Choosing a wheelchair that’s right for you can be a daunting task. You might not know what to look for or what to consider, especially if it’s your first time purchasing one. There are many factors to consider. Here are 5 things you can think about to help you make the right choice.
- Size and Fit- Just as with a pair of shoes, you want your wheelchair to fit you comfortably and fprovide support. Make sure you get the dimensions of the chair and, if you can, try it out yourself to see how it feels. You’ll want a seat cushion that’ll be comfortable for hours on end but firm enough to give you proper support. And you want the seat back to be the right height for you, so it doesn’t push your head forward or dig into your back. Consider any adjustable portions of the chair and how they might affect you. Does the chair have footrests, and if so, can they be adjusted to fit your feet correctly? Is the seat back adjustable or reclinable?
- Material- What the chair is made of is important too. Naturally, it’ll affect the weight of the whole thing. If you’ll be moving manually, you want to make sure you get a chair made of a lighter material, but you also want to avoid any chairs so light they’ll tip over easily. The material will also determine the chair’s durability.
- Manual or Electric- Aside from thinking about the material, you should also consider whether you want a manual or electric wheelchair. This might depend somewhat on whether you’ll primarily have someone pushing your chair or you’ll be moving yourself, in which case you need to think about your upper-body strength too. You don’t want to struggle or risk straining a muscle. However, you’ll want to keep in mind that you’ll need accessible outlets if you decide on an electric option.
- Wheels- You wouldn’t buy an all-terrain vehicle and put Porsche wheels and tires on it. In the same way, you need to think about what your wheel needs are for your chair. Will you mostly be using it in an office building or at home? Will you be on sidewalks a lot or on trails? Think about the tread and hardiness of the tires depending on where you’ll be most of the time. And consider foam-filled wheels if you can for longer durability as they’re less likely to go flat.
- Transportability- This might be an easy one to overlook since a wheelchair is essentially a form of transportation. However, you need to think about this if you drive a car or do a lot of traveling. If so, you might want to consider a foldable option and take careful measurements of the chair’s dimensions when folded. It would be frustrating to purchase a new chair only to find it doesn’t fit in your vehicle. The material also comes into play in this scenario, since a lighter material would be far easier to fold and store.
Buying certain things can be easy enough and require little thought. It’s easy to find a sweatshirt that fits well or buy new dishcloths, but with something like a wheelchair, it’s important to think about comfort, support, and practicality. After all, it’ll be a central part of your life whether you need it long-term or short-term. Use these tips to help you think about your specific needs. Happy shopping!
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