Active Wheelchair Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Active Wheelchair Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The active wheelchair market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period of 2022-2027.

The healthcare system has witnessed enormous challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All outpatient treatments were postponed or restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ​reduce the risk of viral transmission as most chronic pain therapies were regarded as non-urgent. There was a huge barrier for people with disabilities in accessing healthcare services and information. Also, they had a higher risk of suffering from depression because of the social distancing and associated isolation protocols, thereby having a profound impact on the market studied.

The active wheelchairs are utilized by physically active people to help in their day-to-day activities. These are highly beneficial than conventional wheelchairs in that they can be used even by people in sports. The ease of use and high technological growth that helps cater to the needs of the user are expected to support the growth of the market. Active wheelchairs also constitute a major portion of sports wheelchairs. The increase in awareness and the rising interest in disability sports are anticipated to drive the market.

As per the data from the World Bank, the number of people above the age of 65 was 723.18 million as of 2020. The rise in the geriatric population and the increasing government initiatives for the betterment of the geriatric population are expected to improve the growth of the market.

The IDF Diabetes Atlas Tenth edition by the International Diabetes Federation showed that around 537 million adults are affected by diabetes as of 2021. The number of cases is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and to 783 million by 2045. Diabetic people who have foot complaints related to neuropathy such as ulcers and poor circulation may be advised for amputation. Such patients are most likely to opt for assistive mobility technology, which is expected to drive the expansion of the market.

Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh leading cause of death by diseases in the world, as reported by the World Health Organization. The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s in United States in 2020 was 56 million, according to the 2020 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures report published by the Alzheimer’s Association. The number is projected to grow to 88 million by 2050. The rapid upsurge in the number of cases is anticipated to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Several initiatives by government organizations focusing on the availability and accessibility of wheelchairs to disabled persons help in the expansion of the active wheelchair market. For instance, in United Kingdom, the NHS provides wheelchair services to the disabled, and the organization holds responsibility for the service and maintenance of the wheelchairs. In middle-income countries such as India, the rate of selling wheelchairs is relatively low due to their high cost. In February 2022, the Indian government’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities created Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances to provide grants-in-aid for the distribution of motorized tricycles and wheelchairs. The growing initiatives established by governments are expected to propel the growth of the active wheelchair market.

Cerebral palsy is the major segment in the active wheelchair market. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, as of December 2020, approximately 1 to 4 per 1000 children are identified with cerebral palsy around the world. In United States, the number is relatively higher, with 3 per 1000 children being affected by cerebral palsy. It is the most common motor disability among children in United States. The huge patient pool and the rise in the necessity of active wheelchairs are expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The spinal cord injury also holds a major share of the active wheelchair market. According to the data by the National Health Portal of India of February 2020, around 250,000 to 500,000 people around the world suffer from spinal cord injury. In United States, the number of cases is 54 per million people in 2020, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. The increase in the number of spinal injury cases every year is predicted to propel the development of the market.

The rise in the number of government initiatives for the welfare of people using wheelchairs is propelling the market forward. For instance, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has a wheelchair program that looks for new innovative technologies to overcome barriers and promote improvement in the wheelchair sector. Professional groups such as the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) conduct structured professional training for wheelchair technologists, which is expected to have a positive impact on the active wheelchair market.

The rise in the adoption of highly advanced techniques and systems in the manufacturing of active wheelchairs and the technological advancements made in the wheelchair segment are expected to boost the growth of the market in the North American region. The high awareness among the population on the availability of novel active wheelchair models in the market contributes to the high market growth in the region.

Also, the increasing prevalence of the geriatric population in United States is expected to drive the demand for active wheelchairs in this region. According to the World Bank data, the number of people over the age of 65 was 54.796 million in United States in 2020. The US census shows that the number of people over the age of 65 in United States as of 2022 is 59.71 million. The rapid progression in the old age population in the region and their dependence on assistive mobility technology are expected to advance the expansion of the market in the North American region.

Government initiatives such as the ‘Home and Community-Based Physical Activity Interventions to Improve the Health of Wheelchair Users’ by the US National Institute of Health, ‘Improving the Health of People with Mobility Limitations and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities through State-based Public Health Programs’ by the CDC’s Disability and Health Promotion Branch, and similar programs focus on the fitness, function, and quality of life of the wheelchair users through improved physical activity.

Thus, the increasing awareness about the importance of active wheelchairs and increasing investments in the healthcare department are expected to propel the growth of the market in this region.

The active wheelchair market is fragmented and competitive and consists of several major players. In terms of market share, a few of the major players are currently dominating the market. Some of the companies currently dominating the market are Sunrise Medical, Mountain Trike, Numotion, Ki Mobility, Top End, Permobil, Karman Healthcare, Sportaid, Meyra GmbH, PER4MAX Medical, and others.

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