Eden is a young woman in her twenties who graduated from college by taking courses remotely and is also a Paralympic swimmer. She was injured in 2020 and has a diagnosis of C5 ASIA A spinal cord injury. She functions at a C6 level. Eden prefers using a manual wheelchair, as it allows her easier transportation with friends and access to homes.
Eden rides in a QUICKIE Nitrum ultralight rigid wheelchair that was ordered with optimal seat width for a snug fit with the seat-to-back angle, seat slope, and center of gravity configured for optimal propulsion. She uses a JAY X2 cushion for pressure relief and a short JAY J3 deep contour back which was inverted during installation to optimize her lateral trunk support & posterior pelvic stability.
Even with an optimal setup, Eden had difficulty going up ramps and was terrified of going down a ramp because she thought she would pick up speed and lose control. Long distances could be tiring. This limited where Eden could go by herself. She only went to familiar places where she knew she would not encounter a difficult ramp, long distances, or cracked, uneven sidewalks. Even though a power wheelchair could provide more independence, Eden still preferred the Nitrum for ease in transport with friends, accessing homes, rolling up to tables, and reaching the floor.
Enter the Empulse M90!
The Empulse M90 is a wheel drive power assist device that was easily retrofitted onto Eden's Nitrum. The M90 offers two drive modes to match the rider's preferred way of moving: All-Way Toggle for power wheelchair-style control, or Speed Controller with Handrim Steering for a cruise control-like experience using the handrims. Eden has found that the All-Way Toggle mode works best for her and stated that this changed her life. "Now I can go out alone by myself!" This confidence gave Eden the impetus to apply to graduate school and go on campus. "I am going back to school by myself and can get up ramps. I can slow the chair down when I am going down hills." The M90 added the benefits of a power chair to her Nitrum, keeping the benefits of a manual chair.
One of the main reasons I chose the M90 for my power assist is that I like to free wheel and push my own chair, but I also need power assist for ramps and hills. So, this one I can do independently, which is perfect for my lifestyle. And because my hands are paralyzed, going downhill is literally terrifying all the time, and this has a feature that literally stops you on a hill, like braking itself. And also, if you drive down it, it kinda slows you down. Which makes me a lot safer and more comfortable going out by myself.
Eden recently completed driver's training and received her driver's license. The M90 helps her up the ramp of her van. For those who need to dismantle their chairs to drive, the M90 is 40% lighter than similar products. Each wheel, which includes the battery, is just 12.9 lbs. With no extra components or wires, mounting and dismounting the M90 is as easy as using a quick-release rear wheel.
Eden proves that the right setup combined with power assist can completely reshape what's possible. She now navigates ramps, hills, and long distances independently without giving up the benefits of her manual wheelchair. For clinicians, it's worth asking: which of your clients might be one Empulse M90 away from rediscovering their freedom?
With over 40 years of clinical practice as an OT, Jessica Presperin has worked in all sectors of the wheelchair and seating industry as a master clinician, supplier, manufacturing consultant, design representative, and educator. Dr. Presperin was a pioneer in the development of the profession of wheelchairs and seating in the 1980s and has spent the last two decades contributing to the research world to demonstrate evidence for knowledge translation in the clinic, advocacy, and product development. She is a RESNA and AOTA Fellow, serves on the Clinician Task Force, the Seating and Wheeled Mobility Committee for AOTA, and has shared her experiences internationally through publications and presentations.