Easy Guide To Manual And Electric Wheelchairs
Article by Helen Hecker
Whether you need a manual or electric wheelchair, there are many advantages and disadvantages to consider for each. Or you may need both for different purposes.
A manual wheelchair should work if you have enough good strength in your arms to push whether the surface is flat or on an incline such as a wheelchair ramp. Some manuals come with hand aids called hand rims, with knobs which are easier to hold onto rather than rims alone.
Some people use a manual wheelchair only, while others use both a manual and an electric. This may depend on the distance, the surface, and whether they need to be lifted up any stairs or help loading the chair into a car, etc. You might need an electric chair to get to work, but use a manual chair when you come home. High school or college students may use an electric chair at school on campus, where they might need to travel a short or long distance from building to building. Using a combination may be the best use of energy or limit overuse of the body.
When choosing a manual chair, you’ll want to know how easy it is to push it along and how well it coasts so you don’t have to expend much energy pushing it.
Maintenance is important. You want to keep the tires inflated and the frame tight. You will want to note that modern adjustable wheelchairs need attention to the axle position, the seat angle, the back height, and many other features that influence the ease of wheeling the chair. The lighter the weight, the less force you have to push, so if you’re in between you should consider the weight when choosing.
The main advantages and disadvantages of manual wheelchairs are: They require strength and balance to move; they take more energy going distances and up inclines or wheelchair ramps; they can add to aerobic and muscular health; they are easier to transport; the user can be lifted up any stairs while still in the chair; there are lower maintenance requirements because there are fewer parts; it doesn’t need charging batteries or have the possible failure of batteries and they are usually narrower and easier to move around in small spaces.
The main advantages and disadvantages of power or electric wheelchairs are: You can travel distances regardless of your strength; it can contribute to muscular weakening if you’re not participating in a regular exercise program; they are a lot heavier and not as easy to transport as a manual; there is more maintenance risk because they are more complex; they cost more and servicing and repairs cost more than manual; the control programming is high tech; there is a wide variety of types including mid, front, and rear-wheel drives both for individual and variety of terrains and if the user is not able to lift their body you can get one with tilt and/or recline systems for relief from pressure.
About the Author
For more info on electric wheelchairs and travel tips for people with health issues, go to a nurse’s website: http://www.AllAboutDisabledTravel.com since 1982 specializing in travel, travel insurance, wheelchairs, exercise, sports, camps, recreation with tips, help, advice and resources including info on manual wheelchairs
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Question by filmman316: why do wheelchair users get a different treatment in sociaty than others?
for example when you are standing and talking to someone in a wheelchair
any type of wheeled mobility device manual or electric or a wheelchair pushed by someone
try to think of any times you talked to someone in a wheelchair
please only answer truth fully and if you do not need a wheelchair to get around to live youre life
thanks for youre help and understanding
youre help is greatly appericated and kept confidential i will not spread it beyond yahoo answers
Best answer:
Answer by BeansLady
They need to be treated better, except when they go 90mph through the mall on the electric wheel chairs, then thats not right.
Add your own answer in the comments!
MAGICWHEELS (MAGIC WHEELS) helpful tips for users and unique features of the geared manual wheelchair wheels.
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Helpful for Self-Care, Easy on Caregiver; Not Heavy Duty Chair,
This product IS HELPFUL as a Lightweight Wheelchair that you can PUSH YOURSELF in or to use as a Transport chair when someone else is assisting you. My friends, mostly ladies, say it is EASY TO LIFT, fold and put into a car, and have no problems with assembly/disassembly. It can also Fold Compactly and be tucked away into a closet.
It is a transport chair with “big-wheels” on the sides to allow for self-propelling. The wheels seem similar to bicycle tires, with an outer wheel/rim made of aluminum. Wheels are lightweight, but do seem to support weight well (less than 250lbs., comfortably). The Nylon Seating material, similar to other transport chairs, is comfortable and does prevent perspiration and odor buildup. Nylon pouch on back of chair is more convenient for caregiver. Arm rests seem comfortable, and CHAIR ROLLS UNDER STANDARD DESK for better sitting at computer. Feetrests are extremely easy to assemble, and are very sturdy.
PROS
- Lightweight*, Easy Assembly/Disassembly
- Very Easy to Lift for Caregivers of most ages and strength
- Folds easily into small spaces: Vehicle, Backseats, Closet too!
*Weight Supported: probably no more than 225 comfortably
- Rolls Well on Smooth Surfaces
- Fairly comfortable without extra cushions (use your own judgment)
- Others can push you very fast and very smoothly
- Shipped very quickly with “Pop-Up” Assembly, e.g., unfold chair and it’s ready to use.
Considerations –
- Almost suited more for child rather than adult (I’m a short person); but works
- Feet Rests are High, Knees may feel like they’re in your chest
– This May NOT be comfortable for those with Hip Replacements
- Wheels Not Suitable for Gravel or Tough Terrain
- Not for heavy snow.
- Pushing Self is ok even with arthritis / arm/joint problems (take it easy though, doesn’t roll too fast)
- Careful not to get hands entangled in Wheel / Spokes when Pushing Self
- Paratransit services may be rough on chair if their straps / anchors are used WHILE you’re sitting in the chair. (The full body weight on the chair along with their heavy straps may bend parts of the chair during a rough ride; have not tried this yet.)
Overall, I WOULD recommend this chair for people who are able to push themselves even a little. It will help you maintain independence, and lighten the load from your caregiver.
(Owned chair 5 months; Outdoor use frequent)
Was this review helpful to you?
|Ask Carlos Mencia, he will tell you all about it
well they are fragile people ,like a glass they have to be handled with care
Because they are disabled and needs our help.
they get treated differently because they have to depend in that device and they have problems getting their way around, imagine if you were in a wheelchair would you be the same and would you have the same ability to move around like you do now? think about it
Because, they are sincerely different, even from a cognitive perspective ( that means excluding any physical aspect). Now, you can right-fully conclude that the physical affects the mental. Thus you can right-fully conclude that wheelchair users think differently on a microscopic scale than the normal population, but you already knew that.
I teach at a school and I have a pupil that is in a wheelchair she gets different treatment because the orther collegues notice she is different and that she needs help
whenever we need to change classrooms they carry her all over the school
but they never laugh at her
they simply do something she can not
so maybe we offend these people by trying to help
it is not intentional
Because you automatically feel sorry for them. You don’t know why you just do. You figure your life ain’t that bad look at that poor person. At least we don’t have to deal with depending on people to get around Thank God!! Thank you God!!!!
i think the haughty healthy selfish people in todays society look at people with any physical impairment as weak and lesser of a person, this greatly saddens me as one of those people is my mother, who is wise and strong minded and before diabetes took her physical strength from her was a strong hard working, fishing, gardening, etc…busy lady…her mind never stopped working and the truly weak people in this pic are the ones that pass by these gems in chairs that we know so well, shame on you LOSERS that don’t give EVERYBODY a chance…YOU LOSE!!!!
There may be an element of guilt involved in the behavior of most fully-abled people who interact with those who must use a wheelchair to get around. It’s similar to “survivor’s syndrome:” “Why am I able to walk when this person isn’t?”
Then there’s the “looking down” factor: like it or not, height is a factor in how most people view others, and people who have to use a wheelchair are perforce shorter than most others.
But I suspect that most often, it’s simply not having been in regular contact with those who must use wheelchairs. They simply feel uncomfortable because they don’t know how to act.
They get treated differently, because they have needs to be treated differently than people who can walk.
They are limited in what they can do in a world made for people who can walk.
We who have the freedom that the ability to walk without pain or the very ability to walk need them in our lives badly! They remind us of our fragile hold on this freedom we don;t give an extra thought to. We are going to treat them with respect and a helpful and caring attitude, it comes naturally.
The fear of it being us there in that chair makes us treat them better than we ever treat anyone else. We are aware it could happen at any time to any one of us.
My answer then in summary of my thoughts is …..We treat them different in society because we fear what fate has brought to them, and could bring to us in a split second of time.
Because the world is prejudiced. Get used to it.
our seniors taught us that way. okay, it’s a very good point to ponder now. society is changing. we should think how to teach our children now on
Because they are handicapped. When you see someone in a wheelchair, think to yourself, “there, but for the grace of God, go I.” Then be cheerful and extend any courtesy that may make that person feel like a normal person. It’s really the only decent way to behave.
Give wheelchairs to all I say… But I think of everybody equally… Have a good day
They are disabled and need to be helped by someone while doing work. They also deserve the respect in the society. Anybody could be disabled at any moment of their life. It depends on God’s will and our fate. Fate is never known. So people who aren’t disabled should never be proud of themselves. Let’s help the disabled persons and that will make them feel better and happy.
because people just like to mean and discrimate against those that are less fortunate…whether it be someone in a wheelchair or an elderly person. people nowadays just don’t have respect anymore and it is really sad to see all this happening.
I have had a spell of being a wheelchair user & am also a nurse & have cared for many wheelchair users with varying degrees of physical & mental disability.
We should remember that, first & foremost, people who use wheelchairs are just that – people who need to use a wheelchair in order to be mobile. They deserve the same courtesy & respect that all people deserve – no more, no less! But they do also need others to be aware that because they have to use a wheelchair, they need certain special consideration e.g room to manouvere their wheelchair, help with reaching items beyond their reach etc.
In my experience, most physically challenged (disabled) people want & need to be treated like all normal people. They don’t want you to feel sorry for them, just for you to be kind, considerate & helpful.
During my spell of using a wheelchair, I made a trip to my local bank with my sister & even though it was me that wanted to do business in the bank, the clerk totally ignored me & only spoke to my sister. This really angered me – I felt unwanted & invisible. I spoke to the bank manager about my experience & suggested that he trained his staff in dealing with disabled & wheelchair using people.
Remember, just because a person has to use a wheelchair in order to be mobile, doesn’t automatically make that person a retard, hard of hearing or any less a person than the rest of us.
Until you have experienced what it is like to have to use a wheelchair, you simply cannot imagine the range & enormity of the problems & disrespect you can encounter.
How I treat a disabled person really depends on how they appear to be getting around. If someone is obviously struggling, I’ll offer to help. However, if he or she can whip his or her chair around and manuever very well, I don’t give any special treatment. Basically, it’s a judgement call on my part. I make it a point to never treat them differently, although I do sometimes privately wonder what difficulties they’ve endured to be in a chair.
It all depends on the person. Like me for instance, I get treated differently because I’m small and have no limbs so people automatically assume I can’t do anything at all or completely ignore me. I hate it because I can do some stuff, but it’s just because I’m different. People don’t know how to act. But if you get one of those with a disability who feel sorry for themselves and don’t even try and let people give them special treatment. If I can do stuff so can they. You don’t need limbs to do so. I hate people who take advantage of people who don’t know.