Manual wheelchairs are designed to transport ill, injured, or disabled people, but they require physical effort and can be difficult to maneuver on inclined surfaces. They are less expensive and easier to store and transport than electric wheelchairs, but patients should research different types before choosing one.
The simplest definition of a manual wheelchair is a wheeled chair designed to transport an ill, injured, or otherwise disabled person from one location to another. Depending on the person’s condition, they may be able to operate the wheelchair themselves using special round handles that wrap around the wheels, or they may need to have someone push the wheelchair using the handles on the back. The manual wheelchair is one of two basic types of wheelchair. The other is the electric wheelchair. There are both disadvantages and advantages to manual wheelchairs, and it’s best to learn both before choosing a manual chair over an electric one.
Even when they were the only option, manual wheelchairs have always had drawbacks. The biggest disadvantage of a manual wheelchair is that it requires physical effort, which is an inconvenience or an impossibility for some patients. Depending on the patient’s condition, using the manual wheelchair on a flat and level surface may also be difficult. Even patients with adequate upper body strength may have difficulty maneuvering a manual wheelchair up hills or other inclined areas. An electric wheelchair eliminates the need for the patient to exert any energy or seek assistance from anyone else.
Despite the disadvantages, there are some advantages to a manual wheelchair. A manual chair usually weighs less than a power wheelchair, which makes it easier to load and unload into vehicles and transport up and down stairs. Storing manual wheelchairs is convenient due to their foldable cross frame design, and owners never have to worry about charging or replacing power wheelchair batteries. In general, manual wheelchairs are much less expensive than electric wheelchairs. Because of the price, many health insurance providers prefer to cover manual wheelchairs, and many patients are able to pay the bills themselves if their providers don’t.
Unless a patient’s condition makes it impossible for them to use a manual wheelchair, manual wheelchairs are usually the standard issue of hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities. Once a patient is well enough to go home, which wheelchair they use is usually up to them. If he decides to use a manual wheelchair, he should research the various types of these wheelchairs before making a choice. He can do this by visiting medical supply stores and websites and reading customer reviews and opinions. He can also talk to his doctor and other wheelchair users he knows personally before choosing the best manual chair for him.
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