As a courtesy to customers who may have physical conditions that prevent them from walking long distances, many larger retail stores and supermarkets frequently offer electric scooters to help them shop with comfort and ease.

Electric scooters are available for use at home, too. Unlike manual wheelchairs which require a lot of upper body strength and stamina, an electric scooter allows users who have the manual dexterity, upright posture, and enough strength in the arms and shoulders to operate the steering mechanism. The swiveling seats allow the person to simply turn to the side and put his or her feet on the ground to stand up and take a few steps, unlike the fuss involved with moving the foot rests on a wheelchair.

Rehabmart proudly carries superior quality scooters from the Zip’r Mobility Solutions Corporation. Each of the scooters are covered by a three-year limited warranty for the frame and a one-year warranty for the drive train, as well as one year on the electronics and six months on the batteries. These exceptionally crafted scooters come in a choice of red or blue and can be easily taken apart for transport in cars, or on trains and planes. Comfortable seats come with foam padding covered in attractive black material that wipes clean with a gentle spray cleaner and a soft cloth. All models feature an 'intelligent braking system'.

The Zip’r Roo is lightweight with a 250 pound load capacity, making it a good choice for smaller users. It can travel up to 10 miles at 3.5 MPH in both forward and reverse on its flat-free, non marking tires featuring aluminum wheels along with its rear-wheel drive. The entire unit only weighs 90.2 pounds, including batteries, and is 41 inches long. It comes in a choice of three- or four-wheeled models and comes standard with a handy basket for transporting various items.

With its tight, 20-inch turning radius, six flat-free tires, and a motor with 320-watt output coupled with front-wheel drive, the Zip’r PC Mobility Scooter is able to zip along at 4 MPH and can operate for up to 15 hours per charge. The PC weighs 160 pounds with batteries and is 40 inches long by 24 inches wide, comfortably supporting riders up to 300 pounds. A foldable mid-back seat provides a smooth and comfy ride for users and makes transporting this scooter in a car trunk a breeze. The user steers the PC with a joystick mounted on one of the arm rests, making it a good choice for someone with limited upper body strength.

Like its sister model the PC, the Zip’r Mantis Mobility Scooter uses an armrest-mounted joystick for steering and control, has six flat-free tires, and can support up to 300 pounds. The unit weighs 189 pounds with batteries and is 42 inches long by 26 inches wide with a 22 inch turning radius. Its 24 volt motor allows it to run for up to 15 miles per charge and it can reach speeds of 5 MPH with the help of its mid-wheel drive. For enhanced comfort and convenience, a seat elevator may be added to the captain’s chair.

Whether users choose the three- or four-wheel model of the Zip’r Breeze Mobility Scooter, they are in for a luxurious ride in the generously padded seat with gray wipe-to-clean upholstery. It’s tricked out with turn signals and a 24 volt headlight to increase visibility while the standard basket holds purchases and personal items. Each charge allows it to operate for 20 miles at 4.5 MPH. The Breeze is 41 inches long by 23.3 inches wide, highlights a turning radius of 31 inches, and offers a generous weight capacity of 300 pounds.

Scooters are a good choice for people living with neuromuscular conditions such as MS or stroke recovery; musculoskeletal conditions; conditions that impact a person’s stamina such as cardiopulmonary disease and obesity; or decreased strength due to aging or recovery from illness. They are ideal for use around the house as well as helping to get an individual back out into the world to enjoy activities such as shopping, travel, and events in the company of friends and family.

Fran Jablway,
Senior Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO