It used to be that standard manual wheelchairs were the only style available, but now chairs can be found with far more features than just rigid or folding frames. These days electric wheelchairs can be found that allow users to participate in almost every type of activity imaginable. People who are interested in sports, outdoor activities or even racing no longer need to be limited for any reason.

When you are interested in making the most of wheelchairs, you can find models that will operate on all types of terrain. Determine which activities a chair will be used for, and choose the one that best suits your needs. Look at all of the different options, including:

1. Lightweight wheelchairs that can attain very high speeds;

2. Powered wheelchairs that are able to roll over sand, gravel and even ice;

3. Pediatric wheelchairs that allow young people to participate in the sporting events of their choice.

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Check out motorized wheelchairs that are designed for the beach

Although beach capable chairs are larger and bulkier than most models, they are easy to take apart for transportation purposes. The chairs can be quickly reassembled once you have reached your destination. A beach chair allows the user to glide smoothly over the sand and some models can even be taken into the water. Since the chairs are easy to dismantle, they can be cleaned quickly after every trip to the shore.

I recommend: See the beach chair models from Deming Designs or Wheeleez.

Try manual wheelchairs designed for use on court settings

Organized basketball is one of the most popular wheelchair sports ever designed. It has been around since the end of World War II, after several veterans decided they were going to continue participating in their favorite activity. By 1946, organized teams began to emerge, and over time it grew to international proportions. Court chairs are specifically designed to have a solid center of balance so they are able to move at fast speeds without tipping over.

I recommend: Read more about the sport from the Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program or LIVESTRONG.

Power wheelchairs with your hands

Some wheelchairs have a similar design to standard bicycles, but instead of turning the pedals with your feet, you propel yourself forward with your hands. Most of these chairs feature three wheels, with two in the back and a larger wheel in the front. Some models can also be operated with one hand. These custom wheelchairs are used for a variety of sporting events and outdoor activities.

I recommend: Read more about Handcycles at DaVinci Mobility. Purchase Handcycles from Sherman Oaks Medical Supplies.

Take portable wheelchairs out for a race

There are many wheelchair based sports, but racing is the most common group activity. These chairs are designed for high speeds, and come in a variety of styles. You can find standard seated models, chairs that allow the operator to rest in a kneeling position or to have their legs placed in front of them. Chair users with competitive personalities and a need for speed can find what they want from a racing oriented wheelchair dealer.

I recommend: Find out about various options from the Sportaid Division of SRG. Read a racing wheelchair FAQ presented by Top End.

Investigate pediatric wheelchairs

When faced with the task of making the most of wheelchairs for children, it is important to include the young ones in the decision making process. Find out what options they most desire, and how you can customize the chair to their tastes. Pediatric chairs are available in growth models that allow the chairs to expand as the child gets older. These models make sure a chair will be useful for many years.

I recommend: Investigate chair options at Adaptivemall. Buy a chair from SpinLife.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for used wheelchairs with the options you desire to save money.
• •  Find a wheelchair dealer that offers customized options to suit your needs and personality.

What do Robert T. Ironside and Joe Swanson have in common? Both were fictional police officers injured in the line of duty and consigned to wheelchairs. "Consigned," but not "confined," because these characters from Ironside and Family Guy used their wheelchairs as extensions of themselves.

Wheelchairs come in two basic kinds: manual and electric. Electric wheelchairs come in two varieties: the joystick-controlled power wheelchair or "power chair" and the handlebar-steered electric scooter. Deep-cycle batteries power both.

When deciding whether to purchase a manual or electric wheelchair, consider the following:

1. Manual wheelchairs weigh less than powered wheelchairs and are becoming increasingly lighter in weight, requiring less energy to push.

2. Manual wheelchairs are quieter, less bulky and more maneuverable that motorized wheelchairs, making them easier to transport. They can also handle minor obstacles such as bumps or curbs better due to their lighter weight.

3. Manual wheelchairs cost less to buy than powered wheelchairs due to fewer parts and no batteries to replace.

4. Manual wheelchairs provide a greater sense of independence than power wheelchairs, in that the occupant is moving under his own power instead of under a battery, but this independence comes at the cost of repetitive motion injuries to the upper arms and shoulders.

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Put the rubber to the road in a manual wheelchair

Those with the ability, or the budget-conscious, prefer manual wheelchairs, and most dealers offer a variety of choices to meet their needs.

I recommend: SpinLife.com offers manual wheelchairs to match users’ needs and budgets, including sport, tilt, heavy-duty and lightweight wheelchairs, and the ability to configure a chair online. For a similar selection, plus electric wheelchairs and accessories, try 1stSeniorCare.

Empower yourself with powered wheelchairs

For those who can't handle a manual wheelchair, many powered wheelchairs offer maneuverability and portability close to that of manual units.

I recommend: The Scooter Store has been the mobility leader since 1991, offering both maneuverable power chairs for in-home use and electric scooters for mobility outdoors. Wheelchair dealer Hoveround sells its own standard and specialty powered wheelchairs factory-direct; units feature seats with the coil and cushion design of truck drivers’ seats for greater rider comfort.

Cater to special needs with a custom wheelchair

While most wheelchair users have basic mobility needs, some need greater independence than a standard wheelchair can provide or have special requirements best handled by a custom wheelchair.

I recommend: The Independence iBOT 4000 is a powered wheelchair that can climb stairs and five-inch high curbs and raise its user to a standing position while still being easily transportable. 21st Century Scientific offers manual and powered wheelchairs that let users stand, as well as extra-narrow and bariatric models.

Keep rolling with the right accessories

Just as a car needs new tires periodically, so also does a wheelchair. Also, as with cars, people who ride in wheelchairs need supplemental equipment to keep them properly positioned and comfortable as they travel.

I recommend: Kenda American Airless offers foam-inflated and solid rubber tires and inner tubes, as well as wheelchair tires for on- and off-road use, court sports and racing. At 1stSeniorcare, find seat belts, saddles, foot braces, support wedges and bolsters to keep the user comfortable while in the chair.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider not just the wheelchair but other accommodations needed to assist the physically challenged. Narrow access ways may need widening; you may need to replace stairs or supplement them with ramps. Wheelchairs restore mobility and independence, but not completely.

Wheelchairs are a common mobility aid used in hospitals and nursing homes to assist patients with limited walking ability. Electric wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs can be used in both hospitals and the home to ensure safety, stability and mobility.Nurses and health care providers need to educated in the proper use and safe operation of wheelchairs.

Portable wheelchairs need to be sterile and operated properly in order to fully benefit the patient. It's important to understand how to clean and use a wheelchair correctly to make sure the patient or customer is using the wheelchair correctly. If you're a health care provider or a wheelchair dealer, make sure your wheelchairs education and training helps you to:

1. Understand braking and safety features for manual and motorized wheelchairs.

2. Know how to properly clean and sterilize wheelchairs.

3. Learn about new technology available for manual and powered wheelchairs.

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Learn the basics of lightweight wheelchairs operation

Nurses in hospitals and assisted living facilities need to know how to properly lift patients in and out of portable wheelchairs because lifting incorrectly could cause damage to both the nurse and the patient. Sellers of new or used wheelchairs should be able to instruct users on how to operate wheelchairs safely and efficiently.

I recommend: The Dalhouse University Faculty of Medicine provides these training guides for learning to use a manual wheelchair, with skills tests to confirm your understanding. WheelchairNet offers this online version of the Wheelchair User's Training Guide with basic instructions on how to use the wheelchair.

Get training in wheelchairs maintenance

Nurses that use lightweight wheelchairs in their facilities should learn proper cleaning technique and clean wheelchairs after each use. Dealers selling wheelchairs for sale to be used at home should be educated on cleaning and disinfection of wheelchairs and share this information with customers.

I recommend: Nurses can attend the training class offered by the West Virginia Public Health Sanitation Division to learn how to properly handle medical waste and clean medical equipment, like wheelchairs. GeneEd offers a class that teaches nurses and health care providers to clean and sanitize wheelchairs for safe usage.

Keep up with new innovations and technology for wheelchairs

The world of home health care equipment is constantly expanding, and new technology is being developed for motorized wheelchairs to make them safer and more efficient. Learn how these new features can benefit your patients and customers.

I recommend: Health care providers and equipment dealers alike should attend the MedTrade Show, which features new innovations in wheelchairs. Subscribe to New Mobility, a health care magazine that keeps wheelchair users informed about news and events in the world of wheelchairs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep cleaning and safety checklists on hand to teach new health care providers or dealers about wheelchairs.

Wheelchairs are often temporary aids that people with a short term disability use to get around, but many other people who are permanently disabled depend on a wheelchair indefinitely. Wheelchairs come in a variety of styles and purposes so the customers have many options when buying or renting. Although most people need a wheelchair to provide mobility, consumers will find motorized models, a variety of seating styles and even models that will work on the beach.

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All terrain

People end up in a wheelchair for a variety of reasons, and the occupants of wheelchairs around the world had a variety of interests before their disability set in. People in wheelchairs who loved the beach before will be glad to know that there are sophisticated wheelchairs that will take them for a wonderful ride or afternoon on the beach. One model comes equipped with an umbrella to protect the occupant from the harmful rays of the sun.

I recommend: Read more about all terrain wheelchairs at Deming Designs.

Balloon wheels

Balloon wheels on a wheelchair provide for the mobility of the person wanting unlimited access in spite of a disability. These specialty wheels take the occupant over the soft or soggy sand. Wheelchairs equipped with balloon wheels can usually take the person and a huge load as well.

I recommend: Wheeleez has an extensive line of products to help disabled people remain mobile.

Handcycle

A handcycle is a device that adds new dimensions to a valuable means of mobility. Although no one wants confinement to a wheelchair, many disabled people discover methods of enhancing their restricted lives and a handcycle helps them. Athletes use a handcycle to participate in their favorite sport while others use the device for exercise.

I recommend: Davinci Mobility remains a leader in devices that enhance the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Center wheel drive

Laws provide many benefits for disabled people, and businesses respond to the rules and regulations with special restrooms, access ramps and parking spaces. Most wheelchair bound people benefit from the laws, but a center wheel drive wheelchair adds more dimensions of mobility. People in center wheel drive wheelchairs will move better in small spaces at home and on the road.

I recommend: Spinlife delivers a variety of wheelchairs using the latest technology.

Portability

People in need of a wheelchair look for the portability of the product in order to get the most out of their purchase. Portability depends on the size of the wheelchair and how it collapses into a smaller unit or pieces for later assembly. Most disabled people do not have their own van for transportation, so fitting the device into a trunk or backseat is a necessity.

I recommend: A1 Wheelchair Ramps Guide provides products that increase portability for wheelchairs. Read the All Time Medical guide for more description of portability for wheelchairs.

Power wheelchair

The technology in wheelchairs improves constantly, so consumers have numerous choices. The power base of the mechanism for moving the wheelchair also provides the consumer with choices depending on individual needs. The power base contributes to maneuverability, durability and speed.

I recommend: Learn more about power wheelchairs from the Wheelchair Site.