Use Scooters for:

• Simple mobility problems
• Patient has strength to steer
• Used in open areas

Use Power Chairs for:

• Limited strength
• Need maneuverablity
• Diagnosis may progress

Often people who have a mobility impairment think of a scooter as the solution to their problem – and it may be. However, there are distinct clinical advantages to power chairs vs. scooters. A thorough understanding of your patients need is necessary to determine which is best.

Scooters are great for simple mobility needs. You can easily get around but they do require more strength. A scooter is controlled by a “tiller” (that’s the part you steer with). The tiller is large and requires some measure of strength to control. Unlike power chairs scooters are not typically programmable for speed control or tremor dampening. Finally, scooters require a greater turning radius. This can become problematic in confined areas, especially if the user lacks dexterity.

Power chairs on the other hand come with many features that scooters do not. They typically have six wheels on the ground for stability and a center wheel drive. The center wheel drive allows the chair to pivot on a dime. There is no tiller, just a joy stick that can be easily operated with a finger. The speed can be limited if necessary and the joystick can be programmed to ignore hand tremors. Chairs have much greater battery life as well.