wheelchair users are not an uncommon sight these days. With advances in accessibility laws and the technology to comply, people confined to wheelchairs are able to take part in daily life more fully. The average person who is walking around no longer feels the need to stare at a person who is temporarily or permanently in need of a wheelchair.

Chairs propelled by the hands of the occupant, pushed by attendants or motorized are a familiar part of life. However, some people have physical problems that go beyond the assistance that a wheelchair can offer. For some, the only way to get around is by using wheelbenches or reclining wheelchairs.

Looking Up

For those who are unable to sit upright, the use of an ordinary wheelchair is out of the question. Some with severe back disabilities or the inability to control the head and neck are forced to depend on a device that will allow them to travel while lying down or in a partially reclined position. Wheelbenches are similar to wheelchairs but have a gurney-like bed for the patient. There are large wheels in the rear and smaller casters in the front to allow easy turning. The occupant lies flat and can propel himself using the large wheels in the back.

While they resemble a gurney or the examining table in a doctor’s office, the bed is cushioned specifically to protect the occupant while traveling over hard or bumpy ground. They may also be equipped with handles for an attendant, straps for stabilization, foot rests and whatever type of customization may be necessary. They are designed to fold up to fit into a car.

The reclining wheelchairs can offer a flat surface or be set to any angle that is needed. Both types of transportation assist those with little upper body strength, pain caused by sitting, progressive curvature of the spine, and seizures. The reclining wheelchairs can be adjusted from an upright position to a flat position and almost anywhere in between. This can be useful for those who can sit up but may need care such as catheterization or leg elevation during the day.

Optional Features

Customization is readily available for reclining wheelchairs including trays, seating systems and communication mounts, and can be fitted with ventilators or oxygen carriers. While they do not break down as easily as ordinary wheelchairs for transportation in cars, reclining wheelchairs are available to assist those with specific physical needs in living a life that is as normal as possible.

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There are a number of different Rascal wheelchairs that provide users with the ability to be mobile anywhere - in the home, out on the sidewalk or in shopping centers. Made in compact sizes, users will find the Rascal wheelchair to be tight in its turning radius, and thus allows you to stay mobile anywhere you go.

Buying a Rascal wheelchair is certain to help you find mobility even if your size is big or small as it allows you to remain active as well as increases your independence. Major advantages of the Rascal wheelchair are nimbleness that makes navigation in crowded places much easier, and it durable enough to be used in the outdoors under rugged conditions.

Choose from Compact, Mid-Size and Large Wheelchairs

You can choose the Rascal wheelchair from a number of different sizes that best suits your particular frame. The compact wheelchair will enable users who weigh 250 pounds or less to get by very well. The advantage of the compact wheelchair is the ease with which it can be dissembled so as to allow you to transport it with you while traveling.

If your frame size and weight is 350 pounds or more, you may want the mid-size version of the Rascal wheelchair that provides total mobility all the time. This type of wheelchair has a n excellent turning radius so that you can get by even in tight spaces. The large Rascal wheelchair would ideally suit persons that weigh 400 to 500 pounds.

When you buy a Rascal wheelchair you may also want some of the accessories that the company provides such as bags to carry belongings as well as modular accessory systems that help in storing your crutch, cane, walker as well as oxygen tank. For those that prefer to use their Rascal wheelchair, and don’t wish their mobility to be affected by annoying and inconvenient thresholds, steps or curbs; make sure to try out the ramps that help in overcoming these obstacles to your free movement.

You can also get yourself a comfortable seat, which is of vital importance to your total well being. You may choose to have one that best suits your requirements. The Rascal 320 Compact Powerchair is a good option for those that prefer a slim design as well as lightweight wheelchair to get around in. Using a Rascal wheelchair will provide you exceptional maneuverability, greater independence while taking advantage of the latest technology.

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Wheelchairs need not be something to fear. There may come a time when using a wheelchair becomes necessary, and senior citizens and disabled people realize that in the wheelchair lies their salvation as far as getting about is concerned. This means that people that are going to use a wheelchair must expect and hope to get a wheelchair that is long lasting, provides reliability as well as is comfortable to sit and move in.

Folding, Pediatric, Rigid and Sports Wheelchairs

Quickie wheelchairs offer a number of folding, pediatric as well as power, rigid and sports wheelchairs. They have a number of models to choose from, and in fact, were one of the first companies to produce lightweight wheelchairs that were mass produced. The Quickie wheelchair is a small wheelchair that can become the ideal mode of transport for many disabled users. In their manual, electric as well as sport and pediatric models you may be sure to find that each wheelchair seems to be specially designed just for you.

In fact, you may be able to make good use of the “True-Fit Program” offered by Quickie wheelchairs that promises you that they will replace specific parts of your new wheelchair within three years of purchase. It certainly is an indication of how good a choice the Quickie wheelchair is. The Quickie 2 wheelchair is the most reliable wheelchair you could hope to use, and with a warranty as well as features that are better than competitors, you would surely find it to be a good buy. They also include interchangeable parts to customize it to particular needs and lifestyles.

Wheelchairs for Tennis and Basketball

You may be in need of a powerful wheelchair, and for such a requirement, the Quickie 8-646 Power wheelchair is a good option, which bristles with power and has excellent suspension, comfort as well as is speedy to boot. This is a wonderful choice if you wish to play a game of tennis or shoot baskets. For basketball play, the Quickie All Court is just the ticket, and its state of the art technological inputs will easily determine where the center of gravity of the user lies. For tennis players, the Quickie Match Point comes with a broad footprint that is ideally suited to an all round tennis players’ needs.

You can rest assured that your Quickie wheelchair will meet your every need, and in spite of the higher cost, its comfort levels as well as technological profile makes it good value for money.

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Many people are faced with the unfortunate situation where they cannot use their own legs anymore due to an accident, old age or an existing medical condition. These types of situations can ruin a person’s life by reducing the chances of him or her getting a job, meeting a partner and/or performing daily simple activities. Here is how you can find your freedom of mobility and get your life back with Pride wheelchairs.

Makers of Pride Wheelchairs

Pride wheelchairs are manufactured by Pride Mobility Products Corporation, which was established in 1986. It all started as a small family business where their only interest was to provide a little bit more to those who are already suffering. 21 years later, the Pride Mobility Products Corporation has the same interest at heart but has expanded worldwide because of their dedication and constant desire to improve in order to provide the users of Pride wheelchairs exactly what they require.

The company’s dedication to excellence was soon noticed and acknowledged by celebrities as well. Some famous names that are using Pride wheelchairs today include Dr. Stephen Hawking (Quantum Jazzy 1400), actor Verne Troyer (Go-Go Scooter), actor Daryl Mitchell (Quantum Blast 850) and motocross racer Lance Magin (Pride Scooter) to name only a few.

Different Types

Over the years there have been many types of Pride wheelchairs developed and introduced on the market and some of the most popular ones are the Jazzy power wheelchairs, Pride lift wheelchairs, Quantum Rehab wheelchairs, Pride Scooters, Go-Go Mobility Pride products and Pride personal mobility vehicles. In order to get your Pride wheelchair, log on to the company’s official website at www.pridemobility.com and read the testimonials of those who use these wheelchairs and enjoy their new found freedom and life again.

Helpful Tip

Most insurance companies today will work with the wheelchair provider in order to get you the wheelchair at little or no cost. However, you need to check with your insurance company and find out details about the type of policy you have and its clauses. Many companies will also help you with financing options in order to get the wheelchair you require for you to get your life back. Visit or get a representative from Pride wheelchairs visit you for a consultation about wheelchair choices. Try one in the comfort of your home before you settle for just any one; you will be glad you did.

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Power wheelchairs are unlike manual wheelchairs in that they allow the user to operate without having to exert manual physical power as they operate with the help of batteries. You do not need to use your muscle power to move forward or back, and the mobility offered through motorization is a welcome change from what the manual wheelchair provides its user. This is why the power wheelchair is also referred to as a motorized wheelchair that is available in different electric versions.

Expensive but Useful

No doubt, the price of the power wheelchair is directly affected by the facility of being mobile without expending human energy. Still, in spite of the costliness of power wheelchairs, they are much more convenient, though transporting them can be a bit of a bother. Due to their operations that require manifold motorized applications, there is also a lurking danger of it breaking down if some part or gadget were to malfunction.

Before purchasing a power wheelchair you should seek the help of a physician because the disability that you suffer from may warrant having specialized knowledge that only a qualified healthcare specialist could provide. How severe your disability is may affect the power wheelchair requirements that will be best suited for your particular use. In any case, power wheelchairs would be ideal for those who have extended as well as chronic disabilities.

Sometimes, you may even require buying a customized power wheelchair that may also have adjustable power settings. You can choose from among two different types of power wheelchairs including one that is a modification of the manual wheelchair, and another that is a power based wheelchair. The former may be nothing more than a manual wheelchair having an accompanying motor and wheels, which is built on x-frames and is also foldable.

The manual wheelchair fitted with a motor and wheels may also have a seat fitted with back cushions that provide for comfort when sitting as well gives the user a better sitting posture. You can pick such power wheelchairs in a number of load capacities, and some can even be dismantled to facilitate ease of transportation.

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People with wheelchairs have lost one very important thing in their life and that is their ability to use their own legs, which can take a toll on their behavior, mood and activity even when they have the most sophisticated wheelchair. Here are some occurrences and requirements of people with wheelchairs that you may want to consider if you know someone who is using one whether it is a family member, friend or a colleague at work.

Common Disorders of People with Wheelchairs

The fact that you are confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life can affect some people with wheelchairs drastically. They can develop disorders such as insomnia due to worry, irritability, mood swings, appetite change and therefore sudden weight gain or loss, sleeping too much and the desire to be left alone along in a state of depression.

It is very easy to see why someone who is confined to a wheelchair will go through many personality changes especially if he or she lost the ability to walk in an accident or due to some illness and not born with this disability. However it is up to us to make their world better in any way we can and here are a few ways in which you too can make people in wheelchairs happy.

Consult a Therapist

It is important that people in wheelchairs get therapy even if it is one session a month as that will help them to open up and speak what really is on their mind and heart with a professional who will guide them through these bad times. If you have a family member who has recently started using a wheelchair, suggest that he or she visit a therapist. You too can be a therapist for people in a wheelchair by listening and being there when you are needed. You will be surprised what you can accomplish by lending an ear when needed.

Stay positive and always try to point out the good things in life. Get the person in the wheelchair to meet other people in similar circumstances by contacting their doctor and finding out if there is a local meeting place. Or you could look online; being able to talk to someone who is going through the same thing that he or she is going through is a huge help. Besides people always compare situations and if there is someone in a worse state he or she will get to help by being the one doing the positive talking; this helps the patient’s morale by making him or her useful again.

Helpful Tip

Treat people in wheelchairs just like another person who is trying to live his or her life. Do not pity them as that can only make things worse; they know they have a disability there is no need to be reminded of it by others around them. Treat people in wheelchairs with respect and dignity because they deserve every bit of it for what they are going through.

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It is the fervent desire of every child to be able to move freely, whether it is at school, at play or anywhere else. Even a child that is unable to walk on his or her own would love to move about as freely as possible. There was a time when the impairment of a child’s legs meant that he or she would not be able to move about, and sitting on a wheelchair could be likened to being confined to a jail cell.

Modern Technology Has Eased Some Pain

With modern technology churning out innovative products, the pediatric wheelchairs of today have unmatched sophistication that provides freedom of movement to children that was once not possible. A good pediatric wheelchair can give the child a number of positions to choose from that include sitting and standing as well as laying down.

You can get a power pediatric wheelchair pretty much as readily as you could other power wheelchairs. The important thing is to choose a pediatric wheelchair that fits the needs of the child, and it should be bought after making a complete assessment of these needs. In fact, hospitals as well as medical centers do just that so that only the most suitable pediatric wheelchair is provided to children of all ages.

Manufacturers too are targeting specific requirements of children when they make pediatric wheelchairs. They most likely would take account of mobility, independence, physical abilities as well as skills related to the child’s functioning as well as how well the child can control his or her extremities – upper as well as lower. In addition, how well the child can activate switches or even joysticks and his or her need for seating support as well as posture are other considerations that manufacturers of pediatric wheelchairs need to address in their products.

Maintenance

Once you have bought your pediatric wheelchair, be sure to take good care of it and maintain it regularly. Make sure that it is cleaned and the hardware as well as the tire braking system (if one exists) is functioning properly. Check that the seat and control system are well cared for and tested regularly. Other considerations that the prospective pediatric wheelchair user needs to consider include the child’s temperament, lifestyle as well as his or her capacity to meet different situations in the society that he or she moves in.

Choose the pediatric wheelchair carefully and understand how it will be transported, and buy a lightweight wheelchair in case of frequent transportation requirements. Remember that the added movement that the child will get from his or her pediatric wheelchair will help in his or her participation in other activities. Therefore, finding the best wheelchair would mean balancing the child’s needs with practical (financial and functional) considerations and coming up with the best combination.

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