What are Shin Splints?
Written by webtechs

What Are Shin Splints?

What are Shin Splints?

The wording “shin splints” is in reference to pain alongside your shin bone (tibia) — the large bones in the front of your lower legs. Shin splints are typical in people that run or dance and enlisted personnel.

Medically referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints typically happen in athletes that have recently changed or intensified their training routines. The increased activity wears out the tendon’s, muscles, and bone tissue. A lot of cases of shin splints can receive treatment with rest, ice, and other self-help steps. Wearing correct footwear and adjusting your exercise routine can help hinder shin splints from happening again.

Symptoms of Shin Splints

When you have shin splints, you may feel soreness, inflammation, or pain along the inner sides of your shinbones and mild puffiness in your lower legs. In the beginning, the pain could stop when you stop your activity. At the end of the day, nevertheless, the pain can be continual and might develop into a hairline fracture or stress fracture.

Causes of Shin Splints

Shin splints are caused by continual stress on the shin bone and the ligaments that attach your muscles to the shin bone.

Risk factors

You are more at risk of shin splints if you:

  • run a lot, especially one starting a running program
  • abruptly increase the period, frequency or magnitude of exercise
  • run on irregular terrain, like hills, or hard surfaces, like sidewalks
  • are training for the military
  • have high arches or flat feet

Prevention

To help the hinderance of shin splints:

  • Examine your movements. A proper video examination of your running method can help to determine movement patterns that can lead to shin splints. In a lot of cases, a minimal modification in your running can help reduce your risk.
  • Try not to overdo it. Too much running or other high-impact activities performed for a long time at an excessive intensity can overwork your shins.
  • Find the right shoes. When you’re a runner, purchase new shoes about every three hundred to five hundred miles.
  • Think about purchasing arch supports. Arch supports can assist in preventing the pain of shin splints, particularly when you have flat arches.
  • Think about purchasing shock-absorbing insoles. They might decrease shin splint symptoms and prevent them from happening again.
  • Decrease the impact. Cross-train with an activity that places less impact on your shins, like swimming, walking, or cycling. Don’t forget to begin new activities slowly. Advance time and intensity progressively.
  • Integrate strength training into your workouts. Exercises to reinforce and steady your hips, legs, ankles, and core can help get your legs ready to handle high-impact activities.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City. More Articles About Senior Living

Written by webtechs

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders

The phrase movement disorders are in reference to a group of nervous system (neurological) ailments that cause one of two things increased movements or decreased or slowed movements. These movements can be involuntary or voluntary.

Movement Disorders

Common types of movement disorders can comprise of:

Ataxia. This movement disorder impacts the area of the brain that controls unified movement. Ataxia can cause uncoordinated or inept balance, limb or speech movements, and other signs. There are a lot of causes of ataxia, including degenerative and genetic disorders. Ataxia might also be caused by an infection or another remedial ailment.

Cervical dystonia. Through this ailment, the muscles in the neck contract randomly, causing the head to pull to the left or right or to tilt backward or forward. There might be trembling.

Chorea. Chorea is exhibited by repeated, inconsistent, brief, relatively rapid, unintentional movements. The movements usually involve the mouth, face, torso, and limbs. Chorea can appear like excessive fidgeting.

Dystonia. This ailment involves steady unintentional muscle contractions with winding, repeated movements. Dystonia may impact the whole body or a single part of the body.

Functional movement disorder. This ailment might mimic any of the movement disorders. Functional movement disorder isn’t because of a neurological disorder and is remediable.

Huntington’s disease. This is an inherited, progressive condition that can be confirmed via genetic testing. This disease has three aspects: uncontrollable movements, cognitive issues, and psychiatric disorders.

Multiple system atrophy. This uncommon neurological condition impacts many brain systems and progressively gets worse. This disorder causes a movement disorder, like parkinsonism or ataxia. It can also cause lower blood pressures, weaken bladder function and the playing out of dreams.

Myoclonus. This ailment causes incredibly-quick jerks of a muscle.

Parkinson’s disease. This steadily progressive disease causes tremors, stiffness of muscle, slow or decreased movement, or instability. It may also cause other indications not related to movement like decreased sense of smell, irregularity, playing out dreams and a decrease in cognition.

Parkinsonism. This disorder is a common term for slowness of movement along with stiffness, tremors, or bouts of vertigo. There are a lot of different causes. This disease and specific dopamine blocking medications are the most general causes. Other causes include degenerative ailments like multiple system atrophy and gradual supranuclear palsy. Repeated head trauma or stroke could also be the cause of parkinsonism.

Gradual supranuclear palsy. This is a unique neurological condition that causes issues with balance, walking, and eye motions. It occasionally might look like Parkinson’s disease but is a separate condition.

Restless legs syndrome. This movement ailment causes displeasing feelings in the legs when relaxing or lying down, usually alleviated by movement.

Tardive dyskinesia. This neurologic ailment is caused by long-term use of specific medications used for treating psychiatric conditions, known as neuroleptic medication. This condition causes repetitious and involuntary movements like grimacing, blinking of the eye and other movements.

Tourette syndrome. This is a neurologic ailment that begins between youth and the teenage years and is related with vocal sounding and repetitive movements.

Tremor. This condition is the cause of rhythmic shaking of areas of the body, like the hands, skull, or other body parts. The most typical type is essential tremor.

Wilson’s disease. This is an uncommon, inherited ailment that is the cause of extreme amounts of copper developing in the body, causing neurological issues, tremors, dystonia, ataxia, or parkinsonism.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.

What is Gout?
Written by webtechs

What is Gout?

What is Gout?

Gout is a general type of inflammatory arthritis that is extremely painful. It typically impacts one joint at a time (usually your big toe joint). Sometimes when symptoms worsen, called flares, and times when there aren’t any symptoms, called remission. Having gout more than once can result in gouty arthritis, a type of arthritis which gets increasingly worse. Gout has no cure, but you can effectively manage and treat the condition through medication and self-management approaches.

What Is the Cause of Gout?

Gout is the result of an ailment referred to as hyperuricemia. This occurs when there is an excess of uric acid in your body. Your body creates this acid as it breaks down purines, that are found in your body and the foods you consume. If there is an excess of uric acid in the body, uric acid crystals can form in joints, tissues, and fluids, inside the body. Hyperuricemia is not always the cause of gout. Individuals that have hyperuricemia but don’t have symptoms of gout don’t require medical treatments.

How Is It Diagnosed?

A healthcare provider determines gout by gauging your symptoms and the outcome of your physical exam, X-rays, and laboratory tests. Gout is only diagnosed within a flare when a joint is burning, inflamed, and painful and when a laboratory test pinpoints uric acid crystals in the impacted joint.

How Is It Treated?

Gout can be successfully treated and managed with medical treatments and self-management approaches. Your healthcare provider may suggest a medical treatment plan for

  • Managing the pain of a flare. Treatments for flares includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine. Injected or oral corticosteroids can also be utilized.
  • Preventing future flares. Make changes to your diet and lifestyle, like losing weight, restricting alcohol, staying away from foods that are high in purines (such as red meat or organ meat that can be the cause of gout flares), might help hinder future attacks. Modifying or stopping medications related to hyperuricemia (such as diuretics) might also help.
  • Preventing kidney stones and tophi. These stones happen because of frequently high levels of uric acid. Tophi are rigid, uric acid deposits underneath the skin. For people with chronic flares or frequent gout, doctors might suggest taking specific drugs such as febuxostat, allopurinol, and pegloticase. These drugs decrease uric acid levels and can impede future flares.

Together with medical treatment, you can control your gout with self-management approaches. Self-management approaches are things that you can do every day to control your ailment and stay healthy. The self-management approaches described below are proven to decrease pain and impairment in order to do the activities that are vital to you.

How Can I Control It and Improve My Quality of Life?

Gout impacts many facets of day-to-day living, including work and leisurely activities. Fortunately, there are many budget-friendly self-management approaches that are proven to improve the quality of life of individuals that have gout.

For Gout in Particular

  • Eat a diet that is healthy. Stay away from foods that might trigger a gout flare-up. These foods comprise of those high in purines (such as a diet rich in red meat, seafood, and organ meat)
  • Restrict alcohol intake, particularly hard liquor, and beer.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City. More Articles About Senior Living

Reaching Aids
Written by webtechs

What Are Reaching Aids?

Reaching Aids

Reaching aids provide a great service for individuals recovery from surgery and seniors alike. Let’s learn more about this product and all of its benefits below.

Reaching Aids

Reaching aids, also referred to as grabbers and reachers, feature long handles complete with a hand trigger at one end. The trigger comes with a grabber mechanism, which helps individuals with mobility issues to reach and pick up items without bending. These devices can prevent falls and injuries, either indoors or outdoors. Especially for the elderly, injuries can occur doing tasks as simple as picking up keys, letters and other lightweight household items.

Reaching aids are not a case of one size fits all, though. Most suppliers can customize your reacher for your specific needs. Reachers can come with two or four-finger triggers, magnets, different handle lengths and locking/rotating grabber heads. Additionally, reaching aids can be designed to be lightweight and easy to control, especially for seniors with weakened muscles.

These devices are typically recommended for anyone recovering from back, neck or shoulder surgery. An efficient yet low-cost reacher is the perfect solution for those recovering and seniors looking for safe solutions while living independently.

Benefits Of Reaching Aids

All of the following are advantages of purchasing a reaching aid:

Safety

Reaching into previously inaccessible places is now possible with the help of reaching aids. With these devices, you can officially eliminate the need to climb or retrieve items in high or low places. You will be able to avoid dangerous situations inside and outside the home. This is great news for seniors currently living independently!

Durability

Most reaching aid shafts are constructed of rust-proof lightweight aluminum. The internal wire is made from steel cable.

Convenience

This is one of the biggest reasons why this device is so popular. The reacher is exclusively designed to make your life more convenient. Now, you will be able to easily and efficiently pick up things that you would otherwise have to risk injury for.

Health

No matter if you are a senior citizen, pregnant or recovering from surgery, climbing or crawling may be impossible at this point. Instead choose a reaching aid to make your life easier.

Shop Mobility Center’s line of reaching aids right here!

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona Sells Reaching Aids

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.

More Articles About Senior Living

Written by webtechs

Does Medicare Pay For Wheelchair Ramps?

Does Medicare Pay for Wheelchair Ramps Medicare is usually the primary-place seniors look for assistance with medically necessary costs, but Original Medicare does not regularly pay for wheelchair ramps or other lasting equipment. Seniors that have limited resources are not without assistance, nevertheless, since there are programs that can help handle the expense of installing at-home wheelchair ramps. Mobility issues are very common among today’s seniors, that may need considerable modifications to remain safely in their homes. Seniors whose ability to walk is restricted, or that are required use mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers and/or canes, may have a challenging time going up and down stairs like they did in the past. Wheelchair ramps are typical home modifications that assist seniors in getting in and out more easily and promotes aging individuals in living fuller lives outside of their homes. The benefits of having a wheelchair ramp, or other safety and mobility enhancements like grab bars, installed are significant, so it’s worth investigating where you can acquire help in paying for a wheelchair ramp.

Medicare Coverage for Wheelchair Ramps

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for qualifying seniors aged sixty-five and over. It is divided into two major parts, generally called Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and Medicare Advantage, (Part C). Wheelchair ramps, like a lot of installed home improvements, are thought of as durable medical products by Medicare. Through Original Medicare, you can get compensated for ramp installation only when your doctor concurs that it is medically required. Whereas this might be possible for seniors that require a wheelchair, it can be a tall bar to clear for seniors that heart and/or respiratory issues, or that are still able to walk but with limited mobility. Medicare Advantage plans are granted by privatized insurance companies and differ significantly between providers and the states in which they operate. By law, all Medicare Advantage plans are required to provide the same coverage seniors could acquire from Original Medicare Parts A and B, but they are also opened to provide extra benefits. Many Part C plans do include home alterations, particularly wheelchair ramp installations, as a covered benefit. Talk with a plan agent in order to find out if your Medicare Advantage policy can assist you with having a wheelchair ramp installed at your home.

Other Options to Pay for Home Modifications

Apart from Medicare, seniors might have other choices to get assistance in paying for wheelchair ramps. Many seniors carry Medicare supplemental insurance, known as Medigap, that includes some home modification coverages, though conditions for reimbursement differ significantly among policies. Medicaid, in which is a shared federal-state insurance program for individuals with low income, may also assist with having a new wheelchair ramp installed. Since the alternative to enhanced home access is usually for seniors to move to assisted living facilities, many state-level assisted living waiver programs are happy to get repaid for some of the cost of having a wheelchair ramp installed, in which can help seniors stay safe and relaxed in their own homes.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in stairway lifts, mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.
Written by webtechs

Walking Aids For Seniors

As we age, the likelihood of falling and developing mobility issues will only increase. If you are searching for “walking aids for seniors“, Mobility Center of Arizona is here to help!

Types Of Walking Aids

The type of mobility aid needed is going to depend on the mobility problem or injury. The more general types of mobility aids comprise of:

1. Mobility Scooters

Comparable to wheelchairs, these scooters come with a seat set on the top of 3, 4, or 5 small wheels.

The user’s feet rest on footings, and there are handle-bars or a steering wheel to manage direction. They are usually powered by a battery.

These scooters are helpful for individuals that don’t have the upper-body stamina or agility for using a manual wheelchair. A lot of scooter users report a positive influence on their lives because of their choice of mobility aid.

Guidelines for using mobility scooters on side-walks and roadways differ by location. Training is typically available for those wishing to use a mobility scooter for their first time.

Benefits Of Mobility Scooters:

  • Make daily activities easer.
  • Ease of use.
  • Wide variety of models and features.
  • No license or registration required. 

2. Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can be used by those that shouldn’t be putting weight on their lower limbs or that are incapable of walking. They are more suitable than walkers for individuals with acute disabilities or when traveling over further distances is required.

Wheelchairs can be manually moved by the user, pushed by another individual, or powered electrically. Wheelchairs that can be moved by a user’s neural impulses was designed in 2016.

Benefits Of Wheelchairs:

  • Ease of use.
  • Increased independence.
  • Customizable.
  • Aid in social interactions.

Wheel Chairs Near Me

3. Canes

Canes are likewise to crutches in the way that they support body weight and aid in transmitting the load from the legs to the upper torso.

Nevertheless, they take less weight off of the lower body than crutches do, and place increased pressure on the wrists and hands.

Benefits Of Canes:

  • Good for your joints.
  • Improves mobility.
  • Upper body workout.
  • Ease of use.

4. Crutches

Crutches aid in transferring weight from the legs to the upper torso. They can be used separately or in pairs. Crutches aid in keeping individuals upright and can be used by people with short-term injuries or enduring disabilities.

Benefits Of Crutches:

  • Transfers weight from legs to upper body.
  • Can be used in pairs.
  • Helps for short-term or long-term issues.
  • Ease of use.

5. Walkers

Walkers, also called Zimmer frames, are comprised of a metal frame with 4 legs offering stability and reinforcement to the user. These very firm walking aids are used by 4 ½ percent of adults in the US over the age of 65.

Typical walkers come with 3-sided framework surrounding the user. Users raise the framework and place it further in front of them, as they step forward to come up to it, before doing the process over.

Many walkers come with wheels or glides on the base of it’s legs, meaning the user is able to slide the walker instead of raising it. This is particularly helpful for individuals with minimal arm strength.

Benefits Of Walkers:

  • Safer than alternatives.
  • Extra support.
  • Less stress on body.
  • Helps you stay active.

Rollator Walkers

Mobility Tips For Seniors

All bodies will go through a series of physiological changes as a natural part of aging. These changes can drastically impair your life and your mobility, of course. Here are a few tips to keep you as mobile as possible throughout the years:

Regular Exercise

Exercising is one of the best ways to maintain mobility and independence as you age. A recent study showed that regular exercise can undoubtedly improve mobility in seniors. The recommendation here is to enroll in an exercise program to help you meet your specific exercise goals. Even walking for 30 minutes per day has been proven beneficial for overall health.

Healthy Diet

Not maintaining a healthy diet and gaining weight can cause many mobility impairments, as expected. As you age, diet and nutrition becomes paramount. To maintain a healthy balanced diet, try to keep track of what you eat and cut back on junk foods.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.

More Articles About Senior Living

Best Walking Canes
Written by webtechs

Best Walking Canes

Best Walking Canes

Not all walking canes are made the same way.  If you’re searching for “canes for the elderly,” then this post is for you! Take a look at the best types of canes for the elderly on the market today.

The walking cane is the most favorable and broadly used support for individuals with limited mobility. Whether it is for a brief need or for support permanently, the cane is presently used by more than 5 million American citizens (about 70 percent of those individuals use a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, scooter, or walker).

When used properly, the right cane is able to improve balance and decrease the danger of falling by broadening the base of support and reduce the amount of weight spread over lower body joints such as individual’s hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

Whereas clearly the right cane could be a convenient and easy to use supporting apparatus for your elderly loved one, finding the best one could prove challenging because of the many options and types available.

What Kinds of Walking Canes Are Available?

There are many types of walking canes available for various uses, read below and find out which walking cane is best for you or your loved one.

Single-Point Canes

These walking canes have a single point of contact to the ground and is usually one of the most widely used kind of walking cane. These types of canes are available in a variety of designs and styles.

Multiple-Point Canes

Multiple-point canes usually have 3 or 4 points of contact to the ground. Quad and tri-pod style canes are able to stand on their own to offer more stability for individuals requiring a little extra assistance with balance.

Hemi-Walker Canes

Such walking canes are different from quad canes because their base is a lot larger. Many individuals transferring from a walker to a cane because of paralysis, frailty, or limited functionality of an arm, leg, or both consider these canes to be the ideal choice.

Folding Canes

These types of canes break down to easily be stored away and make a perfect choice for individuals that don’t require use their cane all the time. Folding canes are usually made of very light-weight materials and come with a strap or satchel for easy transport.

Seat Canes

These canes un-fold to offer a convenient place to reset when the individual needs to take a small break. Seat canes are usually made of durable material and sometimes weigh a little more than conventional single-point canes.

What Attributes Should You Look For In Walking Canes?

As you start to explore what kind of walking cane is ideal for you or a loved one, think about the primary functionality and various cane attributes listed below to help you make a decision. The ideal kind of handle and grip is going to offer the strength, comfort, and mobility required to carry out activities of day to day living.

Walking Cane Handle Designs

  • C-Cane
  • Off-set Handle
  • Function Grip
  • Fritz Handle

Besides the design of these handles, you should also think about the different materials available when it comes to grips. Foam Grips, Jell-Grips, and Orthopedic Grips have been designed for comfort and to decrease joint pain and exhaustion and might be available for your style of preferred cane.

Walking Cane Body Design

The cane’s design is vital for comfort and well-being. The ergonomically designed wood and aluminum canes provide you with the ideal support possible. Additionally, think about what attributes come on it’s body (for instance, a LED Light)

Cane Tips

Finding a cane tip that is non-slip (such as rubber) is going to provide extra stability and aid in preventing falls. Cans tips can be purchased separately if they wear out.

Height & Weight Capacity

The individual’s height and weight are important factors when choosing a cane. The cane should meet your hand to provide you with an upright position and support your weight dispersion without causing exhaustion in your back, arm, or wrist.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.

Written by webtechs

What Is a Rollator?

What Is a Rollator?

Mobility aids offer a wonderful service for those that need it. They enable individuals to somewhat maintain a level of independence. Walkers and rollators are 2 favorable mobility aids that can help immensely.

The Advantages of Mobility Aids

Mobility aids come in handy when an individual that has trouble getting around wishes to stay living at home.

Even for children that have difficulty walking, a walker, rollator, or wheelchair is able to give them the independence they want to go to school or hang out with their friends. Both of which are beneficial for development of their self-esteem.

What Is a Rollator?

A rollator is often known as a “wheeled walker.” They have a frame with 3 or 4 large wheels, handle bars, and a seat that is built-in.

When your circumstances require you to stop and rest a lot, a rollator might be a better decision for your situation. Whereas walkers don’t have a seat, rollators with a seat and a crossbar for back-support enables the user to stop to rest when required.

Rollators also have the ability to accessorize, you can buy things like baskets to for holding shopping bags.

Kinds of Rollators

There are Kinds of rollators that fulfill different requirements. Some of these attributes can be found together, in the same rollator. Think of the benefits and shop around until you find the one that suits your needs.

Like with a walker features, a lot of features available to rollators are not collectively exclusive. You may buy a rollator that comes with height modifiable handles, a height modifiable seat, and hand-brakes.

Height-Adjustable Rollators

A rollator may come with a seat and handlebars that can be adjusted to the user’s preference. Many of them come with a range to be sold as “adult” and “youth” models.

Handle Brakes

Un-like walkers, rollators have wheels on each of their legs, whether they are 4 wheeled or 3 wheeled rollators. Consequently, rollators come with handle brakes.

Standard Weight Rollator

The average weight of a rollator is around 15 pounds.

Some models are advertised as “light-weight.” These light-weight models may weigh around 11 lbs. A few pounds can make a huge difference for many people. The other factor to consider in regard to weight is “weight-capacity.” Conventional rollators are tested safe for individuals that weigh up to 250 lbs. There some models classed as “bariatric” but do not stop researching there. Some of these models are tested safe for individuals up to 350 lbs. whereas others are tested safe for individuals that weigh up to 500 lbs.

Be sure to take carefully look at its actual weight capacity. Additionally, don’t forget the higher its weight capacity, the more the rollator is going to weigh.

Folding Rollator

Likewise to walkers, rollators can have a feature that enables them to fold up for storage. When flat, they can fit easier into a vehicle, public transportation, or airplane.

Does a Rollator Cost More?

Rollators are typically more costly than walkers. You can anticipate in paying about $50 more for a rollator than walkers. Obviously, this is a generalization and its wise to discuss expense versus features with the salesperson and family members.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aidsscooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa and the entire Phoenix Metro area.

Written by webtechs

10 Common Mobility Scooter Problems

10 Common Mobility Scooter Problems

Mobility scooters are an extraordinary asset to those who wish to keep their independence and be social. Nevertheless, just like other technologies, they will take on their wear and tear over time. When you’re looking to troubleshoot common mobility scooter problems, keep reading and find out about the top 10 common problems.

Common Mobility Scooter Problems

1. Battery Issues

Your scooter’s battery will wear down-over time. When you’ve owned your mobility scooter for a couple of years, or sometimes run the battery all the way down whenever you use it, potentially it is going to show signs of degrading. This could lead to speed loss, how far you can go, and possibly a nonoperational mobility scooter.

2. Motor Issues

The motor in your mobility scooter is one of the most vital and technological complex part of the entire scooter. A good thing is the motor is also one of the most enduring parts of the scooter.

If find your scooter is “lurching” forward at random when using it, it could a sign that the motor is starting to fail. When this occurs, there are 2 options: have the motor replaced or replace the scooter (subject to the cost of repairs)

3. Flat/Worn Tires

After a while, the tread on your scooter’s tires is going to wear down, making them ineffectual. Similarly, the tires inner tubes may also degrade or be pierced. Worn/flat tires are going to make your mobility scooter ineffectual at best and outright risky at worst.

For individuals with severely restricted mobility, this is not an option. Tire replacements can easily be performed by mobility scooter technicians. You might also ask your local home and garden establishment if they could possibly install the tires for you because the process is likewise to that on lawnmowers!

4. Ignition Switch Failures

The ignition switches on mobility scooters are roughly the same as ones in a vehicle or riding lawnmower. They could turn oxidized over time because of exposure to the elements and stop working/moving. Not only that, but keys also tend to easily break, and if they break inside the switch, they leave behind a difficult to get out piece of key.

Removing a broken key could be easy with some pliers. Nevertheless, you may want to leave the broken piece in the ignition until you receive a replacement key. This way, you can use your pliers to turn the key and start your scooter while you wait for the replacement key.

5. Armrests/Upholstery

When you’ve had your scooter for a couple of years, or when you use it outside a lot of the time, you’ll find that the upholstery will begin to wear out. Typically, this is nothing to be concerned about, but over time, it is going to certainly decrease the comfort and the scooters safety. Armrests are typically the first upholstered piece to start to go because they get used more regular than the other parts of the scooter.

6. Fuses

Various parts of your scooter get wired through a fuse, in which hinders a possibly dangerous overload of electricity. When most of your scooter is working normal and one particular part isn’t, it might be a sign of a blown fuse.

7. Electrical Issues

Since scooters use electricity to run, they do not like moisture. When you have had your scooter out in the rain, it could damage its internal electronics. Riding your scooter on rough ground can also cause wires to loosen. When this occurs, you will find that either part or all your scooter is going to stop working.

8. Potentiometer

The Potentiometer is another on of the common mobility scooter problems directly associated to the scooters throttle control; it’s what lets the scooter know how fast or slow it needs to go. If you find your scooter suddenly getting slower when you didn’t let off the throttle, your potentiometer could be starting to fail.

9. Steering Incorrectly

Just like a vehicle that requires an alignment, your scooter can become misaligned and pull itself to its right or left. This could be caused by years of usage, or often riding on rough surfaces.

10. Unlocked Free-Wheel Lever

A lot of mobility scooters have a “free-wheel” lever that releases the scooters wheels from the drivetrain. Allowing you to use your scooter like a wheelchair when needed. If you unlock the free-wheel lever and don’t remember to unlock it, it might fool you into thinking your scooter is broke when its not!

Mobility Scooters In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aidsscooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa and the entire Phoenix Metro area.

Written by webtechs

Types Of Mobility Aids

Types of Mobility Aids

Mobility aids are devices designed to help individuals that have trouble moving around, enjoy more freedom and greater independence.

Usually, individuals that have disabilities or injuries, or older adults that are at a heightened risk of falling, decide to use mobility aids.

These devices offer several advantages to users, including greater independence, decreased pain, and increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

Types Of Mobility Aids

The type of mobility aid needed is going to depend on the mobility problem or injury. The more general types of mobility aids comprise of:

Mobility Scooters

Comparable to wheelchairs, these scooters come with a seat set on the top of 3, 4, or 5 small wheels.

The user’s feet rest on footings, and there are handle-bars or a steering wheel to manage direction. They are usually powered by a battery.

These scooters are helpful for individuals that don’t have the upper-body stamina or agility for using a manual wheelchair. A lot of scooter users report a positive influence on their lives because of their choice of mobility aid.

Guidelines for using mobility scooters on side-walks and roadways differ by location. Training is typically available for those wishing to use a mobility scooter for their first time.

Canes

Canes are likewise to crutches in the way that they support body weight and aid in transmitting the load from the legs to the upper torso.

Nevertheless, they take less weight off of the lower body than crutches do, and place increased pressure on the wrists and hands.

Crutches

Crutches aid in transferring weight from the legs to the upper torso. They can be used separately or in pairs. Crutches aid in keeping individuals upright and can be used by people with short-term injuries or enduring disabilities.

Walkers

Walkers, also called Zimmer frames, are comprised of a metal frame with 4 legs offering stability and reinforcement to the user. These very firm walking aids are used by 4 ½ percent of adults in the US over the age of 65.

Typical walkers come with 3-sided framework surrounding the user. Users raise the framework and place it further in front of them, as they step forward to come up to it, before doing the process over.

Many walkers come with wheels or glides on the base of it’s legs, meaning the user is able to slide the walker instead of raising it. This is particularly helpful for individuals with minimal arm strength.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can be used by those that shouldn’t be putting weight on their lower limbs or that are incapable of walking. They are more suitable than walkers for individuals with acute disabilities or when traveling over further distances is required.

Wheelchairs can be manually moved by the user, pushed by another individual, or powered electrically. Wheelchairs that can be moved by a user’s neural impulses was designed in 2016.

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are highly trained service animals used to escort those that are blind or partially sighted by helping their owner’s navigate obstructions.

With a guide dog or service animal it also has beneficial psychologic, physiologic, and social effects.

In the United States. and many other countries, guide dogs or service animals are required to legally be permitted access to any business where the general public is allowed (unless where health or safety risks are present).

Safety Modifications

Many home or office modifications could be made to aid in navigating a building or in other areas where there are variances in surface heights.

These comprise of:

  • Ramps –  Access ramps are particularly important as many individuals, including those with wheelchairs and mobility scooters, can’t manage stairs. Those that have walkers, canes, and crutches can also find that ramps offer easier access than traditional steps.
  • Stair Lifts –  This type of equipment is designed move individuals and wheelchairs up and down staircases, either through the flooring or along the staircase itself.
  • Hand Rails – Specialized handrails are fitted in a lot of restrooms and by entryways to offer support and stability to individuals that have mobility issues.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aidsscooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa and the entire Phoenix Metro area.