|  | Healthcare Industry | Elderly Care

Wheel Chair Specifications

When you or a loved one faces a life of limited mobility, understanding how to analyze wheelchair specifications makes a world of difference. Knowing how to choose the appropriate widths, heights, depths and capacities, among other specifications, helps to ensure the user's everyday comfort and overall quality of care.

  1. Type of Chair

    • Wheelchair types include standard to all uses, standard transporter, lightweight, high strength lightweight, ultra lightweight aluminum, deluxe, pediatric, full recliner, dual axe, wide heavy duty and bariatric extra wide.

    Product Weight

    • Product weight refers to the weight of the chair without detachable legrests or footrests. The lightest weight chairs weigh between 19 and 25 pounds, while the heaviest weight up to 55 to 62 pounds.

    Product Weight Capacity

    • The weight capacity refers to how much weight a wheelchair can support. Buy a wheelchair that can handle at least more than 50 pounds of the user's body weight. Wheelchairs support anywhere from 200 to 500 pounds depending on the model.

    Space Between Arms

    • The space between the arms determines whether or not the wheelchair user will comfortably fit in the wheelchair seat without too much or too little empty space. The distance between arms generally ranges between 16 and 24 inches.

    Seat Width

    • The seat width also determines whether or not the user comfortably fits inside the wheelchair. The seat width ranges from 14 to 30 inches and usually matches the space between the arms, but can run up to an inch or so larger.

    Seat Depth

    • The seat depth measures from the front of the seat to the back and should roughly match the distance between the user's lower back and knees. Most wheelchair seat depths range from 14 to 20 inches.

    Seat To Floor Height

    • The seat to floor height refers to the distance between the bottom of the wheelchair's seat to the floor. Measure the user's leg from the knee to the foot and select a similar height. Most seat to floor heights range from 17 to 21 inches.

    Back Height

    • The back height is also referred to as seat-to-top-of-back, and is measured from the inside of the chair. That height usually ranges from 14 to 34 inches and should roughly match the distance between the user's shoulders and her lower back.

    Overall Width

    • The overall width refers to the width between the outermost parts, usually the wheels, of the wheelchair and determines whether or not the chair will be able to fit through various doors. Most chairs range from 21 to 38 inches.

    Arm Style

    • Armrest style includes fixed versus detachable arms, but also refers to full-length arms versus shorter desk arms. Traditional chairs have fixed, full arms. Desk arms prove useful for people who plan on moving close to tables and desks.

    Footrest Type

    • Footrest types include fixed and detachable as well as swing-away and elevating styles. Most swing-away footrests are also detachable, and most elevating footrests are also fixed.

    Folding

    • Folding versus non-folding wheelchairs determine a wheelchair's ease of portability. A wheelchair with a smaller folded width transports easiest. Folded widths range from 10.5 to 13 inches.

Elderly Care - Related Articles