How to Choose the Right Power-Assist Device for your Manual Wheelchair

How do I start?

Choosing a power-assist device can feel overwhelming at first but breaking the process into a few clear steps can make it much easier—and more empowering. Here’s how to get started:

1. Evaluate Your Environment
   Consider where you’ll be using the device most often. Will it be indoors, in urban areas, or over rugged or challenging terrain? Look for a model that matches your daily environment in terms of manoeuvrability, speed, range, and torque.
2. Consider Your Physical Strength and Skills
   Reflect on your upper body strength, hand function, and wheelchair skills. These factors will affect how you interact with the device. Choose one that suits your physical capabilities and offers manageable weight and portability.
3. Check Compatibility with Your Wheelchair
   Not every device fits every wheelchair. Confirm that the power-assist option you're considering is compatible with your current wheelchair model and frame to ensure safe and effective use.
4. Try Before You Decide
   Whenever possible, test out different devices. Hands-on experience is the best way to find out what feels natural and comfortable for your daily needs.
5. Consult a Professional
   A mobility specialist or clinician can help you make an informed choice by offering personalized guidance based on your lifestyle, clinical condition, and preferences.

Selecting the best power-assist device can greatly enhance your mobility, independence, and daily comfort. Here are some key considerations to help you make an informed decision:

Who will drive the power-assist device?

For user-controlled power assist, there are three categories of power-assist devices

• Push Devices: A unit is clamped onto the wheelchair frame (at the back) and "pushes" the manual wheelchair forward, like in the R90
• Wheel Add-Ons: normal wheels are replaced with powered wheels where motors are incorporated, providing forward propulsion, like in the M90 and the WheelDrive.
• Pull Devices: A front wheel assembly is attached to the front frame of the wheelchair and a motorized wheel provides the power. Handlebars allow the client to steer and control the speed. The EMPULSE Pull devices are the F35, F55, StreetJet and Attitude.

For caregiver-assisted propulsion, a powered wheel is attached to the wheelchair, generally to the rear, like the R20 and the R10. These devices are designed for users who are dependent on carers for mobility. They are controlled by an attendant-operated thumb throttle.

Caregiver-push devices can also play an important role in preserving the caregiver's health by reducing the physical strain of pushing the wheelchair and its user.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle Needs

Use Environment

Think about where you’ll use the device most frequently—indoors, outdoors, on flat or rough terrains, or for short or longer distances. Choose a device that aligns with your typical activities.

• For indoor use (shopping malls, houses, offices, etc.), it is important to consider the device’s maneuverability and control indoors:
  • Maneuverability is better when the device does not increase the overall wheelchair dimensions (footprint), like with the R90, the M90, and the WheelDrive.
    
    Pull devices increase wheelchair footprint, making it more difficult to maneuver indoors. Compact models like the F35 would be recommended.
  • Control Indoors Control in confined spaces is easier with wheel add-on models that offer power chair-style control—such as the M90 with the All-way toggle. With push devices like the R90 and the wheel add-ons steered with the handrims, the rider will need to pay attention and monitor speed in busier environments. Good wheelchair skills would be recommended.
    
    For pull devices, control is easy via the handlebar, but the increase in size may compromise maneuverability. Compact models like the F35 would be recommended for indoor use.
• For Urban environments (paved surfaces, sidewalks, curb cuts, etc.)
  • Push devices (R90) and wheel add-ons (M90 and WheelDrive) are good for urban environments, being best suited for harder ground and pavement. They could lose traction on soft surfaces like grass and dirt.
  • Pull devices (F35, F55, StreetJet & Attitude) are great for all outdoor activities; the models with smaller front wheel will enhance maneuverability and access to small spaces (like lifts)
• For Off-road & challenging terrains (uneven terrain, larger slopes etc.), pull devices like F55, StreetJet & Attitude are great for rugged terrains and slopes, as they can have substantial speed and torque. Models with larger wheels will cope better with uneven terrains and can travel longer distances.

Range and Battery life

• Consider how far you typically travel on a single outing. Opt for a power-assist device with a range that can support your routine without frequent recharging. Some models like the R90 and M90 have removable battery and offer a second battery optional to go even further.
• If you want to travel longer distances, pull devices tend to offer larger batteries with models like StreetJet and Attitude that can have up to 50 km range.

Consider your clinical needs

Do you have impaired Upper limb function or hand function?

If the upper limb strength or hand function is impaired, it is important to consider the device’s weight, and how it is controlled.

• Wheel add-ons with power chair-style control (like the M90 with All-way toggle) could work well for users with impaired upper limb or hand function. For wheel add-ons that are steered via the handrim such as the WheelDrive and the M90 in the speed controller with handrim drive mode—the user needs sufficient strength and hand function to steer and brake using the handrims.
• Push devices (R90) could work with impaired hand function, but they may be more challenging to control. For the R90, the rider must have appropriate wheelchair skills to steer and stop, as the device does not have electronic brakes.
• Pull devices are usually heavier and could be difficult to control with reduced upper limb or hand function or reduced trunk stability. Some models like StreetJet offer a Quad option that can help manage the device with impaired hand function.

Weight and Portability

If you have reduced upper limb strength or travel often, a lightweight and easily transportable device can make a big difference.

• Push devices (R90, R20 and R10) are the lightest and smallest. They are easy to manage and transport.
• Wheel add-ons can be easily transported as they do not add size to the wheelchair but could be heavy for users with less strength if they need to remove wheels. The M90 is the lightest in its class.
• Pull devices tend to be heavier and bulkier being more difficult to transport. F35 is the lightest and most compact pull device, and it would be the easiest to manage with reduced strength to transport.

In our range overview, you can sort by weight and transportation size to find the lightest and smallest models.

Consider how the device is controlled

 Choose one that feels intuitive and suits your physical abilities.

• Pull devices (F35, F55, StreetJet, Attitude) are controlled via the handlebar throttle. Speed and direction are easy to manage but the user should have enough strength, upper limb control, and hand function to handle the device and steer with the handlebar.
• Push devices for independent propulsion: In the R90, the speed is controlled with a wireless control box, and the chair is steered with the hand-rims. The user should have good wheelchair skills and be able to steer and stop the chair with the hand-rims.
• Push devices for assisted propulsion: The R10 and R20 are controlled by an attendant thumb throttle with an easy button on/off control for safe handling and easy operation.
• Wheel Add-ons: (M90, WheelDrive) In the M90, with just a push of a button, riders can switch between All-way toggle for power chair-style control, or Speed Controller with handrim Steering for push-button propulsion and steering via the handrims.
  The M90 with all-way toggle is a good option for users that lack endurance, strength or hand control and would benefit from fully controlling the wheelchair with the all-way toggle.
  In the WheelDrive, speed and direction are controlled with the handrims.
  For the M90 in the Speed Controller with handrim drive mode, and the WheelDrive, the user should have good wheelchair skills and enough hand function to both steer and stop the wheelchair with the handrims.

Check Wheelchair Compatibility

Ensure the power-assist device is compatible with your wheelchair model and size. Each type of power-assist device has its own way of attaching to the wheelchair and may not be compatible with certain wheelchair frames for safety reasons.

Always consult with a healthcare professional or mobility specialist for personalized advice.