Are you in the market for a new wheelchair? Choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, especially with the wide range of options available. Here are 11 questions to ask to help you narrow down and find the wheelchair that best meets your needs.
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Before diving into the specifics, it&#;s important to determine why you need a wheelchair. Are you looking for something for daily use, outdoor activities, or travel? Understanding your intended purpose will help narrow down your options and find a wheelchair that suits your lifestyle.
Consider your physical abilities and lifestyle if you&#;re deciding between a manual or power wheelchair. Manual wheelchairs give you more control but require upper body strength for propulsion. On the other hand, power wheelchairs are easier to use, especially if you have limited mobility or need help getting around.
You&#;ll want a wheelchair that accommodates your body size and weight. Consider seat width, depth, and height to ensure a comfortable fit. Additionally, check the weight capacity to make sure the wheelchair can safely support your weight.
Get a chair that adjusts to you, not the other way around. Look for armrests, leg rests, and a backrest that you can move up and down or take off completely; this will make you much more comfortable and supported throughout the day.
You should also find out if you can choose colors, materials for the seat, and add-ons like cup holders. Personalizing your wheelchair lets you make it your own and tailor it to what you like and need.
Think about where you&#;ll be using your wheelchair the most. Pick a chair with big, air-filled tires and suspension for a smooth ride if you're going over rugged terrain. All-terrain models with knobby treads will give you extra grip on loose surfaces.
For zipping around indoors, a lightweight, maneuverable chair might be better. Look for narrow widths, wheels that turn sharply (narrow turning radius), and a design that folds up compactly if you travel often. Some wheelchairs even break down into multiple pieces for more accessible transport.
If you go for a powered wheelchair, consider how far it can go on one charge. Make sure it matches how much you need to travel. Also, check how long it takes to charge and if you&#;ll have places to charge it.
Wheelchairs need some TLC, just like any other equipment. Ask about how to keep yours in tip-top shape, including regular cleaning, lubricating certain parts, and maybe even some specialist care. Knowing what maintenance is needed will help you keep your chair going for years to come.
Consider your transportation needs. If you need to take your chair in the car, choose one that&#;s easy to fold or take apart. Look for models that make it simple to store and transport. Additionally, consider the weight of the wheelchair when folded or disassembled to ensure it&#;s manageable for you.
Choosing a wheelchair with these features can help you feel confident and in control while you&#;re out and about:
Don&#;t forget to ask about warranties and how you&#;ll get your chair serviced. A warranty protects you in case of any manufacturing problems, and a service plan can help with repairs and maintenance down the road. Knowing you&#;re covered will give you peace of mind about your purchase. Also, check if there are any additional costs associated with the warranty or service plan.
Researching and reading reviews from other wheelchair users can offer insight into the performance and reliability of different models. Look for reviews and testimonials online or reach out to support groups and communities for recommendations. Hearing from others with firsthand experiences will make a big difference!
While these questions are essential for those considering a wheelchair, it&#;s also important to recognize the signs that indicate the need for one. If you experience any of the following, it may be time to consider a wheelchair:
Choosing the right wheelchair is a big deal, and our team at Freedom Mobility is here to help. We understand how crucial mobility is, and we&#;re committed to supporting you every step of the way. Call 800-980- or contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore our range of high-quality wheelchairs and mobility solutions.
Bariatric Wheelchairs Electric Wheelchairs Healthcare Coverage Manual Wheelchairs Power WheelchairsMay 22, by Freedom Mobility
Are you in the market for a new wheelchair? Choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, especially with the wide range of options available. Here are 11 questions to ask to help you narrow down and find the wheelchair that best meets your needs. Questions... Share Share ShareAre you in the market for a new wheelchair? Choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, especially with the wide range of options available. Here are 11 questions to ask to help you narrow down and find the wheelchair that best meets your needs. Questions...
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When configuring your wheelchair, one of the easiest things to overlook is the importance of the kind of wheels you&#;ll need. The choice you make will mostly depend on where you primarily use your wheelchair, be it indoor or outdoor, plus the terrain and the activity involved. And making the right choice can be crucial.
Someone with a pain condition really needs to limit the amount of vibration, and other users may value speed as part of their sense of independence. Below, we will discuss all the facts and details about wheelchair wheels, tyres and casters you may need to make an informed decision that will undoubtedly make an impact on your day-to-day life. Hopefully, after reading this little manual, that impact will be a positive one.
The smoothness of the ride, speed, manoeuvrability, and control are all related to the wheelchair wheels, tyres and casters, probably more than you think. But choosing these components is not a straightforward task, obviously. So, it&#;s wise to get an expert, such a therapist or healthcare professional to help you select the combination that meets your lifestyle, performance, maintenance and affordability needs.
Manual wheelchairs usually have two sets of wheels:
A pair in front,
called caster or steering wheels;
And a pair in the back
called drive wheels.
Power wheelchairs may have up to three pairs, depending on the type of drive technology:
;
Wheelchair rear wheels are made up of a tyre, rim (and hand rim on manual chairs), spokes (or mags), and a hub. The hub is the centre of the wheel, the spokes or mags connect the rim to the hub and the rim is where the tyre is mounted. Hand rims are used for pushing the wheelchair.
The company is the world’s best wheelchair tires supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Spoke wheels look like bicycle wheels and the spokes are usually made of metal. They usually have 24 or 36 spokes. The spokes can be crossed or radial spoked.
Mag wheels are made of synthetic materials and usually have less than ten spokes.
Rear wheels of manual wheelchairs are normally equipped with quick release axles for easy handling during transportation. Caster wheels are usually fixed mounted on the chair with screwed axles.
Important factors to consider when selecting the appropriate type of wheels for you is their weight, and the environment you will be using them in. Spoke wheels are usually lighter than mag wheels, but they do require more maintenance. They are also less suitable for moist surfaces. Mag wheels are almost maintenance free, but they may be affected by extreme temperatures.
Wheelchair wheels come in various standardised wheelchair sizes:
size is 24&#; (approximately 61 cm);
size is 18&#; (approximately 45,7 cm);
for manual wheelchairs start from 3&#; (approximately 7,6 cm), but much more common and practical for everyday use is 4&#; to 6&#;.
The wheel size diameter as well as tyre width affects comfort and required effort to move the wheelchair. Therefore, you should select a drive wheel that will allow you to sit comfortably in the chair, and at the same time it should require minimum amount of effort to propel it.
Electric wheelchair drive wheels are smaller, and the tyre is made of stronger and thicker material. You can learn more about Invacare electric wheelchairs on this page.
Alternatively, there is also a way to enjoy effortless power of electric wheelchairs without sacrificing all the benefits of your manual wheelchair. And all it takes is one extra wheel. The Alber e-pilot can transform your standard manual wheelchair into an electronically powered hand bike, capable of speeds of up to 20 kilometres per hour, with an impressive range of 50 kilometres per battery charge.
Alignment and truing
The alignment of the wheels is very important. It affects how the wheelchair rides, its directional stability, the wear on the tyres and the effort required to propel it. You need to consider the following three aspects:
on rear wheels is the inward or outward tilting of the wheels on their vertical plane. It is used to make propelling the wheelchair easier by getting the hands closer to the body during propulsion. It mostly applies to people who are self-propelling and
provides better lateral stability as well as finger protection when passing doors.
(the off-parallel relationship between the two rear wheels). You should avoid these misalignments, as they will
dramatically increase rolling resistanceand the
wear on the tyres. Also, the directional stability will suffer, especially in case of toe-out.
is required when a wheel wobbles when spinning on its axis. Mag wheels are trued upon fabrication and remain true unless they are exposed to extreme conditions. Spoke wheels are more vulnerable because various conditions get the spokes distorted. Such problems have to be repaired by a qualified wheel-repair technician.
Wheelchair tyres can be pneumatic (air filled), solid and flat free (foam, urethane or rubber filled). Depending on the desired terrain use, they may have anything from a deep profile (like Mountain bike tyres) to a flat profile. As a rule of thumb, you need to know that tyres affect how easily the wheelchair will roll over specific surfaces. The harder the tyre, the easier it will be to propel the wheelchair. The softer the tyre, the harder it will be to propel it. Here are your choices:
will go flat if punctured and will go soft even without any damage, because the valves will lose air constantly over time, similar to a bicycle tyre, but they have a shock absorbing function when going over kerbs or other obstacles, hence they provide a softer ride on uneven ground. High pressure pneumatic tyres (7 to 10 bar) provide the best ride on flat and even surfaces, because the contact surface to the floor is smaller, hence the driving resistance is low.
are almost maintenance free and they are unlikely to wear out in the life of the wheelchair, but you&#;ll be in for bumpier rides. To learn how to fit a solid wheelchair tyre, see the video below. You will have the advantage of a flat free tyre, but on the other hand it can never compare with the good driving performance of a fully pumped high pressure air tyre.
are pneumatic tyres that are filled with a semi-solid material. They are not subject to flat tyres and give a softer ride than a solid tyre.
How to Fit Wheelchair Tyres:
Once you&#;ve bought some new tyres, you&#;ll need to get them fitted. If you can do it yourself, you&#;ll save a bit of time, and gain the satisfaction of being able to maintain your wheelchair yourself.
Here&#;s a video guide to fitting a solid wheelchair wheel:
For more about wheelchair tyres, read our article &#;Wheelchair tyres, options and maintenance&#;.
There are pros and cons to each type of wheelchair wheel and hopefully, after reading this brief guide, you&#;ll be able to better decide what works for your specific needs. An average user may not notice all the differences mentioned, but a very active user will. You may need to consider having more than one type of wheels, depending on the use habits and cost. Wheelchair sizes will also be an important factor in the choice, as well as quite a few other more or less technical elements, so you may find this thorough and detailed resource very helpful. Or you may find that you need high performance wheels which are not meant for the average wheelchair user. The sky is your limit, so enjoy the sweet choice that lies ahead.
For more 8.5 inch solid scooter tyresinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.