About Wheelchairs

People have been improving on ways to get around since the wheel and the chair first coexisted. The wheelchair has evolved from a bulky, awkward seat on wheels to a lightweight vehicle in its own right. Disabled users now go nearly everywhere without fear of getting stuck in the mud, snow or sand, participate in sports, navigate city streets, ride on transit buses and enjoy independence, thanks to wheelchairs designed for specific uses and the many accessories available to go with them.

Early History

• Archaeologists have found evidence of a sixth-century wheelchair pictured in a Chinese engraving and a sort of bed on wheels painted on a Greek vase from around the same time. Both of these vehicles were pulled, not pushed, and the Chinese wheelchair was used to convey the privileged rather than the physically challenged.

  Not much is known about wheelchair history after the sixth century, until an artist's sketch made in 1595 documented a wheelchair used then.

Later History

• In the 16th century, Jehan Lhermite made a wheelchair for King Philip II of Spain. It was constructed of iron, leather and wood, and featured footrests. An artist sketched the king sitting in this wheelchair in 1595.

  In 1655, Stephen Farfler, a British watchmaker and paraplegic, designed and built a wheelchair for himself. Unlike earlier wheelchairs, which had to be pushed by another person, this one was made to be moved by the occupant. It was boxy, with two back wheels and one front wheel. The rider turned two levers, one on each side of the front wheel, to move the chair.

  In 1783, John Dawson invented the Bath chair, so named because it was used to transport disabled bathers to and from the spas in Bath, England. It was made in a number of styles, some open and others enclosed. The occupant steered it with a handle, but the Bath chair had to be pushed by an attendant.

  Through the 19th century, wheelchairs were mostly made of wood, with wicker backs and seats. The wheels were made increasingly larger, however, and riders began to push themselves by turning the wheels. In 1881, wheelchair makers added "push rims," smaller inside wheels specifically intended for pushing.

20th-Century Wheelchairs

• In the 20th century, wheelchair makers began using spoked wheels and adding refinements such as adjustable seats. Most chairs were made of metal with wicker seats and, although some were lighter than the old wooden chairs, they were still hard to steer and not at all portable.

  In 1933, Harry Jennings invented the folding wheelchair. His friend, Herbert Everest, had broken his back in a mine cave-in. Everest disliked the heavy, awkward chair he had to use and asked Jennings, an engineer, to improve on the design.

  Jennings came up with a wheelchair made of tubular steel, lightweight and compact enough when folded to fit into a car trunk. The two men formed a company and began mass-marketing the new wheelchair. That company, Everest & Jennings International, became the major manufacturer of wheelchairs in the United States.

  The first electric wheelchair was produced in 1916 in Great Britain. However, most people used manual chairs because they were less expensive. Motorized chairs weren't widely used in the United States until the 1950s.

  Through the 20th century, materials used for wheelchairs grew ever lighter and stronger, from aluminum to titanium to carbon fiber.

Wheelchair Styles

• Manual wheelchairs have no motor and are pushed by the rider or another person. The rear wheels measure 20 to 26 inches in diameter. They're propelled by pushing or pulling on the push rims, or by using foot pedals or hand-operated levers.

  Manual transit wheelchairs have smaller rear wheels and no push rims. They're pushed by an attendant and usually used in airports and health-care facilities.

  Electric wheelchairs are powered by rechargeable batteries. The user controls them using a joystick mounted on the armrest or on a swing bar, or by blowing into a tube. Many features on these wheelchairs can also be motorized, such as adjustable seats and elevating mechanisms for seats, arms and legs.

  Scooters have four wheels and a chair mounted on a low platform. Controls are fitted on a frame that rises from the front to the middle, and a steering bar is fitted across this frame.

  Sports wheelchairs have very lightweight, fixed frames that do not fold and angled wheels for stability on turns.

  Stair climbers use several different methods. Some have the stair-climbing mechanism in a unit that accepts a regular wheelchair. Others use rubber tracks that grip the steps while interior wheels turn.

  Beach wheelchairs have very wide wheels to prevent them from sinking into the sand.

  Snow wheelchairs have balloon-like tires with winter treads.

  Pediatric and bariatric wheelchairs are designed for specific populations. Pediatric wheelchairs are for children, and are smaller and also can allow more freedom of movement. Bariatric wheelchairs are designed for people weighing more than 250 pounds.

Wheelchair Accessories

• Wheelchair bags come in a variety of sizes. They can be attached to the back, handles or sides of a wheelchair.

  Carriers for transporting wheelchairs are mounted to bumpers or hitches. An automatic carrier lifts a folded wheelchair to a car roof or the bed of a truck.

  Inflatable air cushions, foam cushions, cooling pads and gel cushions all increase comfort for the occupant.

  Gloves designed for wheelchair users help protect hands from injury due to using push rims, aid in gripping the wheels, and keep hands warm and dry.

  Trays that fit over the wheelchair arms and strap down for stability are used for eating, reading, crafts, work and other activities.

  Lifts are used in buildings and in vehicles to raise and lower wheelchairs.

  Ramps allow wheelchair access to buildings. Cutouts in sidewalks let the chairs move out to the street.

  Many other items have been especially designed for wheelchair users, such as cup holders, rim covers, oxygen tank holders, cane carriers and fishing-pole holders.