Website Updates – Page 2 – Mobility Basics Blog

2016-11-082018-07-22

Rowheels Wheelchair Wheels

I’ve added a page to the wheelchair section of the site today with information on Rowheels replacement wheelchair wheels. I came across these wheels when researching different types of alternative drive systems for manual wheelchairs and thought this was something many people may be interested in.

These wheels provide benefits to the user in terms of more efficient wheeling, improved posture, reduced shoulder injury, strengthened back muscles and improved range of motion.

These wheels, as the name suggests, propel the wheelchair when the user turns the hand rims backwards. Like a rowing a rowboat, the user pulls backwards to propel the wheelchair forward. The difference is, of course, the wheelchair user will be facing the direction they are going.

There is a lot of data and studies to support the theory of pulling back to propel forward and when I think about how one propels a wheelchair it actually starts to make sense.

While pulling backward to propel forward may have many benefits, I’m not sure that these are wheels that a long term wheelchair user could easily change over to. I’m sure the learning curve experienced by user will vary greatly and new wheelchair users will probably have less issues with this departure from normal wheel chair propulsion.

For more information on the Rowheels wheelchair wheels please visit https://mobilitybasics.ca/wheelchairs/-row-wheels

2016-07-292018-07-22

Neater Uni-Chair

I’ve recently been looking at propulsion aids for people who have limitations that make propelling a wheelchair difficult. The last few wheelchair devices I added to the site were to make propulsion easier by using motors. Today I’ve added a page on the Neater Uni-Chair.

The Neater Uni-Chair is designed to provide people who only have the use of one foot and one hand independent mobility in a manual wheelchair. The Uni-Chair uses a single handrim that propels both wheels through a specialized differential and a movable footplate that allows the user to steer the wheelchair with their foot.

This chair is manufactured in the UK but is available in North America through their US distributer.

Click here for more information on the Neater Uni-Chair

2016-07-242018-07-22

Quickie Xtender Propulsion Assist Wheels

I’ve added a new product page to the website’s wheelchair section on the Xtender power assist wheels for manual Quickie wheelchairs. The Xtenders are options for Quickie wheelchairs only and can be added to compatible models at the time of purchase or as an add-on later.

The Xtenders are similar in theory to the Alber e-Motion wheels I added yesterday but have some specific differences. For one, they only are compatible with select Quickie Wheelchairs. Two, they are available in two models depending on the needs of the user. Three, they can be ordered with either Lithium or Nickel batteries. Four, the wheels actually communicate with each other to provide controlled tracking.

Click here for more information on the Xtender Power Assist wheels.

2016-07-232018-07-22

Alber Power Assist Wheels

I’ve just added a new product page to the Mobility Basics website about the power add on wheels from Invacare. These wheels are battery driven and can be added to many different makes and models of wheelchairs the make propelling the chair easier for the user.

The wheels are operated by pushing on the handrims and can greatly increase the speed of the chair and the power of the user. The combined improvement in propelling the wheelchair leads to more independent use and much reduced fatigue.

The e-Motion wheels can be pushed as regular wheels are pushed and activated when needed for enhanced propulsion or kept activated all the time for constant assistance.

Click here to get more information on the Alber e-Motion Wheels.

2016-04-162018-07-22

Level Entry Systems

While having a level area to use at the top of a ramp when trying to access a building via its doorways seems like a no brainer, situations where the threshold rise is only 1, 2 or even 3 inches are often dealt with using a simple threshold ramp. In the USA the accessibility regulations now require that even for these low rises that there be a level area in front of the doorway of buildings.

It really does make sense that this level area be available regardless of the rise. Trying to manipulate a door and pass through it using a wheelchair is hard enough without having to deal with gravity pushing you back down the slope whether it’s a 30′ modular ramp or a 3 foot threshold ramp.

How to create these level areas are up to the building owner. They can pour concrete and create sloped access to the platform, they can create the platform out of wood and use threshold type ramps to access the platform, or they can purchase a level entry ramping system that is installed over the existing sidewalk or porch.

I’ve put together a short article on these level entry systems at https://mobilitybasics.ca/wheelchair-ramps/entry-ramps for those who would like more information.

2016-04-062018-07-22

Medical Equipment Glossary

When people first get involved in researching and buying home medical equipment they will begin hearing words, terms and phrases that they probably have never heard before.

For this reason I’ve created a glossary page in the article section of the Mobility Basics website.

Some of the terms will refer to anatomy, some to equipment, some to services and some to other aspects of the home health care industry. The list is quite long and may be missing some terms or phrases that should be included. I will probably add to it as time goes by and I’m open to suggestions.

If you are in need of the glossary you can visit it at: https://mobilitybasics.ca/articles/medical-glossary

2016-01-192018-07-22

Stair Lift Updates

Bruno Eleite Outdoor Curved — Bruno Elite Outdoor Curved

I’ve now updated the Savaria and Bruno products in the Stair lift section of the Mobility Basics website. The discontinued models have been marked as discontinued and the replacements and new products have been added for these companies.

I leave the discontinued products online for those who may need information about them. My feeling is that people considering purchasing used products will find the information helpful in making their decision.

Most manufacturers quickly remove all information on discontinued products from their websites completely ignoring the used equipment market. This makes it difficult for anyone wanting to buy a used unit lacking in information on features and specifications the units they are considering.

The latest updated information can be found in the stair lift section of Mobilitybasics.ca

2016-01-172018-07-22

Acorn Stairlifts Update

As part of the update to the Stair Lift section of the Mobility Basics website I’ve been updating the products presented. The first product I looked at was the Acorn Superglide. Acorn has discontinued this model and replaced it with three models, the Straight, Curved and Outdoor stair lifts.

I have left the information on the Superglide online for anyone looking for information on that model plus added the new information on the three newer Acorn models.

Information on stair lifts can be found at: https://mobilitybasics.ca/stair-lift/

2016-01-162018-07-22

New Stair Lift Content

I’ve just merged the content from our sister web site Stairlift.ca with the content of the stairlift section of the Mobility Basics site. Because I had stairlift information on two different sites it meant that visitors would have to visit two different sites to in order to see all the information. Now, with all the stairlift.ca information transferred over to the main mobilitybasics.ca site our visitors can access everything in one place.

The Stairlift.ca has now been shut down and people either going directly to the site or finding the site through the search engines will be automaticaly redirected to the same content on the Mobility Basics site.

Anyone looking for stairlift information can access our stair lift section here: https://mobilitybasics.ca/stair-lift/

2015-11-142018-07-22

Planet Lift Chairs from EZee Life

Mercury Lift chair — Mercury Lift Chair from EZee Life

After a bit of a pause in adding new content to the site I’ve just finished adding a section on a new line of lift chairs created by =one of our advertisers.

The Planet line of lift chairs are broken down into 4 sections based on the features each group shares. Among some of the features that make this line of chairs unique are casters to enable easier moving of the chairs, cup holders and trays on two models for the convenience of the user, genuine leather upholstery, vertical elevation and removable arms for transfers to and from beds and incontinent proof upholstery.

Click here to visit the section on the Planet Lift chairs.