13 replies to this topic

[LeeinNCUSA]

I did some searching but didnt see a definitive post on this topic.

Basically, I wanted to start a thread to get other peoples perspectives on manual vs electric chair use, what you prefer & why, impact on your overall health, psychosocial experiences, etc

IMPORTANT - if your level of injury isnt in your sig, please list it, as this is one of the things I'm most interested in

My situation - I have been using a manual ONLY for the past 20 years, but cannot deny that an electric at TIMES would afford me so much more freedom, perhaps productivity.

example: today I am going to an outdoor museum with a girl I'm super sweet on:) What will probably happen is she'll push me up whatever hills are a major obstacle in favor of our being able to talk & mingle instead of me wearing myself out INCHING up the hills & breathing heavy. BUT I cant help but wonder if I'd enjoy the experience more transferring into an electric during those hours, feeling more independent, & being able to use ALL my energy focusing on her & our experiences during the day.

I worry about the physical benefits of rolling a manual & what will happen if I curtail use - in addition to my SCI I have damaged lungs from a near-drowning, & I've always felt the constant exercise of rolling provides cardio-pulmonary feedback, keeps blood pumping

But on the flip side, I am starting to have shoulder problems & know an electric would give them a break during those long rolling sessions.

So strange to reflect, in college (HUGE campus) I was MILITANT about staying in a manual & NEVER accepting help, SO much time & energy used simply to get from point A to B, I sometimes wonder if I could be further along professionally had I foregone that pride. OR might I have gotten sick from inactivity & never finished? It boggles the mind, doesnt it?

Has anyone here ever gone from manual only to occasional electric use? Did you notice changes? Did it affect your health? Were there positive benefits?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Lee

Edited by LeeinNCUSA, 12 April 2009 - 04:41 PM.

[wheelywendy]

hi i have both manual and electric, i use my manual most of the time as i feel that the manual chair is part of me, but in an electric chair i feel disabled if that makes sense? i tend to use electric for outdoors where i know i'll struggle (i hate being pushed) , such as for walking the dogs in the park and woods, bridlepaths etc, if i'm going by train somewhere for the day and i know i can get where i need to in my electric, then i use it and give myself a day off, finds this helps wrists, shoulders and elbows to have a break, if i'm going into town and needing to carry a lot i'll use electtic as its easier to carry things on, but if i'm going to supermarket etc i'll use my manual, to go ihn car i use manual as to load electric i have to put my towbar on then attatch trailer, cover and secure chair in trailer, then still lift my manual chair in the car. i find manual chairs better for visiting friends etc as you can move around more naturally, guess i'm trying to say very much depends on where your going, the weather (i find it bery hard work in my manual in heavy rain etc) and which is going to give you greater independance, ie on tracks etc the electric probably will,. but in town centres and crowded shops the manual prob will.
i guess its a bit like a woman chosing which shoes to wear for the day ie if shes going shopping then she can prob get away with fashionable stillettoes (wouldnt know never worn them!) but if shes going for a walk across the fields then maybe she'd be better off in some less fashionable flat shoes or boots!
thats the excuse i use when mum says why do you need more than one chair (i have a smaller electric i used for shopping etc and a more robust off road type for dog walking dog agility etc)
but like i say to her would you go shopping in your wellies! or walk the dog through muddy fields in your stilettoes?! she changes her shoes for diffrent occasions i change my wheels for same sort of reason. hope this makes sense and helps

[jaquie_farmer]

i must say i love the shoe example. i never thought of it that way. i also totally get the whole "feeling disabled" in an electric. thats why when i was able to use a manual (low bp prevented it for a while) ive never turned back. of course an electric would be nice every now and then, but i love the challenges.

[greybeard]

wheelywendy, on Apr 12 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

hi i have both manual and electric, i use my manual most of the time as i feel that the manual chair is part of me, but in an electric chair i feel disabled if that makes sense?

That's a pretty good argument for a scooter rather than a chair if you are able to get on one and can control it. The larger scooters can also handle rougher off-road stuff as well.

[araitn]

I use a manual chair exclusively. Don't have any plans of changing anytime soon.

I do see the benefits of also having an electric chair. If you are going to spend a large amount of time on hilly terrain, for example. My wife and I went to a zoo last summer and we didn't have as much fun as we should have, or did have before my injury. Either I was sweating and grumpy from pushing myself or she was sweating from pushing me up some of the hills. So, yeah, I think it would have been a more enjoyable time if I would've had an electric chair that day and there's probably a few trips or events that I've skipped out on, knowing that it would just be too much work.

Then there's the cost/benefit of an electric chair to consider. I've decided to spend my money on other disability equipment for now and think it will be a while before I "give in" to an electric chair.

[tmcph]

my main chair is a power one, i do use a manual chair but not as often. i've tried to use a manual as my primary but it wasn't working with my everyday activities, i don't have good enough control on hills to use it everyday. i grew up in the mountains & still spend a lot of time in them and a power chair allows me to get all around while up there. i also had your issue around a college campus, the power saved me there also, it allowed me to fit a full schedule in a tight time frame because i could get across campus quick enough to have classes back-to-back, with in 10 min. of each other instead of having a 45 min. break so that i could push myself, i even had a buddy in most classes that would bring his skateboard and be pulled by the chair not a bad ride behind a chair that does 9 mph. now i'm lucky enough to have 2 power chairs, so i have a nice comfortable one for everyday and a second that i can use to get muddy and thrash, i actually did 3 miles of this trail, Independance Trail, which is an awesome trail in anyone is going to be in the area.

you are right though, in a power chair your shoulders & lungs don't get the workout they would in a manual, to compensate for that i have purchased a hand cycle & ride about 5 miles, 5-6 days a week and it gives me a good workout, enough to be able to snow ski. like araitn said, there is a cost/benefit to think about cause they are ridiculous expensive

[Rotarymotion]

This is a very interesting subject.

I use a manual chair full-time indoors, and almost always outside, unless I go "walking" with my wife in the countryside when I use a three-wheel electric mobility scooter. I sometimes use the scooter if I'm going somewhere within a mile or so of home, to avoid have to use the car and lift the wheelchair in and out. Indeed, I keep a second chair in the car and leave my main chair in the garage which saves one "lift-in" and one "lift-out" per trip.
With callipers (braces in USA?) on both legs I can walk a few steps, which can be extremely useful at times and enables me to get on and off the scooter more easily.
When I travel by train, I use the manual chair because scooters aren't always accepted on UK trains, but that means I have to have a taxi at the far end as places I go never seem flat. If I had a powerchair I could save the hassle and expense of taxis but with the following drawbacks:

1. I would need a hoist in the car to load / unload the heavier electric chair
2. I perceive an electric chair as making me look much more disabled. Logic suggests this shouldn't matter, but it is an emotional thing for me, not a logical thing. However, I don't feel the scooter makes me look very disabled at all.

I find this difficult to explain, but thats the main reason I don't have a powerchair. As I'm used to working with electronics, I'd be happy to buy a cheap s/h powerchair if I didn't have these emotional hangups about them, so its not the cost that puts me off. Its feeling that I would look more disabled.

I would like to try the power-assist wheels, which I think would be close to the best of both worlds apart from the extra weight, but I can't see any s/h in my price range.

[Yasko]

I use manual wheelchair all the time. Never had the electric one, but recently I am into redesigning my Quickie XTR wheelchair to be combination of manual and electric on demand. In another word, I'll use the electric motor only when steep hills or streets are in front of me, and manual for every other occasion. I'll update you as soon as I (my friends) make them.

[ems]

Exclusively manual, I've only used an electric chair (unwillingly!!!!!), when I had an arm operation (and I only lasted a week!) .. and the time before that, I broke my wrist.. and obviously both those times, it wasnt a choice. Even if it did make my dog walking and general outdoor rambling life easier, I wouldnt use one, to me it would be like taking the car instead of going for a walk. Quite honestly, an electric chair would be a hinderence where we are for the countryside... you cant chuck an electric chair over styles, would'nt be able to use any of the kissing gates, and for the city, well most most the escalator only tube stations would be out of reach.

Most importantly for me, I enjoy making cookies, and eating them.. so to go for a few walks a day with my dog.. make me feel less guilty hehehehe

I hope to use a manual till I'm 103 ;) ( no-one quote the estimated time of death please!!)

[wheelywendy]

greybeard, on Apr 12 2009, 11:27 PM, said:

wheelywendy, on Apr 12 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

hi i have both manual and electric, i use my manual most of the time as i feel that the manual chair is part of me, but in an electric chair i feel disabled if that makes sense?

That's a pretty good argument for a scooter rather than a chair if you are able to get on one and can control it. The larger scooters can also handle rougher off-road stuff as well.

i agree with greybeard scooters are def better off road than chairs. because if the electric chair slides you lose your steering, plus they get stuck more, i'm desperately looking for a tga supersport or breeze 3 but out of my price range at moment, i test drove both on a very bumpy track and felt fairly secure and safe, easy to geton as you can turn the seat to get on then swing it back by pulling on the front , i find i need a raised foot support on scooters as my legs are too short and dangle making my balance unstable, but as long as a scooter is kitted out to suit you i think most will be ok. but check it out to make sure you feel supported and stable before buying one.

Edited by wheelywendy, 13 April 2009 - 05:15 PM.

[wheelywendy]

araitn, on Apr 12 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

I use a manual chair exclusively. Don't have any plans of changing anytime soon.

I do see the benefits of also having an electric chair. If you are going to spend a large amount of time on hilly terrain, for example. My wife and I went to a zoo last summer and we didn't have as much fun as we should have, or did have before my injury. Either I was sweating and grumpy from pushing myself or she was sweating from pushing me up some of the hills. So, yeah, I think it would have been a more enjoyable time if I would've had an electric chair that day and there's probably a few trips or events that I've skipped out on, knowing that it would just be too much work.

Then there's the cost/benefit of an electric chair to consider. I've decided to spend my money on other disability equipment for now and think it will be a while before I "give in" to an electric chair.

i agree electric chairs cost a lot just to stand about most of the time, just to be used occasionally but i was very lucky i got both mine off ebay (the off road one was only £50 and in almost new condition, the other only £60 and advertised as not working, but all it needed was a new battery so two almost new chairs for only £110!!)

[tmcph]

wheelywendy, on Apr 13 2009, 10:21 AM, said:

araitn, on Apr 12 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

I use a manual chair exclusively. Don't have any plans of changing anytime soon.

I do see the benefits of also having an electric chair. If you are going to spend a large amount of time on hilly terrain, for example. My wife and I went to a zoo last summer and we didn't have as much fun as we should have, or did have before my injury. Either I was sweating and grumpy from pushing myself or she was sweating from pushing me up some of the hills. So, yeah, I think it would have been a more enjoyable time if I would've had an electric chair that day and there's probably a few trips or events that I've skipped out on, knowing that it would just be too much work.

Then there's the cost/benefit of an electric chair to consider. I've decided to spend my money on other disability equipment for now and think it will be a while before I "give in" to an electric chair.

i agree electric chairs cost a lot just to stand about most of the time, just to be used occasionally but i was very lucky i got both mine off ebay (the off road one was only £50 and in almost new condition, the other only £60 and advertised as not working, but all it needed was a new battery so two almost new chairs for only £110!!)

what is that $150 something US? if they were in good shape and running that is a great deal. maybe in the uk chairs are priced better, i saw the bill for my newest chair and it was a little over $27,000, absolutely ridiculous but when you have to have it they can chargewhat they want, thank good for good insurance

[LeeinNCUSA]

Thanks everybody, very interesting so far, would love to hear from more!

Wendy - the shoe thing is just too cute:) Agree with Jaquie

And you all bring up a huge thing with me I didnt mention in my original post, guess I dont want to make electric users feel self conscious, after all they are a godsend when you really need them & cant go manual

BUT I DO feel more 'disabled' in an electric, perhaps that is stigma, but it makes the feeling no less real. At the end of the day, it should not matter, but I have to cop to it.

araitn - the zoo example totally speaks to me, I've felt that way on SO many vacations & local areas, felt like th chore of powering me through trails dominated the whole experience

tmcph - I hear you on the college thing, I busted my ASS in that manual between classes, always barely made it, often came flying through the door huffing heavy & sweating like mad, when I was late I think the prof didnt feel right saying anything:) Still, I wonder if I'd used the electric on campus, if I would've had more time to socialize & relax. Hindsights 20/20 I guess. When I did check with the docs/PTs, they told me I was right to cling to the manual for my health.

Oh, my favorite chair comment on campus (got this many times) - "why dont you get an electric & use it when you need it, then when you dont just turn it off & roll yourself" Its actually fascinating to me in a sociological kind of way, its as though our disabilities demand we problem solve & gives us awareness of physics that others dont really see. I had to give a lengthy explanation each time before they saw houw unfeasible it was.

scooters - I'd consider, BUT I am 6'8" & think balance/seating may be an issue.

[nomis]

Being a para I use a manual. Recently I traded in my car for a mobility scooter which I use for big shops cos it's got 2 baskets plus space by my feet. I can switch machines relatively simply but that is going to be a problem for some others, particular those higher levels who could benefit most from using two kinds of chairs...or maybe 3.

For a person wanting or needing to live independently there is also a potential problem with practical storage space. A second or third chair is only useful if it is easily available to use.