If you are a wheelchair user and are thinking about switching from a manual wheelchair into one of the electric wheelchairs available, you'll want to give some thought to what kind of chair you want. Use this article to help you determine your needs.

Electric wheelchairs generally come in two types: Some are shaped like traditional wheelchairs and have a battery pack and small motor mounted just below and to the back of the chair. These are called electric chairs or sometimes power chairs. The similarities are very clear: a larger pair of wheels in the back that are powered by the motor and a smaller pair of wheels up front, where your feet are.

The other kind of electric wheelchair looks almost like a cross between a mobility scooter and a wheelchair: it provides the same support and bracing that a wheelchair has but it looks sleek and has a special plastic housing for the motorized parts. The chairs on these "power base" models are sometimes referred to as "Captain's Chairs" because they don't look like a traditional wheelchair, but rather something that has just rolled off of the Starship Enterprise. These can have larger wheels either in the back or in the front and many come with 6 wheels (2 in the back and 4 in the front for curb climbing). These can be front wheel or rear wheel drive models.

Which one is better? If you are used to the manual wheelchair, it could be a big adjustment to switch to the second type - the "power base Captain's chair" model. And, if you are out wheeling around and your batteries die, you won't be able to move your wheel chair with your arms because the large wheels are in the front. As well, power base Captain's chair models are very tall... which is nice to get a great view, but could be a real change from the other model.

The more traditional chair might be more appropriate for you: sometimes you may want to use the electric power, controlled by a joystick, and other times you may want to use your arms to move the chair.

At the end of the day, you have to be happy with the chair you're in. Consider testing each one to see which one you prefer to get around in. Get the best one you can afford, and don't be afraid to consider leasing options, if necessary, than simply purchasing one outright. Often, if you purchase one outright, you end up settling on one that you can afford rather than one that is truly suitable for your needs. So a combination of trying out different models and leasing will help to ensure your ultimate satisfaction.