Sustaining a serious spinal injury can be overwhelming. For you or your loved one, this is a life-changing situation. To support your mobility, your primary healthcare professional will suggest a motorized wheelchair. An estimated 75 million people rely on a wheelchair for mobility each year. This is larger than the population of Canada.
As you begin to meet the needs of your prognosis, you may have questions that need addressing. This article will help untangle the confusion about power wheelchairs. This will help you find the best CRT power wheelchair on the market.
We will consider the following main topics:
- What Is CRT?
- The Power Wheelchair Market
- What Is a Group 2 Power Wheelchair?
- What Is a Group 3 Power Wheelchair?
- Improving Your Quality of Life
- Group 2 vs Group 3 Power Wheelchair
- Are All Group 3 Power Wheelchairs the Same?
- The Redman Power Chair
- Redman Power Chair and Your Pocketbook
What Is CRT?
CRT stands for a specialized complex rehab technology solution. When you receive a diagnosis that impairs your mobility you need solutions. A CRT rehab power wheelchair augments or replaces function while providing support surfaces. They can assist in building and maintaining muscle strength and elasticity and enable improved participation in everyday life.
Are all CRT power wheelchairs the same? No. Understand the difference between the two main CRT power wheelchair types. This will help determine which power wheelchair will best match your needs.
The Power Wheelchair Market
There are three main categories of power wheelchairs on the market: front-wheel control, rear-wheel control, and mid-wheel control. For an individual that needs the full support of a CRT power wheelchair, a medical professional will recommend a Group 2 or Group 3 power wheelchair.
Before reaching out to your insurance company about coverage for your power wheelchair, it is vital to understand the significant differences between the Group 2 and Group 3 power wheelchairs. Failure to understand the difference between these two types of power wheelchairs could result in substantial financial loss. The confusion could also mean that you end up with a power wheelchair that does not meet your needs, which could greatly impact your independence and affect your quality of life.
What Is a Group 2 Power Wheelchair?
Once your healthcare professional or physical therapist helps you determine that you do not need a Group 1 power wheelchair (scooter or POV), they will direct you to the other types of power wheelchairs available, beginning with a Group 2 chair. What is a Group 2 power wheelchair?
Compared to a Group 1 power wheelchair, the Group 2 power wheelchair has a longer battery life (seven miles without a charge), can drive at up to 3 mph (4.83 kph), and is equipped with 6-wheels which improves movability and stability.
Group 2 Power Wheelchair Users
Do you need a Group 2 power wheelchair? Group 2 power wheelchair users experience a variety of diagnoses. Some of those conditions include Arthritis, Peripheral Neuropathy, COPD, and CHF.
Before settling on a Group 2 power wheelchair, it is essential to determine if the prognosis is progressive. If your condition will advance over time, it is crucial that you purchase a Group 3 power wheelchair instead of a Group 2 power wheelchair even before your mobility decreases.
What Is a Group 3 Power Wheelchair?
The Group 3 power wheelchair is reserved for individuals who have received a diagnosis that will severely impair their quality of life and mobility. These diagnoses include disabilities or diseases such as: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS), spinal cord injuries resulting in quadriplegia or hemiplegia, stroke or CVA (cerebrovascular accident), late-stage Parkinson’s disease, late-stage Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy (CP), orMuscular Dystrophy.
A Group 3 power wheelchair is equipped with rehab seating, it can operate at speeds up to 4.5 mph, the battery lasts up to 12 hours without a charge, and it is available in front, rear, or mid-wheel drive options.
For your insurance company to recognize your power wheelchair as a Group 3 power wheelchair, it must have the ability to have some combination of tilt, stand, recline or lift functions. An insurance company will also require proof that you received a diagnosis like the ones listed above.
Improving Your Quality of Life
Choosing the best CRT power wheelchair is essential to the user’s quality of life. Your choice of CRT power wheelchair is tied directly to the user’s comfort, mobility, and ability to engage with the rest of the world. In addition to these areas, choosing the right CRT Group 3 power wheelchair can protect the user from health issues related to poor circulation; chronic pain; and much more!
Side-by-side, a Group 3 power wheelchair may appear comparable to a Group 2 CRT power wheelchair, but there are major differences. What are those differences?
Group 2 vs Group 3 Power Wheelchair
As stated before, there are significant differences between the Group 2 and Group 3 power wheelchairs. The first noticeable difference is the seating. The Group 2 power wheelchair is equipped with captain-style seating, while the Group 3 power wheelchair provides rehab seating, but the difference goes far deeper than what is visible. What are the other main differences between a Group 2 and Group 3 power wheelchair?
Speed & Battery Life
Speed & Battery LifeThe Group 2 power wheelchair can operate at 3 mph, which is the equivalent of walking speed. The Group 3 power wheelchair can move at up to speeds of 4.5 mph giving the user the ability to move at a brisker pace.
In addition, the battery life between the Group 2 and Group 3 is also different. The Group 2 power wheelchair can last for up to 7 miles. The Group 3 power wheelchair has a battery that can last up to 12 miles without recharging.
How does the Group 2 and Group 3 suspension and driving performance compare?
Suspension & Driving Performance
The Group 2 power wheelchair is designed for climbing obstacles up to about 1.5 feet and can handle up to 6 degrees of incline. A Group 3 power wheelchair can climb obstacles up to about 2 feet high and inclines up to 7.5 degrees.
A Group 2 wheelchair is appropriate to use for a basic sit-and-drive user. If the power wheelchair user requires more options and support, then the driving performance of the Group 3 power wheelchair allows for more freedom.
Clinical Benefits of the Group 3 Power Wheelchair
Before dismissing the differences between a Group 2 and Group 3 power wheelchair as marginal, there is another vital benefit to a Group 3 power wheelchair that should not be overlooked. The Group 3 power wheelchair is uniquely designed to achieve a broader range of positions. What does this mean for the user?
Many individuals who are dependent on wheelchairs experience a lifetime of painful, life-threatening conditions due to their confinement to a wheelchair. Some of those conditions include Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), circulation issues that can cause blood clots, painful muscle spasms, edema, bedsores, and much more. The ongoing suffering experienced by many wheelchair users is compounded by visits to hospitals where they are vulnerable to diseases and other germs—posing further risk to their health.
The Group 3 power wheelchair serves as a barrier between the power wheelchair user and these debilitating conditions. A Group 3 power wheelchair can help break the cycle of suffering.
Are All Group 3 Power Wheelchairs the Same?
Now that we have identified the difference between the Group 2 and the Group 3 power wheelchairs, there is one more important question to examine. Are all Group 3 power wheelchairs the same? The simple answer is no. In fact, there is only one Group 3 power wheelchair on the market that greatly improves the quality of life of its user. What makes the RedmanPower Chair stand out above the others? Let’s look at the features that set Redman’s Group 3 Power Chair apart from the pack.
The Redman Power Chair
The Redman Power Chair is in a class by itself. Unlike other Group 3 power wheelchairs, the RedmanChief 107-ZRx incorporates all three essential functions: tilt, stand and recline. This versatility dramatically improves the mobility of the user. It also represents significant health benefits.
The RedmanPower Chair compensates mechanically for body position, so armrests and positioning devices like lateral supports stay with you throughout the whole spectrum of movement. It is alsoknown for its superiority in the following areas.
- Bendability
- Flexibility
- Stretchability
- Dependability
- Driveability
The Redman Difference: Bendability
Whether you want to horizontally align your legs while doing a 45-degree backrest slant, or stretch your torso upward, stopping anywhere between sitting and standing, Redman gets you there. And no matter what position you choose, you can still travel safely.
The Redman Difference: Flexibility
The Redman Power Chair’s seat base height is a standard 18 inches (1.5 feet), making it easy to get under tables and desks. The armrests flip away so you can get closer to what you’re doing. Best of all, the footprint of our chair is only 23 inches wide and 39 inches long, maneuvering you in and out of tight squeezes with ease.
The Redman Difference: Stretchability
The RedmanPower Chair has the unique capability of allowing you to stretch your lower back and stretch your heel cords. No other power chair has these capabilities. The ability to stretch is a central piece to better health and pain management.
The Redman Difference: Dependability
For over 15 years, the Chief 107-ZRx has been RedmanPower Chair’s chief pride and joy. It is designed with the user in mind, and more than just a tool, it is an asset to the user in every way.
The Redman Difference: Driveability
Redman’s Chief 107-ZRx gravity compensation (“patent pending”) allows you to drive safely in any position!
Redman Power Chair and Your Pocketbook
With so many wonderful features, you may be wondering if you could afford a Redman Power Wheelchair? The answer is YES!
At Redman Power Chair, we have our own in-house insurance plan and financing options that take some of the stress and panic out of paying for your power wheelchair. Our Redman Insurance Specialists work directly with you and your doctor to confirm your diagnosis. Once that step is completed, our specialists work tirelessly to make sure that your needs are met.
We offer in-house financing, and we do not burden you with months of paperwork. We use one questionnaire to determine your eligibility. Once again, no other company can match our offer or our Group 3 Power Wheelchair. Still not convinced? Call today to set up a FREE demo.
