Know about the different types of wheelchairs and features

Posted by Sergy Paul on December 28th, 2020

Currently, there are many wheelchairs on the market. Even, you can go with a wheelchair rental if you cannot afford its price or you just need it for short period.

The different models are designed to cover the specific needs of each user. We are aware that a priori the choice of the most appropriate wheelchair can be somewhat complicated. So, we will try to explain the most important points when deciding which wheelchair we should acquire. 

We will start by summarizing what types of wheelchairs we can find:

1. Manual wheelchairs:

They are undoubtedly the most common and traditional. They serve both for exterior and interior use. Among the most common manufacturing materials for its structure we have:

- Steel: strong, inexpensive, and stable chairs.
- Aluminum: lighter and more maneuverable.
- Carbon fiber: chairs for very active users.

They are very configurable chairs, we can find different measures of seat width, with elevating footrests, with folding backrest, folding, with a self-propelled wheel or small wheel, etc.

To be sure that we have chosen the correct chair, we have to take into account the position of the user. 

- Shoulder and back problems
- Wrong posture
- Joint pain

It is important to take this detail into account to easily avoid all these problems.

The price of this wheelchair is so cheap and economical that the option of buying a second-hand chair will be ruled out.

2. Electric wheelchairs:

Electric wheelchairs have a motor that provides the user with great autonomy and much greater freedom of movement. The speed and the distance in kilometers will depend on the power of the engine and the battery. 

It is easily controlled by a joystick that is usually easy to use. But it is also possible to incorporate control for a passenger in case we want an assistant to control the movement. We can find them with central, front, or rear traction. If we are going to use them in somewhat uneven outdoor areas, it would be advisable to always choose a suspension chair.