INNOVATION IS
TRANSFORMING MOBILITY
. . . for those who roll instead of walk:

After years of new ideas in sports-oriented manual chairs like the racing machine at right . . . finally there's a big change coming in other kinds of chairs to make a profound difference in daily mobility:

 

Already on the market, but a bit expensive and not yet in widespread use, is the LEVO standing chair from Switzerland. It rolls like a manual rigid-frame everyday chair, then rises to the occasion to lift its user to eye-level for stable stand-up tasks through simple gas-assisted gears. While it won't do stairs or curbs like the battery-powered IBOT machine, the Levo raises the bar on full participation by persons with disabilities by a considerable measure.

 

SMOOTH MOVE . . . SHOCK ABSORBERS EASE THE BUMPS
Several wheelchair makers recently introduced revolutionary 'easy-riding' models
with new road-cushioning devices built in. The market has yet to determine which of these
has the preferred design. Other variations on the theme are sure to follow . . .

COLOURS by Permobil was first to the market with BOING, a spring- cushioned model that had the field all to itself for awhile. FROG LEGS came next, with a polymer shock absorber for front casters, available for any wheelchair.

INVACARE incorporated four independently activated polymer shocks on its new Action/ TopEnd model, the TERMINATOR SS -- Frog Legs for the two front casters, and a Quadra-Pivot ThudBuster for each of the rear wheels.

QUICKIE division of Sunrise Medical used a slightly different approach on its recently released XTR model. A centrally mounted 'mono-shock' device cushions both front and back wheels.