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Some of the most popular types of wheelchairs:
Manual wheelchair
The simple manual wheelchair is cheaper than the others and has big wheels, which makes it easy for people to be able to use the wheelchair by themselves. It usually doesn’t have many options, but it can come in different sizes, with many options for adjustment, accessories or one might even have the possibility of ordering one with personalized configurations. It is mostly recommended for older people with mobility problems or people recovering from surgeries that have difficulties moving or other cases where the use of the wheelchair will be temporary.
Transportation wheelchair
It has small wheels and it is foldable, which means it can be stored easily. You always need someone to push, since it doesn’t have propulsion wheels. They are comfortable and easy to transport, good for people with less mobility in the upper body or in the arms.
Reclinable wheelchair
They can recline, which makes it possible to change the position of the body, avoiding problems like the bedsores and also allows to stabilize the pelvis and obtain a correct leg positioning. They are recommended for people who spend a lot of time sitting and wish to make postural adjustments, and it is indicated for people with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Active wheelchair
The active wheelchair in monobloc are those that usually can be folded in an L. It is really light. The user can push himself around with their arms, which means he doesn’t need another person to help him the whole time. The active wheelchair is chosen by many active users, including sport players or athletes, because it provides a more dynamic daily life.
Electric wheelchair
The electric wheelchairs can be driven by the user using a joystick. They enable an adequate posture and also assure good mobility in an autonomous way. It is a great model for people with little strength in their arms or people with diseases such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, besides stroke victims. Only people with motor destery in their hand and without any psychological or intellectual difficulties can use electric wheelchairs, for safety reasons. There is always the possibility of personalizing some configurations of the wheelchair.
Wheelchair with lift
Also known as “the wheelchair that stays up”, this wheelchair is perfect for people who need more autonomy. The user is able to be standing while using this wheelchair, which makes it easy for people to access tall things inside their own house. Nowadays, the more modern wheelchairs can make that elevation automatically, but there are still a few that work manually. They are indicated for users that need special care when it comes to digestive, circulatory and respiratory functions.
Pediatric wheelchair
They are made according to the dimensions and necessities of the children. They can be personalized according to the user's characteristics.
Bath wheelchair
It is really good for users with mobility difficulties or with disabilities that have difficulties taking care of their daily higiene. It is made from light materials that don’t rust when they touch water. It might contain a seat that adapts to the toilet, making it easier and more comfortable for the user to do their physiological necessities.
Anti-microbial wheelchair
Some companies produce this type of chair treated with anti-microbial technology on the most part of the contact surfaces with the users. This technology tries to slow down or prevent the increasing of dust or smells caused by bacterias. The upholstery can be made from vinyl, instead of nylon.
Bariatric wheelchair
The bariatric wheelchairs can bear up to 320 quilos and can have seats with 24, 26, 28 or 30 inches.
Sport wheelchair
Athletes often have a wheelchair for their daily life and a sports wheelchair for whenever they practise their sports. Sports wheelchairs are lighter and easier to handle. The seat is smaller and the chair doesn’t have any arm or head supports, in order to allow a greater rage of motion. In a lot of cases, they are equipped with wheels adapted to the type of place of the sports practice. Their wheels are usually inclined so they can control velocity better, the chassi is shorter and reinforced, and the seat is inclinable.
Here are some examples of sports wheelchairs:
in adapted athletics, the race requires the use of a specific wheelchair, with a rigid chassi and three wheels, as well as accessories such as gloves and a helmet.
in para-cycling, they use a handbike, which is a hand wheelchair with three wheels, transmission elements (plates, diverters, handles) and braking elements (handle, brake levers)
In order to choose a wheelchair, you have to take into account and understand two different systems:
The seating system (set that accommodates the sitting posture)
The mobility system (the set that allows a person to move around, allowing someone the institutional right to come and go)
We also need to consider the user’s measurements, like their arm position (center of rotation of the shoulder) according to the rear chair-center axis of gravity, as well as the duration of the usage of the wheelchair. The correct position prevents shoulder injuries in a small amount of time through the improvement of the efficiency of the propulsion, regardless of the chair, preserving and conserving the user’s energy.
There are also some accessories that can create more comfort for the users. Some examples of those items are the rigid backrest, the high density pillow and the anti-tipping devices.