Mobility Scooters for Amputees (Comfort While Moving Faster)
Mobility scooters for amputees are not too different than those for other disabilities.
However, in the case of amputation, the scooter should accommodate balance, safety, and issues getting on and off.
Fortunately, there are good features to help you use the mobility scooter with relative ease.
The only exception I can think of is if both hands are involved.
If you are proficient with your feet, there’s a solution for you.
If not, your best bet is to visit a local mobility shop to discuss a power wheelchair.
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.
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 for Amputees: What Are Your Options?
You can be missing an arm and both legs and still be able to ride a mobility scooter.
That’s the whole point of these machines: to give movement back to people who have lost it.
In this article, I will identify the features that give you more or less control and safety.
For example, things like getting on the scooter can be made so much easier with a rotating seat.
I’ll show you the features to look for to help you use a mobility scooter.
Get Ready for Some Freedom
Just the relatively small disability of back pain from walking drove me indoors for months at a time.
It’s nothing compared to your struggle, but it gave me an idea of what it’s like to be shut in.
If using crutches or being unable to drive makes you crazy, you’re in for a treat.
Mobility scooters allow you to visit a world that’s been missing you.
When I got my first scooter, I immediately went to the beach.
I hadn’t been there in years.
It’s amazing what getting outside can do for your mental health.
An indoor mobility scooter will allow you to go from room to room.
An outdoor model will give you anywhere from 6 to 25 miles of freedom on a single charge.
So, if you’re interested in the profound psychological impact of independence, I’d like to show you the features that accommodate amputee rides.
Mobility Scooter Features for Amputee Users
Whether these features apply to your situation will, of course, depend on your specific condition.
These are the features that alter your experience as a rider
Throttle
The throttle options are:
- Thumb lever: A small lever you push with your thumb. Great for those with limited hand strength or dexterity.
- Twist grip: This grip is similar to a motorcycle throttle. You twist it to go. It’s ideal if you have good grip strength.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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 (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.
- A seat belt is often available as an option and can be lifesaving for some amputee users.
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?
Even if your health condition doesn’t affect your sitting position, you’re going to want to think about seat cushions.
I bought a very popular Go Go Elite Traveller. My husband and our two friends rode it. Two out of four of us said, “This needs a cushion.” (The other two were thinking it.)
We’re senior citizens and need extra comfort.
This might apply to you as well.
Let’s break down where you need assistance and pair that with the mobility scooter feature that can help.
Missing Leg
Those missing a leg will probably use crutches to approach the mobility scooter.
You’ll need a place to put your crutches once you start riding.
You might also find that you’d like the steering apparatus to be close to you so you don’t have to lean forward.
Here are the features to look for when dealing with a missing leg.
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.
In conjunction with a swivel seat, this makes it easier to get on and off the scooter.
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.
Next, you’ll want a secure spot for your crutches.
Mobility Aid Storage
Many mobility scooters have optional storage for mobility aids.
The most popular brand (Pride Mobility) has a “hitch” connector in the back.
You use this to slide in and secure the supporting arm for a mobility aid storage assembly.
You can usually find a cane, crutch, and oxygen holders that work this way.
When I took my friend with MS to the beach, we forgot to add the mobility aid to the scooter.
We used a bungee cord to strap the cane to the seat.
If you’re comfortable with a homemade option, you can do something like this.
Deck Length
If leaning forward causes you issues, you should reduce the distance between your seat and the tiller steering and controls.
One component of that equation is to reduce the deck length. A shorter deck pushes the seat and tiller closer, giving you a short distance to the controls.
Angle Adjustable Tiller
Another way to shorten the gap between you and the control is to get an angle-adjustable tiller.
This brings the controls closer to you by angling the tiller down toward your lap.
This allows you to keep your arms closer to the body and avoids needing to lean toward the controls.
Missing Arm or Hand
A missing hand will affect which features you choose if the hand that’s missing is the right one.
You won’t be affected by the throttle choice if the left side is the issue.
Some mobility scooters have right-hand throttle and sometimes right-hand brake controls.
Consider your feature choices if you’re dealing with a right-hand loss.
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.
Another option is to ask your mobility scooter dealer to order you a left-hand control.
This is often possible depending on the manufacturer and model you’ve chosen.
Tiller
Your choice is almost always between a delta wraparound or a T-Bar tiller.
If you are worried about stretching the good arm to reach the steering apparatus, the delta tiller makes more sense as it juts into the space between the seat and the tiller.
A T-bar tiller is smaller and has less surface area to grab. Therefore, it is more affected by a tug to one side that might occur with one-handed operation.
But some do very well with a T-Bar type, so this is optional.
This handlebar has the smallest surface area, just enough to host the throttle and a manual brake lever.
Armrests
I’m unsure if armrests apply to everyone with a missing arm or hand.
For those who will use it, it is possible to rest your arm while driving, and you might want to consider this option to prevent the driving arm from fatigue.
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.
Stability
If you have stability issues, such as standing upright in the seat, you might look for a mobility scooter with a seat belt.
Seat belts are usually optional when available and don’t come standard, so you have to look for them in the upgrades.
If the seatbelt works for your situation, you might find that it helps you remain upright on the side while riding.
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 Amputee Mobility Scooters
Here are my favorite choices for amputee mobility scooters.
1. Pride Revo
The Pride Mobility Revo 2 has four-wheel stability, a 5.2-mph top speed, a 400-lb. weight capacity, and a 17.8-mile driving range.
The 3.5 ground clearance indicates that the deck is low to the ground, making it easier to step on.
Of the features I explained above, the only criterion this scooter doesn’t meet is the short length. It’s 47 inches long, so you must angle the tiller to close the gap between you and the tiller and controls.
But it’s only 20.75 in. wide, so it’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It disassembles for portability by car, plane, or ship.
The Revo has electromagnetic automatic “stop” brakes. You do not need to do anything except let go of the throttle for the mobility scooter to come to a complete stop.
A hitch receiver accepts an optional cane or crutch holder, and this model has an optional seat belt.
It comes standard with width-adjustable armrests. The tiller angles toward you, as I mentioned.
The throttle is wigwam ambidextrous, and the tiller is a wraparound delta, so you can drive with either hand.
Options include a cup holder, lap belt, mirrors, baskets, and crutch or cane holders.
Are you ready to go outside for some fun or at least get around the house with less stress?
Conclusion
A mobility scooter is within reach of the amputee if you have one good arm or foot to drive.
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.
