Types of Wheelchairs

The range of wheelchairs reflects the demand to meet individual needs.

Manual wheelchairs

As the name suggests, manual wheelchairs are those moved by the user or an attendant. The self-propelled chairs usually have rear wheels of between 20 and 26 inches in diameter fixed to an axle and positioned so that users can move them by pushing down or pulling back the push rims. The users can therefore travel forward and backward at speeds dictated by the amount of force they are able to apply.

By controlling the push rims, users can also turn left or right and negotiate small dips and rises that lie ahead. To operate manual wheelchairs successfully, however, users must have a good standard of muscular ability and coordination in their arms and shoulders.

Alternative methods of propulsion include foot pedals and levers worked by hand.

Manual Transit wheelchairs

Manual transit chairs generally have small rear wheels without push rims. These wheelchairs are most likely to be seen in buildings such as airports and hospitals where porters act as attendants.

Electric wheelchairs

Electric powered wheelchairs are ideal for anyone who does not possess the strength or ability to cope with a manual chair. Rechargeable batteries mounted under the seat supply power to electric motors that drive either two or all four of the wheels. As with a car, the different drive arrangements determine the way that the wheelchair moves and manoeuvres.

The batteries come in three types: wet-cell, gel-cell and AGM (absorbed glass mat).

• Wet-cell batteries are the lightest, cheapest and least likely to be overcharged. They tend to leak, however, so cannot be taken on a plane.
• Gel-cell batteries are heavier but do not leak. They last longer than wet-cell batteries and are accepted for air travel.
• AGM batteries are heavy and expensive, but they are suitable for airplanes, are shock-resistant and leak-proof, and do not require maintenance.

The above batteries may have to be charged by a separate unit, but most modern electric wheelchairs can simply be plugged into an electric socket.

Apart from the choice of batteries, there are options for managing the direction and speed of electric wheelchairs. Many have a small joystick that is mounted at the end of an arm rest or on a bar that swings in front of the user once he or she is seated. Others have tubes into which the users blow or suck to control the chair’s movements.

The level of disability experienced by electric wheelchair owners is also reflected in the design of other features. These include

• tilting mechanisms;
• reclining backs;
• seat, leg and arm elevators.

Most of these functions are controlled by small electric motors and allow users to make themselves as comfortable in the chair as possible. More on power vs. manual chairs.

Wheelbase

A wheelbase chair, otherwise known as a scooter, has four small wheels extending from a low platform. The type of chair mounted on this platform varies according to the disability and needs of the user; some are even molded from a cast taken of the user’s most appropriate sitting position.

One of the advantages of the wheelbase machine is that the chair can swivel and allow the user to mount and dismount from either side. A disadvantage is that the user must maintain a rigid posture when driving. This means that wheelbase chairs are rarely suitable for the severely disabled.

The controls of the wheelbase chair are mounted on a frame that curves upward from the front of the platform to a height and position convenient for the user. A horizontal steering bar is attached across the top of the frame.

Sports chairs

Since the 1970s, disabled athletes have had an increasing array of specialist wheelchairs to help them achieve the most from their chosen sport. These chairs can look very different from each other, but what they usually have in common is

• lightweight frames made from composite material;
• solidity (which means that they do not fold); and
• enhanced stability for sudden turns (this is achieved by using angled wheels).

For further details of wheelchair sports, see the section later in this overview.

Stand-up

Stand-up wheelchairs are fitted with a hydraulic pump that lifts and tilts the seat, thereby enabling the user to “stand up” and yet be fully supported. This is an invaluable feature if the user needs to reach an item on a shelf either at home or while out shopping.

Stair-climbing wheelchairs

Climbing stairs is the ultimate test for a wheelchair, and there are a number of solutions available.

• Battery-operated supports at the back that act as stabilisers as the chair climbs.
• A series of flexible wheels turning within rubber tracks that grip the steps.
• Independent stair-climbing wheelbases onto which the wheelchair is fastened.

Most stair-climbing chairs do still need a third party attendant. Alternatively, the wheelchair user must be able to grasp a suitable handrail.

Beach wheelchairs

A beach wheelchair is immediately recognizable because of its broad wheels that enable it to ride smoothly over sand without sinking. Some beach resorts now provide not only wheelchair accessibility but also offer beach wheelchairs to disabled clients.

Bariatric wheelchairs

Conventional wheelchairs will not safely bear a weight greater than 250 lbs. A bariatric wheelchair, however, can accommodate someone as heavy as 1000 lbs. The weight capacity of bariatric chairs, and the seat measurements, vary and are displayed on the promotional literature.

Pediatric wheelchairs

Pediatric wheelchairs are designed for disabled children. The chairs are not just smaller than the conventional equivalent; they can in some instances be adjusted to give children maximum freedom to sit, recline, and lie right back.

Snow wheelchair, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/8127509@N04/2333036875

from Flickr user mediadeo. Used under Creative Common License.