How to find the perfect chair?

My name is Mark Babb, and I work for Electric Mobility, the leading supplier of Powered Wheelchairs, Mobility Scooters, Riser Recline, and Fireside Chairs.

As Head of Rascal glossy adverts and social media posts promoting Rehab, my job products, but I prefer to take a different approach in is to support finding the perfect chair for the individual. Rehab Dealers and The first step should be the clinical evaluation of customers to ensure everybody the patient. What are their individual goals? The chair gets the best out of these life- should always fit the person, not the other way round. changing products. Quality of life is always the most important

Mark Babb Having gained nearly 30 years’ factor. The best chair is the one that provides the experience working within the Rehabilitation sector, I greatest level of freedom and independence. am proud to have been instrumental in aligning rehab When the end goal is that important, it comes products within the mobility business, driving company ahead of any business needs. I have always prided growth, and developing products in line with ever- myself in being happy to recommend a competitor’s changing market demands. product if the company I am working for cannot

But, most importantly, by working with key provide a solution that’s the best fit for the stakeholders to develop and improve specialist rehab individual in question. products, we can improve the lives of the people who Users are increasingly keen to be able to enjoy use them. life outdoors, never more so than during the global

There is a wider choice of chairs available now pandemic. than ever before, which is great, but it can make the selection process daunting. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the reams of features and unique selling points promised by each chair, especially with

Optimus 2 RS Powerchair

rugged for active outdoor use

Depending on new design with smart memory, is a multi-functional chair the level of that can offer a wide variety of benefits: spinal cord injury, some patients can maintain an active life in a lightweight wheelchair, but challenges often occur when they need to go off-road. Even country park walks on fire road trails can become iChair Sky a problem. Stand-up multi-functional Disabled access ingenious new design has seen great improvements over the years but there will always be challenges, particularly on hills.

With this in mind, the Optimus 2 RS powerchair is ideal. It looks good, and its ability to cover terrain is much better than a standard chair. Standard chairs have previously been given different tyres and suspension for indoor and outdoor use, but the Optimus 2 RS takes this further with larger, balloon-style wider tyres that are perfect for country use. It matches this with a larger, more powerful motor, and batteries that can cover longer distances. It’s ideal for rough terrain due to its independent suspension and excellent climbing ability. All Meyra chairs can adapt to seating and positioning requirements thanks to electric backs and seat tilt.

I’ve been mountain biking in the great outdoors for over 30 years and it’s a joy to see chair users being able to explore the wilds thanks to these advances in technology. It brings me great pleasure to support Rehab Specialists with demo models that show what can be achieved in this area.

I came into the industry from a sporting background as an International Gymnast and British Champion, before training in Sports Injuries and working with Rehab Therapies. The experience I gained as a gymnast, with the biomechanics of performing in the sport to achieve success, relates closely to the seating, positioning, and ergonomics of a chair.

I further deepened this understanding during 25 years working for the two largest manufacturers, Invacare and Sunrise, including 10 years specialising in seating, positioning, and pressure care.

Today, with Electric Mobility, the UK’s exclusive supplier for Meyra, the highly reputable German manufacturer with 80 years’ industry expertise, I work closely with them to distribute state-of-the-art mobility aids that are individually responsive to the diversity of demands of the user.

I am delighted that recent developments have taken another huge leap into the future to help assist rehabilitation with the advancement of the multifunctional stand-up chairs. The iChair Sky, an ingenious

MEDICAL/THERAPEUTICAL BENEFITS

Improved circulatory activity Deeper respiration Pressure relief Better digestive passage Improved bladder function Reduced spasticity Prevention of contractures Reduction of bone mineral loss

FUNCTIONAL BENEFITS

Undertaking single and multiple tasks Carrying out daily routine Improved mobility Self-care; toileting, washing Dressing Housework/cooking Interpersonal interaction

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS

Community life Recreation and leisure Hobbies Socialising Human rights

ECONOMICAL BENEFITS

Potential cost savings by minimising pressure sores Pain control without costly drugs Cost savings of a kitchen modification The ability to work jobs requiring standing, e.g. dentist, surgeon

A stand-up powerchair gives us the ability to integrate standing training into daily life activities. For SCI patients facing a life in a chair, I believe these benefits go beyond the initial financial costs of a chair.

Electric Mobility and our partners succeed when we help our customers succeed. That starts with finding the right chair and continues with ongoing support, which is more important than ever with the advent of increasingly technologically advanced chairs.

We believe that buying a chair isn’t merely a transaction; it’s the beginning of a meaningful partnership between us, the specialist dealer, and the user.

Contact Electric Mobility | tel: 0800 252 614 web: www.electricmobility.co.uk