Wheelchair Power Assist

Designed to supplement the movement of a manual wheelchair, wheelchair power assist devices are attached to manual wheelchairs to provide a motorised push to provide additional movement assistance with less physical effort required.

Key Benefits of Wheelchair Power Assist

Less Physical Stress on the Upper Limbs – With the amount of force needed to push and steer the manual wheelchair reduced by power assist, the physical strain on the users’ shoulders, wrists and hands is also lowered. The potential risk of repetitive strain injuries is also minimised with the use of power assist.  

Greater Energy Efficiency & Travel Distance – With the power assist contributing to the propulsion of the wheelchair, users are able to travel further and longer with less fatigue. Lowering the physical exertion required can also be beneficial to some individuals, reducing their heart rate and blood pressure during wheelchair use.

Increased Mobility & Independence – Power Assist can help with access to more challenging terrain and environments, offering increased ease of movement and navigation of ramps, hills and uneven surfaces.

Greater Independence & Social Participation – With the power assist making the wheelchair easier to self-propel, there becomes a reduced reliance on the potential need for assistance. Power assist can also help improve social participation and engagement by reducing physical limitations and enhancing mobility. This greater autonomy and control also allow individuals more freedom to choose where and when they go out without the need to rely on others.

Power Assist vs Power Wheelchair

With any assistive device, the right choice is always what is best for the individual. However, if we were to look at the advantages to disadvantages of choosing between a power assist option or power wheelchair from a purely product perspective, then it becomes clear that both options have their own specific advantages.

Power assist devices are generally lightweight and are an easier and more convenient option for transport and storage. Especially useful for individuals who travel frequently, a power assist and manual wheelchair combination requires less specific transport accommodations than a larger and bulkier power wheelchair option.

Power assist devices are generally more affordable than a power wheelchair and offer the flexibility of being able to be switched between manual and power propulsion.

A power wheelchair offers more tailored assistive solutions for the individual and will more often provide greater independence and movement for those with more complex mobility needs. However, there are many more key considerations for their suitability in a home environment and ease of transportation than the smaller more lightweight manual wheelchair models.

Summary

To summarise, there are a number of benefits of a wheelchair power assist. Most of the add on power assist’s available compliment the functionality of storage and transport of a manual wheelchair. Whilst still providing an enhanced level of independence to the user by reducing the physical strain required to operate the wheelchair. Opening up further movement availability to more difficult terrain and environment types.

By providing assisted propulsion and reducing the exertion and fatigue that self-propelling requires, wheelchair power assist often provides a greater sense of freedom for individuals to participate in social, recreational and vocational pursuits.