Power Chairs vs. Scooters: Which one is for Me?

TigerMedical.com staff contrast the pros and cons of power chairs and scooters for the mobility challenged.

                                     
What is the difference between a power chair and a scooter?  Which one is for me?

Power chairs and scooters grant independence and freedom to people with limited mobility. At first glance, it seems that power chairs and scooters are very similar in their characteristics and features.  Both power chairs and scooters have a battery powered motor that drives the unit quickly and smoothly.   The user will not experience physical exertion or fatigue when operating either a power chair or a scooter.   Both devices include a motorized base, a seat, arm rests, wheels and tires, and various accessories.
In truth, there are many basic differences between power chairs and scooters.  Each product is designed to fill the needs of a distinct population in the optimal way.

To determine which mobility vehicle will serve you best, consider your physical abilities, your mobility needs, and your personal preferences.  The environment that you plan to be traversing is also a key factor in choosing the product that will guarantee performance and safety.



What are my physical capabilities?   

If you have limited physical strength and poor stability a power chair may best suit your needs.

A power chair has a contoured seat for firm support and posture control.  Modified seating systems are available to assist users who have limited upper body strength.   A specialized rehab seat can be employed to provide safe and comfortable mobility even to users with severe disabilities.  Power chairs are highly  customizable to accommodate varied medical accessories.  The standard easy-to-operate joystick control of the power chair is positioned on the arm rest for convenient access and can be programmed for effortless, safe acceleration and deceleration.  Users who do not have the strength or the dexterity to manipulate the joystick can install a modified control system such as head controls, foot controls, chin controls, finger controls, touch pad controls, speech controls, and highly advanced sip and puff systems.  The foot rests of a power chair offer full support for the user’s feet and legs, including elevation options, angle adjustable foot plates, calf supports and safety straps.  The power chair is designed to facilitate easier transferring from a bed to the power chair seat even for those who cannot relocate independently.

In contrast, a scooter has a more basic seat that is intended for people who have the upper body strength to sit on the seat unaided.

Driving a scooter requires the trunk stability to sit upright for a long time and to stay on scooter seat around turns without sliding off.   Scooter seats are not meant to provide support for those who do not sit well on their own.  The driver of a scooter needs to have strength and dexterity to operate the thumb levers, pressing and releasing slowly to modulate acceleration and deceleration, and to steer the handle bars.   The users must have a sufficient range of motion in both arms and hands and enough endurance for outdoor travel.  The user’s feet rest flat on the platform of the scooter without any special supporting devices.  To drive a scooter outdoors, a person must have the vision and judgment to safely navigate traffic.  Scooters are meant for users who can stand and walk short distances.  As such, they do not have special adaptations to facilitate transfers from bed to seat.  To mount the scooter the user must be able to stand and climb up onto the seat.  A scooter has a higher center of balance than a power chair so it is more prone to tipping, and caution must be exercised near curbs and on slopes.

How often and for how long will I be sitting in my power chair or scooter?

If you plan to sit in your mobility seat for many hours at a time, a power chair will provide the greatest all day comfort.   The power chair seat is specially constructed to give you the ultimate posture control and relief from pressure sores that are often associated with wheelchairs.  The tilt and recline options and adjustable arm and leg rest configurations are ideal for long term comfort and safety.  Power chair users can work comfortably at a desk or sit close to a table, enabling them to spend all of their work and leisure time securely seated in the power chair.

A scooter has a more basic seat that is intended for shorter periods of sitting.  The typical scooter user can stand and walk a few steps and will only use the scooter when covering further distances.   Some people use a more comfortable manual wheelchair around the house but transfer to a scooter for longer journeys.  This will protect their shoulders and arms from strain and damage that can result from propelling a manual wheelchair for great distances.  The construction of the scooter is bigger and bulkier, preventing the user from completing all their daily activities while seated.  If you will be parked in your scooter for longer amounts of time, it is recommended to use a cushion to make the seat more comfortable.

Where do I plan to drive?

For indoor and outdoor function, a power chair will meet your needs.  The compact construction and smaller turning radius of the power chair will allow you to navigate tight indoor spaces like narrow hallways, small apartments, and crowded isles in the supermarket.  The features of the power chair allow easy access to a table or desk for convenience in a home or office environment.  A power chair can also ride smoothly over average outdoor terrain with reasonable speed.

A scooter is the better choice for longer distances and outdoor driving.  Scooters have increased stability and can drive at faster speeds.  Their larger tires have good traction and many models employ front and rear suspension to handle bumps and obstacles in the road surface.  Scooters are equipped with head lights and tail lights, turn signals, horns and safety flags to be visible to pedestrians and other vehicles and safely drive in light traffic.  A weather protection canopy will shield the user from sun and rain.  Scooters are ideal for hunters, ranchers and farmers who need to travel long distances over extreme terrain.  They are also useful for bus rides, errands and appointments around town, nature trails and parks, zoos, airports, and large campuses.  Packages such as shopping bags, laundry baskets, or sports gear can be transported on the floor of the scooter or in the basket hanging from the front of the tiller.  The steering arm located in front of the user does not allow access to a desk or table unless the seat is swiveled 90 degrees to the side.  When turned to the side, there is no place to rest the feet and the users legs are left dangling.  The length of the scooter also makes it difficult to maneuver in indoor spaces.

What are my personal preferences?

It is important that you feel at ease and that you are comfortable being seen sitting in your mobility chair.   Some users favor a scooter because it does not look like a wheelchair and involves less stigma of looking or feeling “disabled”.   Scooters are more fun, more funky, and can get you where you need to go without the appearance of medical machines.

Scooters are generally cheaper than power chairs, and may be a more viable option for users with a limited budget.

To summarize:

Power chairs are ideal for people with disabilities or illnesses that affect their stability and their ability to support themselves.  They are the safest choice for those with limited upper body strength and poor coordination in manipulating the controls.  Power chairs are narrow enough for maneuvering indoors and strong enough to ride over most outdoor surfaces.  Power chairs provide you with customized comfort and modifications for home and office use, for all day, long term function.

Power Scooters are perfect for users who can stand, walk a few steps and sit upright unassisted but easily get fatigued from walking longer distances, especially outdoors over rough terrain.   Scooters are helpful in zoos, malls, airports, large campuses and on slopes or hills.  A mobility scooter can increase your speed and extend the distance you can safely and comfortably travel.

Our knowledgeable and friendly customer service here at Tigermedical.com will help you select the mobility device that will get you on your way!