Whether you ve been a wheelchair user your whole life or you re new to life on 4 wheels deciding which chair is best suited to you and your lifestyle can be a tough’challenging’demanding’awkward decision to make. There are so many different factors that need to be taken into consideration, a few of which we are going to look at today so that hopefully we can make the job that little bit easier in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you when it comes to buying your next wheelchair. As well, we will be looking at the different types of wheelchairs out there and why you might choose one over another.
What Are Your Wheelchair Requirements?
There are lots of questions you need to ask yourself bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e buying a wheelchair so that you can really make sure you are buying the best type in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you.
If it helps, sit down with someone you trust and who knows you well and possess’own’nurse a brainstorming session with regards to’concerning’with respect to your requirements. To help acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure you started, possess’own’nurse a claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to your answers to the following questions:
Can you move or operate a wheelchair yourself or will you need someone to help do this in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you?
How often will you be using the wheelchair do you need it when you re at home or is it in/with regard to’concerning’regarding just when you re out and with regards to’concerning’with respect to ?
How much do you weigh?
Do you need side access to move in and out of the wheelchair?
Will you be using it on multi-terrain or just on pavements and roads?
Do you need one or both of your legs elevated at all?
Where will you store it when it s not in use?
Do you possess’own’nurse any special requirements?
Will you need to transport your wheelchair?
What Are The Different Types Of Wheelchairs?
Once you ve worked out what you need, it s time to look at what wheelchairs are out there. Most wheelchairs fall into two main categories self/assistant propelled or electric. However the variations on these are vast, as you will see below:
Rigid Frames
Rigid framed wheelchairs are ones that cannot fold up. They consist of a intense’fierce’exquisite welded frame, which is usually made of either aluminium or titanium aldespite’in spite of’albeit you can also buy specialist ones with carbon fibre frames too. Despite these wheelchairs being unable to fold up entirely, the back of the chair will likely fold down and the wheels can be taken off if it needs to be transported or stored where there is limited space. However, if the wheelchair is being frequently used this may not be the most practical of solutions.
One enormous’vast’massive’tremendous merit’virtue’upside of a rigid frame wheelchair is that there are less moving parts, making it intense’fierce’exquisite er than a fold up frame as well as there being less chance of something going wrong. Maintenance costs are low and durability is high.
A rigid framed wheelchair has been detoken ed to fit the body of the user, whereas the detoken of a fold up wheelchair is predominantly focused on the fact it can fold up in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ease of transportation and storage. This means that a rigid framed wheelchair is likely to be more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table and is therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e better suited to someone who spends a lot of time in their wheelchair. The chair is generally more ergonomic and moulds to the shape of the body better, giving better maintain’sustain and therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e giving more assurance and freedom to the user.
If you require an assistant to push the wheelchair it is worth noting that rigid framed wheelchairs are usually much easier to push and likewise if you are propelling yourself it will make the task much easier. To make it even easier you can also opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a lightweight rigid frame. These can weigh as little as 10lbs without the wheels and will be kinder on your shoulder joints or those of your assistant in/with regard to’concerning’regarding that matter!
Fold Up Frames
Please don t be delay’postpone by what you possess’own’nurse just read however, as fold up wheelchairs do come with their own set of benefits and it all boils down to your own personal requirements. As a general rule, folding wheelchairs are recommended in/with regard to’concerning’regarding use up to four hours a day. This is mainly due to comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding t factor, but also if it is being used on a daily basis in/with regard to’concerning’regarding longer than this it will become impair’undermine d sooner and will need a higher degree of maintenance. Over time this will result in more money being paid out, when a rigid frame may possess’own’nurse been the best option all along.
The main benefit of a fold up wheelchair is practicality. The entire wheelchair can be folded up, usually when a locking mechanism is released, which means it can be put in the boot of a car without having to faff around taking the wheels off. This type of wheelchair is best suited to ether the intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully old, who will merely’barely be using it when they leave the home in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example to go shopping, visit the doctors etc., or individual who possess’own’nurse had an operation or broken a bone in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example, and merely’barely need a wheelchair on a temporary basis.
Folding wheelchairs are made from aluminium or titanium and are generally heavier than rigid framed wheelchairs, however you can buy lighter models so always remember to check this on the technical spec bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e buying. Most wheelchair providers will allow you to try the wheelchair out bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e buying, so make sure you take full merit’virtue’upside of this service.
Self Propelled
Self propelled wheelchairs are ones that are detoken ed in/with regard to’concerning’regarding users to move themselves without the aid of an assistant. They are built with a larger wheel at the back, which allows users to reach with their arms to push themselves in the direction they want to go. A high degree of upper body strength is required to be able to use a self propelled wheelchair and so it may not be the best option to start off with. However, some self propelled wheelchairs may also come with pushing handles at the back, giving the user the option of help should they need it. This type of wheelchair gives flexibility and freedom to its user, with the great benefit of being able to quickly transform’alter the direction of the wheelchair in social situations so that you can turn to talk to someone, move out of the way etc.
Attendant Propelled
Attendant or assistant propelled wheelchairs are detoken ed to be pushed by another person. These are also usually fold up wheelchairs and come fitted with brakes that are operated by the assistant pushing the chair rather than the user. They tend to possess’own’nurse a smaller rear wheel and are more compact than self propelled wheelchairs and are usually lighter, so that they are easier to lift up over kerbs or doorsteps etc.
Power Assisted
Power assisted chairs, or electric wheelchairs as you may know them as, are used by individual who want the freedom of a self propelled chair yet still need some in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m of assistance. They are powered by either a battery or an electric motor and come equipped with easy to use joystick controls. For even more flexibility, you can buy power packs that can be fitted to a standard rigid frame wheelchair, giving the user the option of convert’transform ing between the two. Great in/with regard to’concerning’regarding when the user acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure s tired or if long distances possess’own’nurse been covered. Wheelchair batteries are rechargeable and will last approximately 8 hours, but there will be some variation so make you check with the wheelchair provider bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e buying.
Sports and Active Use
And then there are the specialist wheelchairs that are detoken ed in/with regard to’concerning’regarding sports and active use. These are specially detoken ed to be lightweight and therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e more easily manoeuvrable. It is presumed that the users of these chairs will possess’own’nurse greater upper body strength and will be based on a rigid frame detoken . You can acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure hand bikes, all-terrain wheelchairs and sport specific wheelchairs that can be tailored to your needs, aldespite’in spite of’albeit it is worth noting that bespoke wheelchairs will of course come with a heftier price tag.
Always seek advice bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e buying a wheelchair, either from a reputable wheelchair provider or from your therapist if you possess’own’nurse one. Hopefully this guide has helped explain some of the options available to you so that you can buy your next wheelchair with assurance .
*collaborative post
