Which Wheelchair Is Right For You?

| Sunday, July 17, 2011
By Clifford Gill


Most people are familiar with prescriptions from a doctor for medications, but not for mobility aids such as wheelchairs or even crutches. When you have to select a wheelchair, you will find yourself looking at many different types, all customized for different needs and different lifestyles.

Some wheelchairs come with a pressure-relieving cushion, others with brake extensions, and others with even other options to facilitate your lifestyle. Selecting the right chair for your needs is very important, since you will depend on it to be mobile.

Unlike prescriptions for medications, which are very specific, a doctor's prescription for a wheelchair often reads "a wheelchair". The reason for this is because most general practitioners are not experts in physical medicine, and they cannot suggest a specific type of equipment.

When possible, it is a very good idea to go through the selection process with a qualified physiotherapist or occupational therapist who knows what your daily routine and lifestyle look like so that they can help you get the chair that properly suits your needs.

Because of insurance purposes, your doctor might have to write a prescription which is somewhat specific. If you'll be spending a significant amount of time in your chair, or if you have particular needs in terms of posture or support, these options can represent a considerable expense above a basic wheelchair system Since some insurance providers require a doctor's prescription to fully cover equipment, you might need to ask your doctor to write one after you have consulted a therapist.

Even if not all insurance providers require evaluations, most rehabilitators do, since it is important for them to assess if the equipment you are using is exactly what you need.

Asking for a professional evaluation of a chair you are thinking of buying is something you should require yourself, since your goal is to invest in a type of equipment that is actually going to help you.




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