How To Choose A Wheelchair Basics

Choosing a wheelchair can seem a difficult choice, since there are many different models on the market. However there are really only a few types of wheelchair on the market, and understanding what each type offers can make the job of choosing one much easier. The main types are manual wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs and heavy duty wheelchairs. This article will look at these types and some considerations that need to be borne in mind when choosing a wheelchair to suit your needs.

Manual wheelchairs are, as the name implies, a wheelchair which requires manual power to make it move. These type of wheelchairs are best used in the home, and especially where there is a flat surface which facilitates easy movement. But any kind of rough terrain makes it very difficult to move in these wheelchairs.

For rough terrain, or even for a journey outside for most people, demands the use of a motorized wheelchair. These wheelchairs are powered by a battery, or sometimes two batteries, and make it very easy for the disabled person to move around. Many of these types of wheelchairs have a range of up to twenty miles when the battery is fully charged, which is more than enough for the person to go about their daily business such as going to the shops and back.

But a normal motorized wheelchair won't do when the disabled person want to go onto really rough ground. For that what is needed is a heavy duty wheelchair. These wheelchairs have an extremely strong body, and tyres which can cope with the roughest terrain. These wheelchairs give a mobility that is unthinkable with lighter types of wheelchair.

So before you choose your wheelchair, take time to think about what type of use you will need it for, and then do some research into the type of wheelchair that suits your needs.