Your First New Wheelchair – Factors To Consider

Purchasing a new wheelchair is similar to buying a new house or car. Buying a wheelchair sight unseen, or without proper consider, is not a wise decision. When selecting a new wheelchair, the handicapped individual or his/her caregiver has several issues to consider. Like a car, potential users need to decide which make and model will best serve his/her needs. So, before buying a new wheelchair, careful consideration of all the options is essential.

When purchasing a new wheelchair, the first decision is whether to purchase a manual or electric wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs are a necessity, if the user has limited/no use of his/her upper extremities. Electric wheelchairs can be equipped with joysticks for people with limited upper body movement and strength. For the quadriplegic, a mouth straw may enable the user to independently navigate the chair. Even for individuals capable of manually operating a wheelchair, the electric version is good for people who travel great distances during the day. For example, a disabled high school teach will be more capable of keeping up with students or traversing long hallways throughout the day. Also, electric wheelchairs can leave a hand free for shopping and doing chores more easily around the house.

However, in many cases, the manual wheelchair is preferable. The user is required to maintain good upper body strength to get from point A to point B. Also, manual wheelchairs are much lighter and easier to transport. Today, manual wheelchairs often collapse and fold, to fit in the trunk or enable the user to put in the vehicle, providing a greater level of independence.

The other main concern in buying a new wheelchair is proper fit. Just as people find ill-fitting clothes uncomfortable, and ill fitting wheelchair can become a miserable every day experience. For example, if the chair is too long in the seat, the users circulation can be cut off, causing the legs to hurt, become numb, or become swollen from lack of proper blood flow. Also, chairs that are too wide are harder to pump for the manual users. In addition, if the arm rests are too low/high, the disabled will put unnecessary pressure on his/her back. Finally, if the footrests are too short/long, the knees and feet may be injured. Since most wheelchair-bound persons spend the greater portion of every day sitting, a proper fit is essential for both comfort and medical reasons.

Finally, the style of chair is very important. For example, some chairs are designed for greater support of the upper body and extremities, while other chairs are made for speed and agility. For the disabled with good upper body strength and balance, racer wheelchairs with a lower back and inward tilting wheels is preferable. The chair is lighter, more flexible, and easier to transport in a standard vehicle. On the other hand, many individuals have little/no upper body strength accompanied by no sense of balance. Therefore, a standard wheelchair with a higher back, armrests, and basic wheel design is necessary.

So, before making an expensive purchase of a new wheelchair, make sure the wheelchair is adequate for your individual needs. Based on ability and lifestyle, decide whether to purchase a manual or electric wheelchair and the proper design. Finally, make sure the chair fits properly. A chair will quickly become very uncomfortable and has the potential to cause additional medical problems, if it is too small/big in any dimension. Find a chair made just for you.

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