Market Trends of Active Wheelchair Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Active Wheelchair Market according to our research experts:
The Cerebral Palsy Segment is Expected to Hold a Major Market Share
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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the 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 the 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 the United States in 2020. The US census shows that the number of people over the age of 65 in the 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.
