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Summarizing
Wheeled Mobility Options
|
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Manual
Wheelchairs
|
- Lighter
in weight
- Greater
Reliability
- Easier
to transport
- Less
expensive
- Provides
a level of exertion / exercise.
- Easier
to overcome accessibility problems
|
Self-Propulsion:
- Possible
secondary complications (sore shoulders, wrists and elbows)
after long-term use.
- Requires
physical effort to be mobile
|
|
Scooters
|
- Aesthetics,
does not look like a wheelchair.
- Increases
mobility range without increased exertion
- Swivel
seat may allow for easier transfers in and out of the seat.
|
- More
complicated to transport in a car than a manual chair.
- Needs
charging
- Less
flexible to modify to changing physical conditions than
a power chair.
|
|
Power
Chairs
|
- Greatest
mobility range with least exertion.
- Easier
to modify over time, if needed.
- Available
with power seating options – tilt and/or
recline.
|
- More
Expensive.
- More
difficult to transport.
- Compare
to manual wheelchair, tend to be less reliable.
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