Power Wheelchair Seating

There are several systems which are categorized as power seating systems. Each have specific benefits for the user both physically and environmentally and I've provided a brief description of each.

Power tilt wheelchair Power tilt wheelchair are probably the most popular of the power seat systems available and are the best defense against pressure sores for people who can't shift their body weight.. A power tilt seat frame will tilt the user backward without changing the hip angle. The biggest benefit of tilting wheelchairs is they change the pressure points on the body depending on the amount of tilt used. The biggest benefit of power tilt wheelchair is the wheelchair user can operate the tilt feature themselves. Normally the tilt function is operated through the joystick or other drive control however some people aren't able to access their drive controls when tilted, For these people switches can be mounted on the chair to operate the tilt. Usually these switches are mounted on the headrest but they can also mounted for activation by the knee, foot, elbow or other part of the body. A little bit of tilt can be used without affecting the driving of the wheelchair but for safety, once a preset amount of tilt is reached a lockout device prevents the chair from moving.  Pictured is an Invacare TDX mid wheel drive wheelchair but, power tilt can also be mounted on other models and configurations.
Power recline wheelchair Power recline wheelchair seats open the hip angle when operated. Recline is often used for resting but some people find it an advantage when catheters are changed. Power recline is usually prescribed in addition to power tilt to give the user even more options for change of positioning and pressure points. When adding power recline to any  wheelchair there are other devices which must also be considered. People who have power recline also require some sort of anti shear mechanism for their back. When using the recline feature the user's back will actually slide on the back support which can lead to pressure sores. This sliding action will also be a problem if the back support has lateral supports or is contoured to fit the user. An anti shear device causes the back support to remain in contact with the user's back while sliding on the back canes preventing these problems. Any time recline is added to a chair, elevating legrests should be considered as well. When reclined, the user's buttocks try to slide forward which puts pressure on the skin causing pressure sores, but elevating the legs will relieve this pressure. Conventional elevating legrests will be sufficient to solve this problem but can't be operated by the wheelchair user so power legrests are recommended. As with power tilt, chairs equipped with power recline have a drive lockout system that prevents the user from driving when in a relined position.
Power elevating wheelchair seat systems Power elevating wheelchair seat systems have no therapeutic value that I know of, but can greatly enhance the user's ability to interact with their environment. Operated through the drive control, or some other switch, the user has the ability to adjust their height as needed. Where the power tilt and power recline systems have drive lockouts to prevent unsafe driving, power elevating seats will still drive while elevated but at a reduced speed. Power elevating seats are available as options on most configurations of power base wheelchairs.
Power stand up wheelchairs Power stand up wheelchairs provide the same or better access to the user's environment than wheelchairs with power elevating seats but the stand up feature does have some therapeutic value. Standing, for a wheelchair user, has a beneficial effect on the bones and muscles of the legs, the user's circulation, bladder function, digestion and respiration that can't be achieved in any other way. Like the wheelchair with a power elevating seat, chairs with a power standup feature will only drive at a reduced speed while the user is standing. The standup feature is available on both a rear wheel drive and mid wheel drive configuration. Pictured is the Levo Comfort II which is distributed in Canada by Advanced Healthcare

Features unique to power wheelchairs

• Drive Controls
• Power Wheelchair Frame Styles
• Power Tilt & Recline Seating
• Power Options