Wheelchairs

Get rolling with this selection of manual and electric wheelchairs for sale

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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

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