These considerations can include:
- Postural – such as does the client have a fixed or flexible position?
- Environmental – where will the client be using the chair, e.g. at home, at work, or socially
- Where to mount communication aids
- How the client transfers
- How the client transports the chair – do they have a ‘drive from’ solution, hoist or do they use public transport
All of these considerations can affect which powerchair base is most suitable for the client.
The most important factor is, arguably, the client’s postural considerations. This is something which Sunrise Medical has resolved by using a modular approach to their powered wheelchairs, enabling numerous seating systems to be used on multiple bases, giving the client the flexibility to choose the seating system they want on their chosen powerchair base.
If a client is specifically looking for a powered wheelchair that is suitable for indoor use, there are further considerations that need to be made.
When prescribing a powerchair it is vital to consider the client’s home environment. One of the most critical movements for any chair is how compactly it turns, as when taken into consideration alongside the space available in the client’s home, this can determine whether a powerchair is suitable or not.
The turning circle of any powered wheelchair is measured from the centre of the drive wheel to the furthest point of the chair (see below image) for each base it is measured as follows:
- Rear-wheel drive – centre of the drive wheel to the end of the user’s feet
- Front-wheel drive – centre of the drive wheel to the rear castor wheel
- Mid-wheel drive – centre of the drive wheel to the end of the user’s feet
Therefore, when considering which drive wheel base provides the most compact turning circle, this is always going to be a mid-wheel drive. Simply because the turning circle is measured from the centre of the drive wheel, which is positioned in the middle of the base to the end of the footplate.
Another key consideration is the overall manoeuvrability of the drive wheel base to ensure the user has the most efficient and best drive base. In this case, let’s consider manoeuvring around a tight corridor to drive around a corner and through a door frame. When approaching the scenario in each drive base, the following would happen:
- Rear-wheel drive – The client would position the chair to the right hand wall to swing the chair around to prevent catching the footplates on the left wall
- Front-wheel drive – The client would position the chair to the left hand wall by the centre of the door to ensure the rear castor arms do not catch the right hand wall
- Mid-wheel drive – The client would position the chair in the centre of the hall and turn In this scenario, the mid-wheel drive provides the most intuitive and manoeuvrable drive performance of all three bases.
The final consideration is the overall width of the chair – the narrower and shorter the drive base, the easier it is for the client to navigate tight corridors, doorways and bathrooms in their home and other compact environments.
