Selecting Manual Wheelchairs
Nov 8th, 2007 by emgra
Wheelchairs come in a bewildering number of types, sizes and models to provide the user with functions and benefits to suit just about any requirement you can imagine. While all these variations and options provide almost unlimited choice, it can be very confusing to the prospective user when deciding which chair to purchase.
There is no single wheelchair that can do everything you will want … so you have to prioritize your needs and select the model / type that meets your top requirements. If you can afford it, you may opt for having more than one chair! To help you decide, I will briefly the describe the features and benefits of the most popular / common types of manual and electric wheelchairs.
One of the factors effecting your decision ultimately comes down to personal choice. For example, if you would like to recline in your chair, then a wheelchair with an adjustable back may suit you best.
If you are the outdoors type who enjoys track or court activities a very light weight wheel chair or custom built sports chair might be your selection.
If weight carrying capacity is your main consideration, then a bariatric wheelchair could be your choice, as it is not unusual for them to have capacities of over 650 lbs.
For short periods, a foldable transport wheel chair is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, especially when a caregiver is available to assist the user. The main purpose of these chairs is (as the name implies) to transfer the user.
A good choice of self propelled wheelchair would be one of the standard weight models weighing about 40 lbs. Again, not suited to extended periods of use, but ideal for general mobility purposes. For more frequent use you could choose a lightweight model wheelchair that gives you lots of options to customize according to your needs.
The main feature of a so called travel chair is their suitability for use in a car or airplane. These manual wheel chairs suitable for travel need to be pushed by a carer and have quite a basic specification.
These are the available options… it’s now up to you to decide which manual wheelchair is best for your needs.