Mobility Scooters After Injury + Surgery (Freedom While Healing)

Mobility scooters after injury and surgery are an excellent way to avoid post-operation blues.

They allow you to get outside, get fresh air, and think about something besides discomfort.

Mobility scooters weren’t a “thing” when I recovered from my spinal surgery at age 13. 

If I needed surgery or acquired an injury today, I’d likely use my mobility scooters to get around while I healed.

If you’re injured or have an upcoming surgery, you might wonder about the best feature choices when buying a mobility scooter.

In this article, you’ll learn about mobility scooter throttles, tillers (steering controls), brakes and seats, and how choices in these categories affect your comfort while riding.

Key takeaways:

• A throttle can be one-handed or ambidextrous (use either hand)
• A deck height determines how high a step you make to board your scooter
• The seat rotation feature can make it easier to get on and off the mobility scooter
• The brakes can be automatic (good) or manual (requires you to squeeze a lever)
• The seat can be big and cushioned or small and less comfortable; if you’re in pain, seat choices matter.
• Armrests can be padded and adjustable for your comfort
• Mobility aid storage gives you a proper place to put your oxygen, cane, or crutches.

Mobility Scooters After Injury + Surgery: What Are Your Options?

Are you recovering from an injury or surgery?

You’re not alone in feeling frustrated by limited mobility. It’s like being trapped in your own body. 

But here’s the thing: mobility scooters can be absolute game-changers during recovery. They’re not just convenient – they’re freedom on wheels.

Let’s break it down.

This is Not a Joke

Limited mobility after injury or surgery is no joke.

 Simple tasks become Herculean efforts.

 Are you walking to the mailbox? Forget it. 

Are you grabbing a snack from the kitchen? You might as well be climbing Everest. It’s exhausting, both physically and mentally.

Enter the mobility scooter. 

Suddenly, that impossible journey to the mailbox is a breeze. 

Kitchen raids are back on the menu. 

You’re moving, you’re doing, you’re living again.

But it goes deeper than just getting around.

 There’s a profound psychological impact when you regain your independence. 

Your mood lifts. Your outlook brightens.

 You’re not a patient anymore – you’re a person again.

Studies show that maintaining autonomy during recovery can significantly reduce depression and anxiety. 

It’s about more than where you can go and who you can be. 

With a mobility scooter, you’re still – active, engaged, and in control.

Surgery and Injury Safety

Using a mobility scooter post-injury or post-surgery has its considerations. 

You’ll need to:

1. Adjust your scooter’s speed settings to match your current condition

2. Be extra cautious on uneven terrain

3. Ensure your seating position doesn’t strain your surgical site or injury

But here’s the kicker: mobility scooters can reduce the risk of further injury. 

No more overexertion, no more falls from pushing yourself too hard. 

You’re mobile but protected.

The right mobility scooter can transform your recovery journey from a grueling slog to a manageable transition. It’s not just about getting from A to B – it’s about reclaiming your life, one ride at a time.

So, are mobility scooters worth it during recovery?

 If you value your independence, mental health, and safety, the answer is a resounding yes. 

They’re not just mobility aids – they’re independence enablers, mood boosters, and recovery accelerators all rolled into one.

Mobility Scooter Features for Post-Injury/Surgery Users

We need to match your injury or surgery issues with the mobility scooter options you can make.

Let’s explore what makes a mobility scooter truly recovery-friendly.

Throttle

The throttle options are:

1. Thumb lever: A small lever you push with your thumb. Great for those with limited hand strength or dexterity.
2. Twist grip: This grip is similar to a motorcycle throttle. You twist it to go. It’s ideal if you have good grip strength.
3. Wigwag: A see-saw style lever you can operate with either hand. Perfect for users with strength on only one side.

Brakes

There are two types of brakes:

1. Automatic brakes: You let go of the throttle to engage the automatic brakes. The cool thing about automatic brakes is that they are “on” by default.
2. Manual brakes: You squeeze a lever to control whether the manual brakes are on or off.

Tiller

The tiller is the steering column. You can choose its shape, height, and angle.

• Adjustable angle tillers allow you to bring the steering closer or push it further away.
• Adjustable height tillers allow you to raise or lower the steering apparatus.
• A delta tiller (also known as a wraparound) is a triangle with a large surface area for easy gripping.
• A T-bar tiller is a crossbar atop the vertical pole with much less surface area to grab.

Seat Options

The seat options affect your comfort (via cushions) and positioning.

• Seats can have no cushions or cushions with foam or gel.
• A reclining seat allows you to lean back.
• A height-adjustable seat can give you more or less legroom.
• A sliding seat can bring you closer or further away from the tiller.
• A rotating seat can make it easier to get on and off board.

Deck Height

The deck height refers to the distance from the ground to the floorboard. A lower deck height requires fewer steps to get on board.

Mobility Aid Storage

Some mobility scooters have storage options for mobility and health aids, such as canes, crutches, and oxygen tanks.

When you see “hitch” accessories, that refers to optional mobility aid attachments.

Which Body Parts Are Affected, and How Can the Mobility Scooter Options Help You?

One of the first things

 I realized how stiff I found the seat when riding my Pride and Golden mobility scooters. 

When my friend got on the first time, he said, “This could really use a cushion.”

And we’re not recovering from surgery or injuries.

That was just our 60-something-year-old butts seeking some comfort.

Your injury falls somewhere on the Pain to Lame scale.

If you are in pain, for example, don’t let the mobility scooter exacerbate your problems. 

Get a suspension package and a comfortable seat to cushion your ride.

Let’s break down where you need assistance and pair that with the mobility scooter feature that can help.

Foot, Ankle, Leg, Knee and Hip Injury/Surgery

Injury of the foot, ankle, leg, knee, or hip means you are experiencing some level of lameness walking and stepping up.

Your leg might be permanently extended in a cast or refuse to step up and onto the scooter.

Here are the features to look for when dealing with this type of injury

Low Deck Height

Look for a low ground-to-deck height for the smallest possible step up onto the mobility scooter.

This value is only sometimes stated in the specifications. 

In that case, look for a low “ground clearance,” which is the distance from the ground to the lowest part under the mobility scooter. 

It’s not the size of the step but a proxy for how high the deck is. Look for a ground-to-deck of 6 or fewer inches.

 If using the ground clearance, use a value of up to 3 inches.

Swivel Seat

A swivel seat will rotate toward you, so you don’t have to get on before sitting.

With a rotating seat, you can sit first, then rotate into a driving position.

If you have a lame foot or hip, this feature can mean the difference between a painful and painless scooter entry.

Deck Length

The longer the mobility scooter deck, the more room there is for your legs under most circumstances.

If you need to keep your leg straight out, a more extended mobility scooter will give you room to do that. 

Look at the mobility scooters for tall people, specializing in longer decks.

Fingers, Hand, Arm, or Shoulder Injury/Surgery

Loss of fingers, hands, arms, or shoulders can affect managing the throttle, squeezing the brake, and steering.

If you have lost the ability to use both hands, you won’t be able to use a mobility scooter successfully. 

In this case, if it were me, I would go to a local mobility scooter dealer and talk about power wheelchair options.

But for the loss of one hand, you have options.

Throttle

The easiest choice is the ambidextrous throttle, which lets you accelerate or reverse with either the left or right hand.

The wigwam throttle works this way. Usually, it’s set up so that you pull toward you with the right hand or push away from you with the left to move forward.

The opposite goes in reverse. You push with your right or pull with your left.

Yes, it gets confusing sometimes. But when you start going wrong, you correct your actions by doing the opposite.

Tiller

A delta wraparound tiller is the best choice for people with weakness in the fingers, hands, arms, or shoulders.

Technically, the delta is not the only type of wraparound tiller, but in the mobility scooter industry, these words mean the same thing: a delta is a wraparound.

This is preferable with hand issues because delta wraparounds have a large surface area.

You can control the steering by nudging anywhere along a big triangle, and honestly, you could do it with your feet if you were so positioned.

The alternative is a T-Bar tiller. 

This handlebar has the smallest surface area, just enough to host the throttle and a manual brake lever.

The delta tiller is usually wrapped in a soft neoprene that also helps you hold on to steer.

A third reason a delta is better is that it is closer to you as a rider. 

The T-Bar sits atop the tiller pole, while the delta enters the space between the seat and the rod. 

This means you have fewer extensions to reach the steering device.

Armrests

Armrests give you a place to put your lame fingers, hand, or arm while riding. 

They’re not always available, but when they are, they’re usually padded for comfort.

Many mobility scooters (especially those from Pride Mobility) have width-adjustable armrests. You can make them wider or narrower to the seat.

Once in a while, you’ll see height-adjustable armrests.

Another option is removing the armrests, which I suppose you might do if you wear a cast on your arm.

Pain of Any Kind, Plus Spine, Stomach, Head and Neck Injury/Surgery

I’m not a doctor or medical professional, so this advice is not. If it were me, I’d ask my doctor before considering a mobility scooter post spine, stomach, head, or neck injury or surgery.

I had a spinal fusion when I was a kid, and only the most comfortable and well-cushioned mobility scooter could have worked for me in the six months post-surgery.

The mobility scooter options I’d look at for these conditions are the seat belt, seat type, seat cushioning, seat reclining, seat rotation, seat sliding, armrests, suspension system, and tiller angle.

Seat Belt

A seat belt is optional on some mobility scooters. 

It can help you stay in place while riding.

Seat Type

A Captain’s seat is the most padded and the largest of the mobility scooter seat options.

It is designed for comfort.

Seat Cushions

Even if you don’t get a Captain’s seat, you can still get a cushioned seat, whether that comes with the scooter or you buy an aftermarket cushion. 

Anything you do to soften the ride will reduce the chances that the bumps on the road will transfer to you.

Seat Reclining

A reclining seat can add to your comfort, assuming this applies to your situation.

Seat Rotation

A swivel or rotating seat allows you to sit down first and then position yourself for driving. It reduces the need to put your legs between the seat and tiller before sitting or standing.

Seat Sliding

A sliding seat reduces or enlarges the space between the seat and the tiller, depending on how you slide it. Thus, you have less or more legroom.

Armrests

Armrests can give you a place to lean while riding. They are usually padded but are not always available.

Tiller Angle

An angle-adjustable tiller allows you to bring the steering apparatus closer to you or push it away for more legroom.

Suspension System

A suspension system puts coils above the wheels (and sometimes under the seat) to cushion the bumps and jolts of the road. If you are in any pain, this, combined with seat cushions, will make riding a pleasure instead of a pain.

Which Size and Type of Mobility Scooter Should You Get?

The choices of which size mobility scooter to get include small, medium, and large, which the industry refers to as:

• Compact
• Full-size
• Heavy-duty

You would choose a compact or full-size for indoor or indoor-outdoor use.

Most heavy-duty mobility scooters are outdoor-only because they’re too big to use indoors.

The compact and full-size mobility scooters can be portable as well.

If you want to put the mobility scooter in the car, you may want a take-apart (disassembly) portable mobility scooter. 

These break into smaller pieces so you can lift the pieces into the car.

Some folding mobility scooters are also light and small enough for car portability.

For cruise ships (when you’re not getting a handicapped room), look for a mobility scooter less than 24 inches wide.

For airplane portability, look for a compact or full-size mobility scooter with an “airline-approved” battery. This battery has 200 or fewer watt hours and will be marked “airline friendly” or not.

Top Surgery/Injury Mobility Scooters

Here are my favorite post-surgery or injury mobility scooters

1. EV Rider City Rider

The EV Rider City Rider was designed with injury recovery in mind.

It cushions the ride with huge air-filled tires, front and back suspension, and a pillow-filled Captain’s seat.

I don’t know the deck-to-ground height, but the ground clearance is only 2.5 inches, so it’s a small step from the ground to the deck.

The 46.4-in. length gives you room to stretch your legs and rest your feet in the wheel wells.

The 23.2 in. width makes it an indoor mobility scooter.

However, it’s not a portable mobility scooter. It doesn’t disassemble or fold, and the battery is not airline-friendly.

The seat adjusts in every possible direction, including by height, sliding back and forth, and rotating, to make it easy to get on and off.

The hitch accepts mobility aid options for your oxygen, crutches or cane.

The armrests are width-adjustable and padded.

The throttle is an ambidextrous wigwam, so you can use either hand to drive. The brakes are automatic, requiring no squeezing. Just let go of the throttle.

The delta wraparound tiller gives you plenty of soft neoprene to hold for steering.

Besides its lack of portability, the City Rider is a perfect recovery mobility scooter.

2. EV Rider Nomad

The EV Rider doesn’t have every possible accommodation, but it is uniquely portable and has a 20 lb. heaviest piece. This is the lightest “heaviest piece” of all disassembling mobility scooters I’ve studied. This means you can take apart the Nomad; the most you have to lift into the car trunk is 20 lb.

The EV Rider Nomad has four-wheel stability, can go as fast as four mph, and has a 7-10 mile range and a 260-lb. weight capacity.

The ground to deck is only 3 inches, making it an easy step to get on or off.

The seat rotates 360 degrees so you can sit down before entering the driving position.

It’s only a stadium seat, but it has a 2-inch cushion for comfort. The wheels have a full suspension package.

Unfortunately, the tires are solid, so you will want to go slowly over any bumps to keep the ride less rocky.

The padded armrests are adjustable. The wigwam throttle is ambidextrous, so you can accelerate with your right or left hand.

You don’t need to do anything to brake as the electromagnetic brakes are automatically engaged when you let go of the throttle.

The tiller is a T-Bar rather than a delta wraparound, so the surface area is smaller.

With only a 20-inch width, the Nomad is an indoor-outdoor mobility scooter.

Conclusion

A mobility scooter helps you avoid the mental fatigue of injury and surgery recovery.

If you get a mobility scooter with the right accommodations for your situation, you can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine—and mobility—that will help you move around and feel better faster.