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What Is An Ambulette?

Ambulette companies offer emergency and non-emergency transportation to hospitals, nursing homes, doctors appointments and health related facilities.  Their services could be paid for by Medicare or other government organizations depending upon the qualifications of the individual being transported so make sure to check with each individual company regarding your Medicare eligibility.

The Type of Crutches Available

Crutches are medical tools used when a patient is injured usually anywhere below the waist. There are several different types of medical crutches:

Underarm

These are the most common type in the United States, and are used most often by people with temporary disability or injury. These are used by placing the pads against the rib cage beneath the armpits and holding the grip, which is below and parallel to the pad.

Strutters

These are a variation on under-arm crutches, incorporating large soles which remain flat on the floor or ground while the user walks. They allow for an improved walking gait, and distribute body weight to reduce the risk of nerve damage caused by underarm crutches.

Platform

These are less common and used by those with poor hand grip due to arthritis, cerebral palsy, or other condition. The arm rests on a horizontal platform and is strapped in place. The hand rests on a grip which, if properly designed, can be angled appropriately depending on the user's physical handicap.

Knee Support

These crutches are useful for patients whose injury or disability is below the knee. They allow the knee of the injured leg to be placed on a support, so the injured leg now points backward behind the patient. This style of crutch affords the patient the ability to have one or both hands free to carry objects. Upper thigh atrophy is also reduced because half the patients weight is now supported by each thigh rather than one thigh and the arms."

The Types of Medical Walkers

Medical walkers are used to assist those rehabilitating from injury and those with permanent conditions to have the freedom of movement they had before their accident or illness without aid.

Most medical walkers are not equipped with wheels.  These are ideal for individuals who, with the aid that a mobility walker can provide, are capable of being independent.

Less frequently used are rolling walkers with wheels attached.  The advantage to this type of medical walker is that the user does not have to lift the walker, making it ideal for those senior citizens who lack upper body strength.  But the operator must be strong enough to hold onto the walker, because if it does roll away or slip it could lead to serious injury.

Mobility Scooters

A mobility scooter is a mobility aid similar to a wheelchair but configured like a motor scooter.  It is often referred to as an electric scooter as well.

These scooters provide important advantages to people with mobility problems throughout the world. A scooter is useful for persons without the stamina or arm/shoulder flexibility necessary to use a manual wheelchair. Also, swiveling the seat of an electric scooter is generally easier than moving the foot supports on most conventional wheelchairs. A mobility scooter is very helpful for persons with systemic or whole-body disabling conditions (coronary or lung issues, some forms of arthritis, obesity, etc.) who are still able to stand and walk a few steps, sit upright without torso support, and control the steering tiller.

The Types of Wheel Chairs 

Wheelchairs come in different shapes and sizes.  The variations include:

Manual wheelchairs, where the occupant of the wheelchair must use arm strength to move themselves.

Powered wheelchairs, where the occupant uses a joystick control to operate an electric motor that provides mobility.

Mobility scooters—these are ideal for the individual who can operate independently around the home, but who need some mobility support when they the home (to go food shopping, for instance)

It’s important for you to assess your individual needs, as the costs vary with the type of wheelchair you choose.  Another factor to consider is the amount of accessories you may need for your wheelchair.  The most important of these are wheelchair ramps and lifts, which you may need for your vehicle or home to allow for easy access into or out of your home or vehicle.

Join A Power Chair Club...and Have Fun!

Are you the proud new owner of a power chair? If you are, you may be wondering "now what?" Power chairs are not just a way to get around, they are an entire lifestyle. New power chair owners will be surprised to find that there are power chair and wheelchair clubs all over the place! Some get together to play basketball or do some other recreation, others get together to lobby the government for increased accessibility. Ask your power chair dealer if they know of any clubs in the area. If they do, that's great. If they don't know of any, you should consider starting one. You can be sure that if you want to meet other power chair users, there is someone out there feeling the same way. You may be surprised to also learn that there are accessible vacations and wheelchair vacations that allow people in power chairs and wheel chairs to enjoy a fully accessible vacation experience! If it's been a while since you've been on vacation, check it out online and see what you find.

On top of the social aspect of power chair ownership, there is also the practical aspect. Part of the "now what?" includes building a ramp into your home. If you have a minivan, you might want to get a ramp or even a lift to life the wheelchair into the van. There are also external lifts that attach to your car's trailer hitch so you can drive your power chair onto the ramp and lock it in place. One consideration of your new power chair is the tires. Do you have tires that are the most suitable for your lifestyle? Ask at the store to find out if you do. Tell them how you spend most of your time and where you live and they'll be able to help you out. There's one kind of tire that is good for mainly indoor use and there's another kind of tire that's good for mainly outdoor use and there's a third kind of tire for a mixture of both. You will also want to find out what the drive time is on your batteries. By learning this in advance, you will be able to plan your outings accordingly so that you'll never be caught away from home with a dead battery and no way to return. The longer you keep your power chair, the more you'll find that you want to enjoy accessories for it... there are so many to choose from, including cup holders, extra baskets, and desk trays. Your power chair is a machine, which means it has mechanical parts. Keep your power chair tuned up so it lasts a long time. Just like your car, keep it clean and bring it in for regular servicing. Power chairs are fantastic devices to help you get around and lead a life that allows you to do whatever you want. Not only that, but they let you do it in style!