Power Base – The most obvious difference in power bases is the position of the drive wheels. Power wheelchair manufacturers now offer three types of “drives” – rear wheel, mid wheel and front wheel drive chairs. The placement of the drive wheels has a significant impact on how the chair moves. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages in both indoor and outdoor driving conditions. (See Sidebar at end of section.) Your best bet is to arrange for a test drive, ideally with three different chairs, each with a different drive wheel position. Riders quickly identify the drive wheel placement which feels most comfortable to control. Once a particular drive wheel placement has been chosen, there will be several different models (from different manufacturers) from which to choose.

Seating – There are many options available when looking at seating for a power chair. The options range from fairly simple automotive style seats, often referred to as “Captain’s seats” to very sophisticated power seating which may tilt, recline, and elevate the leg rests. Some even provide a standing feature. For children, there is even a power-seating feature that lowers the entire seat down to the floor to participate in peer-to peer activities.

Determining your client’s seating needs requires a good look at the person’s sitting balance (does the person need external support to use both hands for an activity like typing or eating?) and the person’s risk for pressure sores (does the person need a mechanical method of periodically taking weight off his/her buttocks?). If the person has a “pressure sore” or is having trouble sitting up (over the edge of the bed for example), you may want to consider using power tilt and/or power recline to provide a mechanical method of pressure relief and a means of shifting body position to perform various functions during the day – for example, leaning slightly forward to access a desk, leaning slightly backward when talking on the telephone.