Living with fibromyalgia can be challenging. It’s a condition that brings a range of symptoms, including widespread pain, fatigue, and, often, cognitive difficulties that can make daily life feel like a constant uphill battle. Everyday activities, from walking to standing for long periods, can become sources of intense discomfort, leaving you feeling exhausted and frustrated.
But here’s the good news: while fibromyalgia may limit physical activity in some ways, it doesn’t mean you have to stop living life to the fullest. Powered wheelchairs, or electric wheelchairs, can offer an invaluable solution to help you regain your independence, ease daily struggles, and improve your overall quality of life.
In this blog, we will talk about how powered wheelchairs can truly benefit people living with fibromyalgia, how to choose the right one for you, and some important features to look for when making your decision. We hope that by the end of this, you’ll feel empowered to make the best choice for your personal needs and experience a new sense of freedom and comfort.
Understanding Fibromyalgia and Its Impact on Mobility
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive issues. The pain can affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and it often gets worse with physical activity. For many people, even small physical tasks, like walking a few steps or standing for a short time, can bring on flare-ups, making it incredibly difficult to move around comfortably.
One of the most challenging aspects of fibromyalgia is the unpredictable nature of the symptoms. Some days may feel better than others, but overall, many individuals experience a constant level of discomfort, and the fatigue can feel overwhelming. When walking or standing becomes painful, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on life. This is where mobility aids, such as powered wheelchairs, come in.
Powered wheelchairs offer a way to move around with much less effort, helping reduce the physical strain and fatigue that often accompany fibromyalgia. Not only can they make it easier to get around, but they also support your physical and emotional well-being by giving you back some control over your day-to-day activities. Let’s look at the many ways these devices can help improve your life.
How Powered Wheelchairs Can Help with Fibromyalgia
1. Reducing Strain and Pain
It’s no secret that fibromyalgia often leads to widespread pain, which can make movement difficult. The pain from walking, standing, or exerting yourself physically can be unbearable at times, especially when you’re dealing with a flare-up. A powered wheelchair helps alleviate some of that strain by taking the physical effort of moving off your shoulders, so to speak.
Unlike manual wheelchairs, which require you to use your arms to push, a powered wheelchair allows you to move by simply using a joystick or other control. This means you can navigate spaces without putting extra strain on your muscles and joints. Whether it’s going down the street, around your home, or simply moving from one room to another, a powered wheelchair can make mobility feel a lot less taxing.
By reducing the strain on your body, you can prevent or reduce the risk of pain flaring up, which makes it easier to manage your condition day to day. If you’re someone who finds it painful to walk even short distances, a powered wheelchair can truly be a game-changer.
2. Helping to Maintain Independence
One of the toughest things about living with fibromyalgia can be the loss of independence. When pain and fatigue take over, even the smallest tasks become more challenging. This can often lead to a sense of reliance on others for help, whether it’s with daily chores or getting around.
The good news is that a powered wheelchair can help bring back that sense of independence. These wheelchairs are designed to be easy to operate, giving you the ability to move through your home, run errands, or attend appointments without needing to rely on others. With just a simple push of a button or a movement of the joystick, you can regain the ability to move around freely and do the things that are important to you.
When you’re not constantly asking for help, you’ll feel more in control and empowered. This regained independence can improve your self-esteem and give you a renewed sense of purpose. It’s not just about making life easier physically—it’s also about making you feel more capable and self-reliant.
3. Reducing Fatigue
Fatigue is another major symptom of fibromyalgia that often holds people back. The exhaustion that comes with fibromyalgia isn’t just being “tired”—it’s an overwhelming, persistent fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest. Using a powered wheelchair helps to conserve your energy throughout the day, allowing you to save your strength for other important activities.
If you’re already feeling drained from the constant pain and mental fog that fibromyalgia can bring, the last thing you need is to tire yourself out further by walking or standing for long periods. Powered wheelchairs take over the hard work of movement, which means you don’t have to waste precious energy just getting from point A to point B.
4. Increased Comfort and Posture Support
Fibromyalgia can also lead to poor posture, especially when pain or stiffness sets in. This can cause further discomfort, leading to a vicious cycle of pain and fatigue. Our powered wheelchairs are designed with comfort and support in mind. Many feature adjustable seating, lumbar support, and cushioning that can be tailored to your body’s needs.
These adjustable features can help ensure that you’re seated in a position that promotes good posture, reducing additional strain on your spine and joints. In addition, many powered wheelchairs are equipped with features such as reclining backs and footrests that can be adjusted for comfort. This can make sitting for longer periods far more comfortable, so you can enjoy your day without constantly adjusting your position or dealing with pain.
Choosing the Right Powered Wheelchair for Fibromyalgia
When considering a powered wheelchair, it’s important to think about your specific needs. No two people with fibromyalgia are the same, and the best wheelchair for you will depend on your daily routine, your level of mobility, and what feels most comfortable.
Key Features to Look for
- Adjustability: You’ll want a chair that offers plenty of options for customisation. Look for features such as adjustable armrests, footrests, backrests, and seat heights. Being able to adjust the chair to suit your body is essential for comfort, especially when dealing with pain or stiffness.
- Lightweight and Easy to Maneuver: A powered wheelchair should be easy to handle, whether you’re navigating through narrow spaces or transporting it in your car. Choose one that’s lightweight yet sturdy, and try to test it out in different environments to see how it moves in real life.
- Battery Life: Depending on how often you plan to use the wheelchair, battery life is an important factor to consider. A long-lasting battery is key for avoiding the inconvenience of frequent recharging. Ideally, the chair should be able to support several hours of use on a single charge.
- Comfortable Seating: If you spend a lot of time sitting, comfort is key. Look for a wheelchair with cushioned seating and good back support. Some powered wheelchairs also have memory foam or pressure-relief seating to prevent sores and discomfort.
- Suspension and Shock Absorption: If you plan to use your wheelchair outdoors or on uneven terrain, consider one with good suspension. A well-designed suspension system helps absorb bumps and shocks, which can make a big difference when dealing with fibromyalgia pain.
Our Recommended Powered Wheelchairs for Fibromyalgia
Go Chair
Small, Light and Portable. The Go Chair offers enhanced performance and comfort. Its smart 5-piece disassembly design ensures effortless travel, giving you the freedom and independence to go wherever life takes you with ease.
Dashi MG
Designed with a stylish, lightweight, foldable frame, the Dashi MG puts user experience first.
Weighing only 17kg and with a unique folding capability, this is the ultimate indoor folding powerchair.
Freedom DE08L
The DE08L features an innovative detachable frame that splits into two sections, with the heaviest part weighing just 15.5kg. Despite its lightweight design, it retains the durable sturdiness FreedomChairs is known for.
It delivers reliable performance on uneven surfaces like gravel, grass, and cobblestones, offering the perfect balance of portability, strength, and stability.
A Personal Approach
The best way to choose the right powered wheelchair is to take the time to test out different models and see what feels right for you. If possible, visit a store or clinic where you can try the chair before committing. Speak to your doctor or physiotherapist for advice tailored to your specific condition, and don’t hesitate to reach out to other fibromyalgia sufferers for their insights into what’s worked best for them.
How Able to Enable Can Help
At Able to Enable, we truly understand how important it is to find the right mobility solution for your needs, and we are here to help every step of the way. We offer personalised at-home demonstrations to experience different mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs in your own home. This lets you see how each option fits into your daily life, helping you make an informed decision.
Before we make any sale, we want to ensure you are 100% happy with your choice. We take the time to listen to your needs, answer any questions, and make sure you feel completely confident in how to use your new mobility aid. Our goal is to make sure you’re getting not just the right product but also the peace of mind that comes with knowing how to use it comfortably and safely.
We’re also proud to be accredited by the Motability Scheme, which allows anyone in receipt of a higher rate mobility allowance—such as the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment or the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance—to use their allowance to lease a car, scooter, powered wheelchair, or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. If you qualify, we’ll guide you through the process, making it as simple and stress-free as possible.
We’re here for you, and we’re committed to helping you live a more independent and fulfilling life.
