Advances in electric-powered wheelchairs

Abstract

Electric-powered wheelchairs (EPW) provide the means for many individuals with disabilities to live their lives more independently and interact with people in society. While the average age of the population increases (due to the aging baby boom population and improvements in health care), demand for EPWs and the concomitant insurance expenditures have increased. Increasing demand has driven technical innovation in these devices, which has improved safety, maneuverability, and durability and has increased the range of individuals who can use the devices. In this article, we focus on four of the most important EPW innovations that have occurred in the past decade. © 2006 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.