Innovation is paramount at O4 Wheelchairs. Our aim is to make sitting and riding in a wheelchair a more pleasant experience and to increase the quality of life and vitality of the user. Daily contact with customers, suppliers and care professionals provides input that enables us to continue improving and innovating our wheelchairs. To find out what we can improve and which requirements wheelchair users have, we ask various questions such as:
- What is the best place to sit for you?
- How long can you sit up straight?
- How do you maintain your balance?
- When do you experience pain in the wheelchair?
- How much energy does it cost you riding in the wheelchair?
We use the input that we receive from these questions for further development of our wheelchairs.
Measuring is knowing
Assumptions can put you on the wrong track. That is why we attach great value to measuring. Measuring gives us hard facts that we can use for further development. There are many factors that can influence how you sit in your wheelchair. When being fitted for a wheelchair, it is important to identify factors such as reach, arm power, rolling resistance, muscle tension and seating pressure distribution.
Partners
It is also important to work with different agencies that conduct research on influences associated with wheelchairs. For this reason, O4 has already been working together for years with Research Center kfb at the Bielefeld University. Together with Professor Ralf Hörstmeier, expert in the field of rolling resistance, swivel resistance and energy consumption, we aim to significantly reduce the energy and power for the wheelchair. Based on his research, we can continue to optimise our wheelchairs.
In developing our products, we work together with expert users. Our products are extensively tested by test riders.
If you have any questions about our wheelchairs or would like to know more about our cooperation programmes, please contact us.