Tag Archives: health

Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

How can I keep fit on my mobility scooter?

Here at Quingo Scooters we’re always looking to share ways that you can improve your overall wellbeing, whilst helping you to keep active and get out and about. Today we wanted to share with you some gentle yet effective exercises you can do whilst on your mobility scooter.

We would always advise that you check with your GP before undertaking any form of exercise, however it’s important to remember that limited mobility may not mean that exercise isn’t for you. It’s also important that you don’t attempt any of these exercises whilst driving your mobility scooter – make sure the engine is turned off, the key is removed, and that you have enough room to do these exercises without coming into contact with anything around you.

By starting slowly and increasing your activity level little by little, you’ll soon start to feel the benefits!

quingo scooters

What exercises can I do on my mobility scooter?

Plenty! Here are some easy and gentle exercises for you to perform on your mobility scooter, from your head, right down to your toes:

Shoulder Roll: Gently roll your shoulders forward five times, then roll them backwards five times.

Neck Roll: This exercise improves circulation in your upper body. Gently drop your ear to your shoulder then roll your head around to the other shoulder. Repeat 10 times.

Rotate Your Feet: This simple ankle exercise will help reduce stiffness in your ankles after long journeys. Rotate your foot clockwise for 15 seconds, then anti-clockwise for another 15 seconds.

Write the Alphabet with Your Toes: This is an extremely effective exercise. Using your feet, point your toes and write out each letter of the alphabet. Do one foot at a time then repeat with the other. The different shapes this exercise forces you to make with your toes makes you stimulate ankle motion in every direction. This is a great way to get the blood flowing and to keep your feet warm.

Foot Pumps: This exercise will work really well with your adaptive footplates. Place your feet flat on the footplates. Keeping your heels on the footplates, point your toes up as far as you can. Then keep your toes on the footplates and raise your heels. Repeat five times.

Feeling good!

Just taking ten minutes out of your day to do some of these exercises can make a noticeable difference to your overall wellbeing, and make you feel better in yourself. These exercises can help towards improving blood circulation too, which will in turn help you to keep warm.

Share with Quingo!

Have you tried any of these exercises on your Quingo? We’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooters range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Maintenance, Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

Preparing for the Darker Evenings

Your Quingo can be a vital lifeline during the cold winter months but you do need to take a few precautions when using any vehicle at this time of year.

Following the end of British Summer Time and the clocks going back, the team here wanted to share some advice about keeping safe now the evenings are darker when out and about on your scooter.

One of the major considerations when out and about in the winter is low visibility. When the sun goes down at 3:30pm there’s precious little daylight, but there are a number of simple precautions you can take to make sure that you are safe and sound.

 

Clothing

With the dark nights drawing in, it’s essential to make sure that both you and your mobility scooter can be clearly seen. The simplest and most effective thing you can do is to make sure you are wearing high visibility items especially if you are riding your mobility scooter in the dark.

You can buy high visibility bibs like this one to put on the back of your scooter, however a high visibility vest put over the back of the scooter works just as well too.

Lights and maintenance

If you’re using your mobility scooter on the roads when it is dark, you should have some safety lights already on the front and rear of your scooter, the only Quingo model that doesn’t feature lights is the Air 2, as well as a set of indicators. But if not they are definitely worth investing in, as this ensures that you remain fully visible to other road users at all times.

It is also important to remember to check the bulbs and also clean the lights regularly to ensure that you can be seen.

Crossing Roads

If you need to cross a road, try and do so at a designated crossing if possible as these will be well lit and may feature traffic lights to make you even safer. If in doubt wait for any traffic to have come to a complete stop or clear at pedestrian crossings.

If a pedestrian crossing is not available make sure you have plenty of time to cross the road and that you have a clear exit point to mount the pavement on the other side, if possible pick an area without parked cars.

Keep in touch

It’s essential that you carry a mobile phone on you whilst out and about in case of emergencies. Hopefully you won’t need it, but you have it just in case you need to contact anyone.

Make someone aware

It’s equally important in the winter to make sure a loved one or someone else, such as a next door neighbour, is aware of the fact you are going out for a ride and where you are going.

Plan your route

Preparation is key to going anywhere in the darker evenings. It’s a good idea to consider altering your normal route or making journeys during daylight hours if possible.

Your safety when driving your Quingo is our main priority. That’s why we recommend all of these points to ensure you are fully prepared for the darker afternoons and evenings. If you have any questions please call customer services on 01582 430 900.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. For more information on the Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog.

Quingo are proud to work closely with Age UK and feature regularly in local press.

Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

You, winter weather conditions and your Quingo Scooter

As the end of the year draws ever closer and winter approaches, the team at Quingo Mobility Scooters share advice on how to prepare and cope with the worsening weather.

Protective Measures

The great thing about having a mobility scooter is it allows you to get out and about in the bad weather. It goes without saying, but the colder it gets the more layers you’ll need when out and about on your mobility scooter, particularly as you will be sitting still and more likely to feel the cold.  Lots of thinner layers and thermals are advised. Hoods on your outerwear or a hat are a very good idea, and a waterproof anorak or cagoule would probably be your best bet for the changeable and unpredictable weather. Waterproofs can also reduce any wind chill. Gloves and thick socks with waterproof boots will help protect those extremities that suffer so much from the cold and poor circulation.

Heated handle grips are an option for the Toura and Vitess models helping to keep your hands warm when going out on cold and frosty mornings.

To protect you and your Quingo there is the all-weather removable canopy. It has roll up doors and protection from the wind and rain when you need it. The canopy consists of a sturdy metal frame that is attached to the chassis of your scooter. There are two types of canopies – those for the Quingo Classic and Plus and those for the Quingo Toura and Vitess. See our earlier post where we discuss the Quingo all-weather removable canopy in more detail.

Route Planning

The safety a Quingo can bring on your journey is key, especially in potentially difficult weather, manoeuvrability and supreme stability are going to make your journey so much easier and give you much more confidence.

As the weather worsens, it’s essential to make sure the route you plan to take on your mobility scooter is safe and that a friend or relative knows where you are going along with your estimated time of arrival home or at your destination. It is also wise to take a mobile phone if possible in case of any difficulties.

No matter how stable your scooter is, when the ground is icy, it’s worth considering whether the route you plan to take has any steep inclines or other hazards. It might take a bit longer, but it’s safer to consider an alternative, flatter route.

The Quingo team always advise to put off any unnecessary journeys if particularly treacherous weather is forecast.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. For more information on the Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Quingo are proud to work closely with Age UK and feature regularly in local press.

 

Wellbeing

Exercises you can do on your Quingo

The Quingo team want to help you to improve your mobility and overall wellbeing whilst helping you to keep active and get out and about. With this in mind we want to highlight some gentle and effective exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo.*

Quingo scooters offer supreme comfort

As a Quingo scooter user, you’re already sitting in the best anatomical position which will help to prevent aches and pains from sitting down too long. If you also want to keep active while on your scooter here are some gentle exercises to help improve circulation and reduce stiffness.


Whilst the Quingo team would always advise that you check with your G.P. before undertaking any form of exercise, having limited mobility may not necessarily mean that exercise is not for you. It just means that you have to make sure you choose an exercise routine that’s right for your own level of mobility and fitness.

Start slowly and increase your activity level little by little. You’ll soon start to reap the benefits.

A few exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo

Here are a few quick and gentle exercises you can perform on your Quingo:

  • Write the Alphabet with Your Toes: This is an extremely effective exercise. Using your feet, point your toes and write out each letter of the alphabet. Do one foot at a time then repeat with the other. The different shapes this exercise forces you to make with your toes makes you stimulate ankle motion in every direction. This is a great way to get the blood flowing and to keep your feet warm.
  • Rotate Your Feet: This simple ankle exercise will help reduce stiffness in your ankles after long journeys. Rotate your foot clockwise for 15 seconds, then anti-clockwise for another 15 seconds.
  • Foot Pumps: This exercise will work really well with your adaptive footplates. Place your feet flat on the footplates. Keeping your heels on the footplates, point your toes up as far as you can. Then keep your toes on the footplates and raise your heels. Repeat five times.
  • Neck Roll: This exercise improves circulation in your upper body. Gently drop your ear to your shoulder then roll your head around to the other shoulder. Repeat 10 times.
  • Shoulder Roll: Gently roll your shoulders forward five times, then roll them backwards five times.

Stay Active

Staying active can help to reduce stiffness in muscles and can go a long way towards improving blood circulation, which will also help you to keep warm. Just a few minutes exercise a day can make a noticeable difference to your overall wellbeing.

*Please do not attempt any of these exercises whilst driving your Quingo. Make sure the engine is turned off, the key is removed, and that you have enough room to do the exercises without coming into contact with anything around you.