Wheelchair with various steering options

A variety of steering options for an electric wheelchair are important for persons who use their head to drive and easily develop neck pain

User sits in wheelchair, all three control alternatives visible

User sits in wheelchair, all three control alternatives visible

The user drives a Permobil Chairman with DriveLink with MultiControl.
She has three different control alternatives:
1. Chin control with joystick: mounted on a stand attached to the backrest; the on/off button sits on the joystick holder.

2. Neck control: consists of 3 levers that sit behind, to the right, and to the left of the head; the user controls the wheelchair with head movements. She accelerates by pushing backward, with the other levers she steers to the right or left. The on/off button sits on a stand attached to the backrest.

3. Caretaker control: a joystick that sits behind the backrest, assistants can control the wheelchair.

Users comments
The joystick control is mainly used indoors, it is more accurate and works best in tight spaces. Neck control is mainly used outdoors. The user appreciates not having to have an object in front of her face.

Since the user develops neck pain when she controls the wheelchair it is important for her to be able to switch between the different control systems, which use different muscles.

When she tires an assistant can help her with the caretaker control option.

Made by
Permobil, permobil.com (last checked March 2020).

Paid for by
County Council

User with chin control

User with chin control

User with neck control

User with neck control

aretaker control mounted on the back of the wheelchair's backrest

Caretaker control

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Author: Nina

Nina bor i en lägenhet. Hon arbetar deltid. Hon skadade sig 1996 och har en hög tetraplegi (C4) och är i behov av ventilator. Hon har dubbel assistans dygnet runt.

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