Buying A Wheelchair In Orange County: A Few Pointers
Article by kathleenchester
A wheelchair adds to the quality of life both for someone recovering after a serious injury and for someone who has lost mobility in their legs. It offers an effective way for a person to move about, either independently or with the assistance of someone. Since the 6th century, people with limited mobility or immobility have been moving about and participating in everyday life with the help of these chairs.
Modern-day wheelchairs are designed keeping a variety of needs in mind. Top manufacturers consider different aspects when they design a wheelchair; these include the person’s positioning, the different kinds of adjustment options, and so on. With the advance of science and technology, wheelchair manufacturers are coming up with newer designs to add greater mobility to the life of people who have lost some or all of their mobility. Some wheelchairs have folding designs, while others are light-weight enough to be easily carried into an automobile. The chairs are made of materials such as steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium. Orange County stores stock a variety of chairs for different needs.
Of the many varieties of wheelchair, Orange County stores have all the popular ones such as manual, electric, rigid frame, folding frame, and so on. Each is designed keeping a different need in mind. A careful collaboration between a doctor and the person can help select a suitable chair.
The two main kinds of wheelchair are manual and power. Manual wheelchairs can be used to move forward independently, or with the assistance of someone. Manual chairs can be folding or can have a rigid frame. For a light-weight option that can easily be adjusted for positioning, manual chairs are designed to be either rigid frame or folding frame. Rigid frame chairs feature a welded frame on which the person can sit. Folding frames are heavier and contain more parts. Power rehab wheelchairs are chairs that are propelled by electricity. They usually have a joystick that allows the person to change and control direction.
Sports wheelchairs are hi-tech pieces of equipment designed for people with reduced mobility who enjoy sports. A variety of high-end sports chairs are available, allowing sports-lovers to enjoy their favorite games such as basketball, athletics, and so on.
Among the various places selling wheelchairs, AccessMedical is one of the most famous in Orange County. It stocks chairs designed by some of the top manufacturers of mobility products. This specialist store also customizes a wheelchair according to a person’s needs.
About the Author
Manual Wheelchairs Orange County – Access Medical provides an extensive selection of custom manual, standard, and rehab power wheelchairs from major manufacturers of assistive technology with complete mobility solution for clients in the area of San Diego & Orange County.
Question by : Wheelchair users: back pads and backpacks/storage bags?
Two different questions.
Are there any back pads for wheelchairs? Sort of like the cushion for the bottom of the seat, but for the back. Reason I ask is because the back of my wheelchair gives a little (instead of being firm/straight, it bends), I’d imagine most custom manual wheelchairs are like this for comfort reasons but it makes good posture completely impossible because you’re leaning back a little 24/7 + I have a minor gut and it looks 1000x worse than it is due to leaning back.
Backpacks/etc: I’ve seen special “wheelchair bags” that you attach to the back of your wheelchair. But I don’t know where to buy those that isn’t online (I want to see the bag in person, some things you just can’t judge from pictures). Does anyone use regular backpacks? How does that work out for you?
jd: i am truly sorry about your situation (not getting out). i am not too bad off and if i could give you half of my [whatever] i would in a heartbeat.
a small bag will not work for me because i get out ~every other day alone and would like to make the trips more daring (i just get dropped off to the gym, sometimes wheeling myself home). i have been using a plastic bag affixed to the back of my chair to carry my gym stuff lol, but the point is a plastic bag can be ripped right off if someone so chose so more independent trips where things of more value would be brought a plastic bag is insufficient.
i have invacare too but i got just a manual wheelchair, i guess i could have gotten a motorized/non-manual one but im young and those didnt/dont appeal to me for i think obvious reasons. i didnt know there were different backs that can be bought from invacare, i will check those out.
the term “medical devices shop” was key and will help me search for stores like that around my area.
Best answer:
Answer by jd
I just got new seat and back pads. They were made to tie on to a wooden chair. You can find them at Wallyworld I’ll bet. These are going to have to break in and thin down. They make a difference.
I don’t use a pack. Don’t spend that much time in the chair.
I don’t get out much.
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MAGICWHEELS product video, explains how MAGIC WHEELS geared technology for manual wheelchairs works.
My wheelchair my husband got me is top of the line, I can sit straight or recline to the point of almost laying down. However when spending considerable amount of time in a chair they do get uncomfortable so I always have a pillow I sit on and the half of it upright so I have something to lean on for cushion on my back.
The back of my chair is able to hold a bag of sorts but I prefer the purse or hand carry for traveling I prefer it on my lap. I went from only using wheelchair to putting that and my walker in the shed, so thankfully I am getting better however traveling is difficult and I still need my w/chair for travel. Walking through airports is too difficult when I’m in pain so if I don’t bring my chair I use one from the airports. My wheelchair also has hooks on the bottom part so I can hang my medical ostomy/foley bag the tubing I need gets attached nicely as well.
The brand of my wheelchair is called INVACARE. Here’s the website. After my insurance coverage and all those costs I only ended up paying like 50.00 for it. So, if you have insurance you can get a nice one that works well for you.
http://www.invacare.com/cgi-bin/imhqprd/inv_catalog/prod_cat.jsp?s=0&catOID=-536885270 Hope this helps you.
Backpads – I’m assuming you’re talking about a manual folding wheelchair? I’ve never seen any back pads, but I bet someone could make one easily enough out of hardboard and adding something to one edge so it could hang on the back and then put some nice padding on it for comfort. My son uses a motorized wheelchair mostly, and that has a firm back.
Backpacks – My son has the wheelchair bags, but these came from the company that manufactured his various wheelchairs. They are ok, but tend to be flimsy and little more than fabric bags. For serious use, he does use a regular backpack which we toss onto the back of his wheelchair, just looping the straps over each corner. The regular backpack works great.
Hope this helps even though I’m sure that it’s somewhat different equipment involved.
I’d recommend going to a medical devices shop and see what they have laying about. There’s LOTS of room for improvement in the adaptation equipment field…. I think we have far to go.
Best of luck.
I just use a regular little draw string backpack. I also have a net under my chair. My chair is a rigid though.
edit: as for back pads, get a new back. They can place a Jay back or Motion Concepts (the best), back onto a manual chair. I have an Invacare Crossfire with a Matrix Motion Concepts back.