| Wheelchairs are widely used by people of restricting | | | | easily. Electric wheelchairs are more difficult to |
| mobility and have been in use in England since the | | | | purchase from insurers, depending on the individuals |
| 1670's. The importance of wheelchair usage is the | | | | finances some may only be able to afford heavy, |
| back support and easy manoeuvring of the two large | | | | tubular steel wheeled and sling back seating at a low |
| wheels. Generally these wheelchairs can sometimes | | | | cost - however this restricts adaptability. Lightweight |
| require a bit of upper body strength, which why it is | | | | wheelchairs tend to be more expensive to purchase. |
| essential for the front two wheels to be large and | | | | However, an electric wheelchair requires medical |
| easy to handle. The first electric wheelchair was not | | | | prescription whereas mobility scooters do not need a |
| designed until the early 1980s, which were fitted with | | | | prescription and can be purchased more easily from |
| Mecanum wheels. However, it is important that electric | | | | insurers or health agencies. These scooters are used |
| wheelchairs are not to be mistaken with mobility | | | | by people of lower flexibility or stamina in the arm |
| scooters. | | | | shoulders, or those suffering from whole body mobility |
| Electric wheelchairs come in three styles: rear, centre | | | | difficulties such as lung issues, different forms of |
| and front or four wheels driven. They are also | | | | arthritis, coronary illness etc. Electric scooters are also |
| categorised and separated by seating type, for | | | | easier to swivel the seats than moving the foot |
| example certain models resemble manual wheelchairs | | | | support on wheelchairs. |
| that have sling style seats, but other styles can be | | | | The main selling point of an electric scooter is that it |
| designed with a captain's style seating like that of a | | | | does not look like a wheelchair, and is designed to |
| car. Users of an electrical powered wheelchair can | | | | function more like a motor scooter than an electric |
| control the speed and stay mobile using a joystick on | | | | wheelchair. However, electric wheelchairs are available |
| a controller. Other input devices are available for those | | | | specifically for indoor use as well as outdoor use, |
| with limited hand movements such as, chin controls | | | | something a scooter is not designed to do. Those with |
| and puff/sip scanners. | | | | good upper body strength will find that they will be |
| Mobility scooters are similar to an electric powered | | | | recommended to use manual wheelchairs, or find it |
| wheelchair with the main differences being on the | | | | difficult to gain insurance to cover for an electric |
| manoeuvrability of the scooter. These types of | | | | wheelchair. In addition, electric powered wheelchairs |
| scooters come with a steering tiller or bar instead of a | | | | offer tilt, recline, leg elevation, seat elevation and other |
| joystick to control the speed and move around more | | | | necessary health benefiting functions. |