Generally speaking, there are two main types of wheelchairs available in the market today: the manual and the electric powered.
Of course, there are still other sub-categories for each of them if you want to dwell deeper, but that is what you basically need to know to have an idea.
It therefore goes without saying that you need to invest your time and effort determining which chair would work well for you - before you go and make a purchase.
More often than not, the kind of wheelchair to use is already advised or recommended by a patient's doctor, so the choice is already narrowed down.
But just to give you a sound idea on the difference between a manual and an electric wheelchair, here's a quick overview of both.
Manual wheelchair.
A manual wheelchair or what is also called a self-propelled wheelchair needs a person's physical strength to be able to move.
Most wheelchairs of this type can be folded so they can be stored or put into a vehicle.
One obvious setback of a manual wheelchair is that it is often rigid framed, even with modern models.
Electric wheelchair.
This type of wheelchair is likewise referred to by many people as a motorized wheelchair or electric power wheelchair (EPW).
As the name implies, it is moved around with the use of an electric motor and navigational controls.
An electric wheelchair will be particularly helpful to a person who is too weak to move around unaided, or if the person who will use it has serious health issues like cardiovascular condition.
As for the cost, Medicare can sometimes shoulder up to 80 percent of the wheelchair price, but more often than not it doesn't include electric wheelchairs in its medical coverage.
If this is the case with you, you may be able to find better assistance with other health insurance.
You can also compare prices and models to further help you decide which one to use.
For electric wheelchairs, you can look into Invacare, 21st Century Scientific, Teftec Mobility, and Permobil.
For manual wheelchairs, leading manufacturers include Everest & Jennings, Sunrise Medical, and also Invacare.
Of course, there are still other sub-categories for each of them if you want to dwell deeper, but that is what you basically need to know to have an idea.
It therefore goes without saying that you need to invest your time and effort determining which chair would work well for you - before you go and make a purchase.
More often than not, the kind of wheelchair to use is already advised or recommended by a patient's doctor, so the choice is already narrowed down.
But just to give you a sound idea on the difference between a manual and an electric wheelchair, here's a quick overview of both.
Manual wheelchair.
A manual wheelchair or what is also called a self-propelled wheelchair needs a person's physical strength to be able to move.
Most wheelchairs of this type can be folded so they can be stored or put into a vehicle.
One obvious setback of a manual wheelchair is that it is often rigid framed, even with modern models.
Electric wheelchair.
This type of wheelchair is likewise referred to by many people as a motorized wheelchair or electric power wheelchair (EPW).
As the name implies, it is moved around with the use of an electric motor and navigational controls.
An electric wheelchair will be particularly helpful to a person who is too weak to move around unaided, or if the person who will use it has serious health issues like cardiovascular condition.
As for the cost, Medicare can sometimes shoulder up to 80 percent of the wheelchair price, but more often than not it doesn't include electric wheelchairs in its medical coverage.
If this is the case with you, you may be able to find better assistance with other health insurance.
You can also compare prices and models to further help you decide which one to use.
For electric wheelchairs, you can look into Invacare, 21st Century Scientific, Teftec Mobility, and Permobil.
For manual wheelchairs, leading manufacturers include Everest & Jennings, Sunrise Medical, and also Invacare.