| Nowadays, wheelchairs can be cheap to | | | | as these will be incorporated into the |
| purchase and are widely available, so | | | | frame. It might not have arm rests or |
| choosing a wheelchair can be confusing. | | | | handles, as it won't need to be pushed. |
| Some people will have been prescribed a | | | | It is also likely to have customisable |
| specific sort of wheelchair by an | | | | front and rear wheels so that the user |
| Occupational Therapist whilst others | | | | has the most appropriate wheels and |
| might want a wheelchair for when an | | | | tyres for their needs. The wheels on |
| elderly relative comes to stay. | | | | some rigid wheelchairs can be pushed |
| Somebody using the wheelchair | | | | inwards so that they lean towards the |
| independently will require a self | | | | user to provide more responsiveness. |
| propelling (large wheels) model they | | | | The highly adjustable and customisable |
| push themselves. A self propelled, or | | | | nature of these wheelchairs means that |
| transit wheelchair (smaller wheels) will | | | | the user might only needs one wheelchair |
| be appropriate if the wheelchair will be | | | | for all activities - day to day living |
| pushed by an attendant. | | | | and sports. These lightweight chairs are |
| A folding wheelchair is a good choice | | | | easy to put in a car, and the wheelchair |
| for occasional use as they can easily be | | | | user can put their wheelchair in the car |
| dismantled, folded and transported by | | | | from the driver's seat. This means that |
| car. The rear wheels will usually come | | | | they don't have to rely on others, and |
| off, and the back might fold down to | | | | can maintain their independence. These |
| save space. These wheelchairs are ideal | | | | very lightweight wheelchairs are |
| for those going out for the day in the | | | | utilising a lot of technology and |
| car, or perhaps for someone who can't | | | | techniques from mountain bike |
| walk as far as they once could, but | | | | manufacturers. Indeed, some of these |
| maybe don't need to be in a wheelchair | | | | rigid wheelchairs resemble a mountain |
| all the time. A dedicated motor can be | | | | bike more than a traditional wheelchair, |
| purchased to turn the manual wheelchair | | | | and depending on the model and |
| into an attendant controlled powerchair | | | | specifications may only weigh 15-17lbs / |
| making hills much less of a problem. If | | | | 8Kg. |
| you are looking at a wheelchair for | | | | The efficiency of a wheelchair can be |
| occasional use, the lighter it is, the | | | | measured easily in a non-scientific way. |
| easier it will be to dismantle and put | | | | The user can simply see how far they |
| in a car boot. As a very rough guide, | | | | move in a given wheelchair, on a given |
| folding wheelchairs weigh around | | | | surface in just one push. Because of |
| 33-44lbs / 15-20Kg, which doesn't sound | | | | the number of joints, and weight of the |
| too heavy, but remember that somebody | | | | steel of aluminium, a folding wheelchair |
| will be pushing wheelchair, and perhaps | | | | loses a lot of energy, so a folding |
| getting it in and out of the car. | | | | wheelchair won't move as far as a rigid |
| Folding wheelchairs are available in | | | | wheelchair per push. A titanium sport |
| various sizes, but often do not offer | | | | wheelchair weighs roughly a third of the |
| the specialised features that a | | | | weight of a standard steel folding |
| prescribed wheelchair can offer. For | | | | wheelchair, and so will move much |
| others, the wheelchair will be used more | | | | further per push. This is an important |
| often, perhaps all day, at work, or | | | | consideration when choosing a |
| indoors, for example. For this sort of | | | | wheelchair. |
| wheelchair user, the comfort and | | | | The process of choosing a wheelchair can |
| manoeuvrability is likely to be much | | | | be complicated. The wheelchair |
| more important than how much the | | | | manufacturers make this easier by |
| wheelchair costs. These wheelchairs are | | | | providing a prescription form for some |
| less likely to be folding models, as the | | | | models. This is a step by step method of |
| performance and weight of the wheelchair | | | | choosing the right wheelchair, based on |
| is more important than whether it folds. | | | | the user's condition, daily activities |
| These rigid, self propelled wheelchairs | | | | and any other special requirements. |
| combine a lighter frame and wheels. | | | | Depending on the complexity of the |
| They might have a more specialised back, | | | | user's requirements, the wheelchair |
| seat cushion, foot rests and arm rests. | | | | manufacturer may offer the service of a |
| Wheelchair users who lead an active | | | | trained expert to help with the |
| lifestyle, which might include playing | | | | prescription. All sorts of situations |
| sports such as tennis and basketball as | | | | are considered from whether the user |
| well as driving and day to day living, | | | | needs to cross roads, to the size and |
| will require a different sort of wheel | | | | width of the front castors. |
| chair again. These users are likely to | | | | Whatever style of wheelchair you choose, |
| move away from a cumbersome folding | | | | a wheelchair cushion will be |
| wheelchair, to one that is very | | | | recommended; this improves posture, |
| lightweight, smaller and stronger than a | | | | comfort and can help to prevent pressure |
| traditional wheelchair. A sport | | | | sores. |
| wheelchair might even be constructed | | | | If you require assistance in choosing |
| from titanium which is stronger and | | | | your wheelchair, why not let an |
| lighter than aluminium. It probably | | | | experienced mobility dealer guide you |
| won't have traditional style foot rests, | | | | into making the right choice. |