The development of stairlifts is remarkable, and the stairlift has become an increasingly common type of mobility aid. It is not surprising that it has become such a familiar term. Almost every individual will have heard of them at some stage, either as a medical phrase or by an age-old sales picture.
The evolution of stairlifts could be traced back to the earliest times of equipment to have a double use, from which we now take them for granted as purely medical products. This obviously helps us to understand that their most important use remains mobility help.
The first kind of stairlifts was straight stairlifts, comprising a car mounted to the ground and top up to a rearward-facing rail. There was no reclining mechanism, only three forwards wheels which were pushed forward or pulled back based upon the direction of movement. The design for direct stairlifts had clear drawbacks; if the stair elevator began to move both forwards wheels, the car would also reverse itself, making the seat completely stationary. A more modern and improved version of this design came into being with curved stairlifts, whose rails were straight stairlifts curved so that it could be reclined back, like a traditional chair.
When the public first saw these curved stairlifts, they were not utilized in homes but rather were used in hospitals as a method of transporting patients down or up stairs. The curve of the backbone required a wheelchair with a curved rail; this configuration allowed the person to readily scale the stairs without needing to place an excess set of hands on the handlebars. Since the medical condition and availability of the individual were the principal reasons for using this type of equipment, the new machines have been quickly adopted in many other programs as well.
Both curved and straight stairlifts are available today in a wide array of configuration. Some are powered by batteries, though some may be powered by motors alone. This is particularly beneficial in nursing homes where electric motors are simply able to supply adequate power for an upright platform or by using a battery-powered stairlifts, patients can easily and safely get stairs. The old principle of fitting a chair up to a stair rail nevertheless applies here; although this has become more of a luxury in certain luxury homes.
Many individuals prefer to be transported in a wheelchair or in a device like a board stretcher and the curved stairlifts provides a convenient means to move from a reclining position to the forward-facing spot. Patients can now traveling in a straight stairlift without much trouble, since it's a curved railing and is totally free from reclining mechanisms. In reality, a curved stairlift enables greater freedom of movement than a straight stairlifts, allowing the person to gain much greater freedom of movement while in the lift than using a straight stairlift.
Because of the advances in technology, in addition to the improvements in new inventions, you will find far more options available to wheelchair users. These new lifts have a variety of purposes, they supply comfort, accessibility and convenience to any user. They are great for those who have limited mobility or severe mobility disabilities.
For these and other reasons, this brand new invention in mobility equipment is becoming increasingly more popular. Producers are continually working on enhancements, new layouts and new strategies to produce stairlifts more user-friendly. These wheelchair chairs can be a real advantage in a home or in a health care setting, as they provide comfort, safety and mobility to those who want it most.