Types of Manual Wheelchairs

Manual wheelchairs have been around for many years and they are a great tool for those who have trouble walking or cannot walk at all. Manual wheelchairs can be moved by the person in the chair or pushed by someone else. There are powered chairs that can be purchased, but a manual wheelchair is less expensive and has many advantages over powered wheelchairs. For instance, manual wheelchairs are much lighter than powered wheelchairs; manual wheelchairs can be folded to fit any car, whereas powered chairs need special vehicles with special lifts to load them into the vehicle. There are many other advantages of manual wheelchairs.

Lightweight Wheelchairs

• Lightweight wheelchairs are built light but strong. Lightweight wheelchairs are great for people that have retained good movement in the upper part of their bodies. Lightweight wheelchairs are very maneuverable and they do not take much effort to make them move. They are built sleeker and sportier than a standard wheelchair. The drawback of lightweight wheelchairs is that they cannot be used by obese people because the frame cannot hold the weight and the seat may not be big enough to hold an obese person.

Standard Wheelchairs

• A standard wheelchair is what most people will envision when they think of a wheelchair. These have a cross-brace frame, armrest, footrest, a high back and handles on the back that allow the chair to be pushed by someone other than the person using the wheelchair. The standard wheelchair is the most popular type of wheelchair.

Specialty Wheelchairs

• Specialty wheelchairs are just what their name implies; they are chairs built for people with special needs or who need a chair for a particular use. Examples of specialty chairs include chairs used by handicapped athletes that allow them to play basketball and other sports. There are also chairs built to accommodate obese people, or people who are paralyzed on one side and ones that mechanically lift people to a standing position. These are just a few types of specialized wheelchairs that can be made.

Folding Frame Wheelchairs

• There are two types of folding frame wheelchairs. The most popular are the X-framed chairs that fold flat. The other type has a back that folds down.

Rigid Frame Wheelchairs

• Rigid frame wheelchairs have welded joints and do not fold. Rigid frame wheelchairs are the strongest type of wheelchair and will hold the most weight and take the most abuse without falling apart. If this type of wheelchair needs to be transported the wheels and other components have quick release construction. This allows the wheelchair to be taken apart and put back together quickly.