Selecting the right wheelchair is crucial for enhancing mobility, independence, and quality of life. With a wide range of options available, understanding the different types and their features is essential to make an informed decision.
Understanding Your Needs
Before diving into the specifics of wheelchair types, it's essential to assess your individual requirements. Consider your medical condition and any specific mobility challenges you face. Think about your daily activities, home environment, and transportation needs. Evaluate your upper body strength, balance, and coordination. It's also important to consider potential changes in your condition over time, as this may influence your choice of wheelchair. Understand what it entails to look after and maintain your wheelchair. This article will guide you through the process of choosing the wheelchair that best suits your needs.
Manual Wheelchairs
Standard Manual Wheelchairs
Standard manual wheelchairs are versatile and suitable for those who need to be pushed or do some self-propelling. They're typically made of steel or aluminium and can be folded for easy transport.
In addition to self-propelled wheelchairs, which feature larger wheels for enhanced comfort and manoeuvrability, manual wheelchairs can also be transit wheelchairs. These lightweight, compact chairs are designed for attendant-assisted transportation, offering a convenient and portable solution for safe, short-distance mobility. Transit wheelchairs feature smaller wheels for easy manoeuvrability, benefiting both caregivers and users in various settings.
Active Manual Wheelchairs
Designed for users who lead dynamic lifestyles active manual wheelchairs offer enhanced manoeuvrability and are often customisable to suit individual needs. Materials usually consist of aluminium, titanium, or carbon fibre to provide a robust and lightweight frame.
Tilt-in-space Manual Wheelchairs
These wheelchairs allow the seat and back to tilt as a unit, providing pressure relief and postural support for users with more complex needs.
Advantages of manual wheelchairs include lower cost, easier transportability, and the potential for upper body exercise. There are also various powerpacks/power add-ons available to provide assistance with most manual wheelchairs. However, they require more physical effort to operate and may not be suitable for users with limited upper body strength.
Powerchairs
Standard Powerchairs
Standard powerchairs are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, offering motorised mobility for users with limited strength or endurance.
Indoor Powerchairs
Compact indoor powerchairs offer a convenient, cost-effective and comfortable way of getting around your house in comfort.
Indoor & Outdoor Powerchairs
Offering the greatest versatility, these powered wheelchairs can be used both inside and out, and range from basic up to high-end prescriptive models.
Off-Road Powerchairs
Off-road powerchairs are specially designed mobility devices that enable users to navigate challenging terrains with ease and confidence. These powerchairs typically feature robust construction, enhanced suspension systems, and powerful motors that provide the necessary torque and traction for rough landscapes, such as trails, hills, and uneven surfaces.
Folding Powerchairs
Folding powerchairs offer a convenient way of travelling with your wheelchair, and are lightweight and easy to operate.
Standing Powerchairs
Standing powerchairs allow users to achieve a standing position, offering health benefits and increased reach.
Powerchairs offer significant advantages for those with mobility challenges. Their electric motors and controls enable effortless navigation, ideal for users with limited strength. Featuring comfortable seating and adjustable options, they prioritise both support and safety.
Paediatric Wheelchairs
Available in both manual and powered versions, these are designed to meet the unique needs of children, often with growth adjustability.
Bariatric Wheelchairs
These manual and powered wheelchairs are built to support higher weight capacities, offering wider seats and reinforced frames.
Click to explore our ranges of manual wheelchairs, active wheelchairs, and powerchairs with both adult and paediatric options.
Standard vs Prescriptive Options
Standard manual wheelchairs or powerchairs are pre-configured, affordable options suitable for straightforward mobility needs. They're the "off-the-shelf" solution, offering basic features without customisation.
Prescriptive manual wheelchairs or powerchairs are custom-built to meet specific user requirements, offering advanced seating options, controls, and positioning features tailored to complex needs and medical conditions.
The choice between standard and prescriptive depends on your specific needs, medical conditions, and lifestyle. A professional assessment is key to determining the best option for enhancing your independence and quality of life which typically involves:
Evaluation of physical abilities and limitations
Discussion of lifestyle and environmental needs
Pressure mapping for seating comfort
3D Scan and CAD modelling for custom fit (in some cases)
Customisation and Accessories
Consider various options that can improve comfort and functionality. Explore seating and positioning solutions, such as cushions, backrests, and headrests, to ensure proper support. Additionally, add-ons like elevating leg rests and oxygen tank holders can increase the wheelchair's functionality. For manual wheelchairs, power add-ons and powerpacks are motorised attachments that assist caregivers in pushing and navigating different terrains with less effort. If you're using a powerchair, special controls such as alternate joysticks, head controls, and sip-and-puff systems are available for those who cannot use conventional joysticks.
Maintenance and Repair
When choosing the right type of wheelchair, it's crucial to consider maintenance and repair requirements. Different wheelchair models have varying levels of complexity and maintenance needs, which can significantly impact long-term usability and costs. Manual wheelchairs generally require simpler maintenance, such as regular cleaning, tyre inflation, and occasional bearing lubrication. In contrast, power wheelchairs may need more frequent and specialised care, including battery maintenance, motor checks, and electronic system updates. Consider the availability of servicing and spare parts for your chosen model. We recommend authorised engineers carry out all repairs, whether it be a basic or prescriptive wheelchair. Additionally, think about your own ability or willingness to perform basic maintenance tasks. Opting for a wheelchair with easily replaceable parts and user-friendly maintenance features can save time and money in the long run. Ultimately, choosing a wheelchair that balances your mobility needs with manageable maintenance requirements will ensure a more reliable and satisfying mobility experience.
Making Your Decision
Remember, the best type of wheelchair is one that seamlessly integrates into your daily activities, providing the support and independence you need. Several key factors should be taken into account. These include the expected duration of use, the complexity of the user's needs, budget constraints, and available insurance or funding options. It's also important to consider the potential for future adaptability, the user's physical condition and abilities, and whether the wheelchair will be used primarily indoors, outdoors, or both. Practical considerations such as transportation, storage requirements, comfort, and seating needs should not be overlooked. Additionally, factor in the maintenance and care requirements to ensure the chosen wheelchair remains functional and reliable over time.
Short-term use may suit standard wheelchairs, while long-term daily use often benefits from prescriptive solutions. Complex needs typically require a prescriptive approach and an assessment. While prescriptive options are more expensive, consider their long-term value and potential health benefits.
By carefully evaluating these aspects, you can make an informed decision that best suits the user's specific situation and long-term mobility needs.
At Wheelfreedom, we offer a huge range of wheelchairs options, from standard manual models to the more complex high-performance prescriptive chairs, and everything in-between. We also provide comprehensive maintenance and repair service packages across London and the South East to keep your mobility equipment in optimal condition.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation or make an appointment here for wheelchairs or powerchairs and take the first step towards enhanced mobility and independence.
