Selecting the right mobility wheelchair is not as easy especially if it is your first time to get it. This holds especially true since there are so many options currently available, and it is important that you find one that will suit your lifestyle. Depending on whether you want a small bag that you can carry with you at all times or something you will be using every day, they are all different with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Getting through this world does not have to be complicated. This guide will focus on the available types of wheelchairs today, factors to consider in choosing the best and how one can evaluate his or her mobility requirements. You will be informed about the need to have that comfort and convenience not forgetting the addendum you may require.
So let’s start this Adventure to get the right wheelchair for you!
Understanding the Different Types of Wheelchairs
When it comes to wheelchair mobility, selection is a major factor learned through the study. The two principal reasons why manual wheelchairs are preferred is because of its simplicity of operation and the feel of control possessed by the user. They enable the user to bounce oneself or to have someone else push.
Power wheelchairs are another category which follow a different mechanism. These are battery operated and are ideal for those who can easily get exhausted or are physically challenged especially in their upper body strength.
The sport wheelchairs are designed to fulfill an active life. Made for sporting events they are lighter in weight in order to allow them to speed across terrains with ease.
Transport wheelchairs offer a compact choice for people who want to switch between their chair and another mode of transport easily. These models are light in weight, and you can fold and lift but cannot propel on your own hence the need for assistance.
Wound care mattress-offloading offers comfort by offloading pressure; however, it does not afford changes in position. Both are unique and necessary depending on the situation in which a person finds himself/herself; hence, the need to choose the most appropriate one.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wheelchair
Several important factors relate to the case while selecting the right wheelchair. Begin with the experience you go through on a daily basis and the surroundings you interact with most. Do you plan to use the item mostly indoors or outside? Depending on the surface of the area to be negotiated, there are various wheelchairs available on the market.
Weight is another important factor. Less weight will make the model easy to manage perhaps if they need to be lifted into a car or truck. On the same note, a more robust design could prove to be more beneficial for those in need of firm support.
Consider how often the chair will be used for since this determines its material make and design as well as the padding of the upholstery. Perhaps, if it becomes a part of your life you’re going to spend a significant amount of time in- comfort should be the deciding factor.
Do not leave out storage space as that is also a major element to consider. Some of the wheelchairs can be modified to fold while others can barely fit into small spaces or car trunks. Such distinctions are critical when selecting an item that integrates into your life naturally.
Assessing Your Lifestyle and Mobility Needs
It will also pay to know about your lifestyle in a bid to arrive at the apt choice of the wheelchair you want to purchase. Reflect on the activities that you like most and errands that require the use of your hands most of the time. Do you travel a lot? Do like walking in the park but in silence?
This is true concerning one’s daily pattern of activities or schedule, which is of great importance. If you often move in and out of narrow spaces around your home, then it is better to go for the compact model. However, if you want something that can take you to explore the outdoors, performance and versatility are the things that matter.
Also consider the need for movement of the patients too. Will someone help you or will you create the propulsion on your own? This difference can significantly influence which characteristics are critical for the comfort and convenience of the gadgets in question.
Do not forget to consider whether or not there will be any alterations in the chosen lifestyle in the future. This prevents the selected from becoming irrelevant as changes occur thus the essence of anticipating a change.
The Importance of Proper Fit and Comfort
Comfort and fit in a wheelchair is very important. Poor fit can make a person feel uncomfortable or even get injuries when using the particular equipment. A correctly chosen chair has a precise adjustment to your body.
In the process of experimenting with various models, focus on the sensations. Your back should be flexibly aligned in such manner that does not exert pressure on it. The armrests should be jerk forward, that is, set at the correct heights to allow individuals to transfer comfortably from their mode of transport (be it car, plane, train, taxi, etc. ) to another.
But do not overlook the seat depth as well as the width. These dimensions are very critical in affecting daily usage of products at a consumer’s home. They can label it as good advice, but if they’re squeezed and feel an instability there, this is not the place.
Comfort is not only related to the ability to wear garments, but also to how freely you can move around. The more comfortable it is, the more you will occupy your chair with full confidence during the entire working day.
The final aspect that needs to be specified when creating a product is the material. Comfortable chairs go a long way in ensuring that one does not spend their working time in a chair fidgeting. Make sure that the jersey ticks both the comfort and the fitting boxes to be as comfortable as possible each time you have to move around.
Additional Features and Accessories to Consider
When choosing a wheelchair, especially for a child, one needs to look beyond the features. The subtitle here is something that can add a lot more to your experience.
Some of them include adjustable arm rests, foot rests, and reclining position for improved comfort of the users. These options enable one to adjust the backrest of the chair according to the needs of the user.
Storage is another area that cannot go unnoticed, especially in relation to memory. Personal items can be safely and conveniently stored in a separate pocket or in a back pack that clips on to the side of the pack.
Ignore options such as anti-tip wheels or brakes which should be simple to engage. Others give assurance each time you are conducting your day to day undertakings.
Outdoor enthusiasts should focus on mobility devices that are appropriate for the paths they will be traversing and feature strong tires and body.
Take artificial limb lights or smartphone holders for example; this are inventions that would be of great help when on the move. Every accessory overlays a specific comfort in consideration of the facts in a particular life style.
