What are the Pros and Cons of a Manual Wheel Chair?

What are the Pros and Cons of a Manual Wheel Chair?



Are you trying to decide between a manual wheel chair and an electric one? Before I explain the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair as opposed to an electric wheel chair, here are some important considerations to take into effect.

A manual wheel chair requires you to use your own muscles to propel yourself forward. So if you have decent to good upper body strength, these may be ideal for you. You can get manual wheel chairs that are lightweight. You can also get sports chairs and outdoor chairs too.

Here are the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair:

Pros:
1. More affordable.
2. Great for temporary/short term use.
3. May maintain upper body strength and endurance, as it is a self-propelled wheel chair requiring upper body ability.
4. Most common models are lightweight and fairly easy to transport.
5. May require less maintenance.

Cons:

1. If you lack upper body strength or ability, and the ability to self-propel yourself throughout the day, on a daily basis – manually, then this may not be the wheel chair for you.
2. Harder to get around than in an electric wheel chair. You lose the luxury of “automatic” mobility the electric wheel chair offers.
3. Depending upon your condition, you may require a helper to push you around if you own a manual wheel chair.

When talking to a sales rep at a wheel chair store, it’s important to let him or her know your physical condition. What you will and will not be capable of.

Let him or her know if you have a nurse or someone available who can push you and if temporary, for how long you expect to be in the wheel chair. (If it’s not to long, you may want to look into getting a used wheel chair or even wheel chair rental.) With that information, he or she can better help you pick out the model and brand perfect for you.


What Kinds of Wheelchairs are There?

Just like there are many makes and models of cars, so are there many makes and models of wheelchairs.  Trying to figure what wheel chair to buy can be a confusing, and long task.  So let’s break it down into two types of wheel chairs you can own and then further break down the styles of wheel chairs available.

There are two main categories of wheelchairs.  They are:

Electric Wheel Chairs: Electric wheelchairs are powered by a motor.   In other words, they do not require physical effort – muscle power to make them move. They’re the higher-class version of the wheel chair wherein you use a control to direct the wheelchair where you want it to go.

Manual Wheel Chairs: Manual wheel chairs require you to use your muscles, physical effort to move you around from place to place.

Next, you have 6 styles of wheel chairs to choose from.  You want to make sure you pick the style that best suits your needs.

Standard Wheel Chair:  This wheel chair is designed for the person who weighs under 300lbs.  And can self-propel themselves easily or has someone available to push them in it.  A plus about this wheel chair is that if the user or helper does not have trouble lifting up to 45 pounds, then they’ll find this wheel chair ideal.  This wheel chair also is less expensive than most out there.

Lightweight Wheel Chair: This is one of the most popular types of manual wheelchairs.  It does everything the standard wheelchair does, but weighs 10lbs less.

Heavy Duty, Extra Wide/Bariatric Wheel Chair: This is a heavy-duty wheel chair designed to be used by people weighing 300 to 1000lbs.

Reclining Wheel Chair:  If you spend long hours in a wheel chair or need to be put into a prone position at times, then this might be the wheel chair style for you.  The drawback is that it’s very heavy and hard to transport from place to place.

Transport Wheel Chair:  As the name implies this wheel chair is used occasionally.  It’s very lightweight and easy to carry in your vehicle. The drawback is that it cannot be self-propelled by hand – it requires someone to push it.  Or you may have to use your feet to “scoot” to where you need to go.

What Wheel Chair is Right for Me? 

The wheel chair you pick out, should ultimately be based upon several things:

-How long you’re going to be in a wheel chair.
-Your health and physical well-being.
-How often you must travel.
-Cost.

Generally speaking, if you are in decent enough condition to be able to propel yourself around in a wheel chair and you expect that being in a wheel chair will be a temporary thing, then buying a manual wheel chair might be the right way to go.  Compared to electric wheel chairs, manual wheel chairs are cheaper and usually lighter.

On the other hand, if you are confined to a wheel chair or will be for a very long time, then an electric wheel chair may be the perfect route for you.  Think about this:  If you have little upper body strength and your body is not “able” enough, trying to self-propel yourself around in a manual wheel chair will make life miserable.  Why exhaust yourself trying to get around if your body is not up for it?  That’s what makes electric wheelchairs a good option.

Now there are other factors to take into consideration when choosing a wheel chair that’s right for you.  They are:
Seat Size:  This is absolutely critical to your quality of life when choosing a wheel chair.  You ideally want to have the wheel chair user sit on a measuring tape to inches to allow for heavy clothing such as winter coats.  Also, if possible, have the wheel chair user sit upright in the chair, then measure from the back of the seat to about two inches behind their knees. You’re doing this because you want to be sure the seat is long enough to provide proper leg support without rubbing or irritating the back of their lower legs.

Keep in mind, that for a person 5’4” and taller, the standard 19” to 21” seat height will work well for them, unless they’re using a wheel chair seat cushion.

If the wheel chair user is 5’4” and shorter, then the hemi seat height of 17” to 18” seat height will usually be ideal for them.
And for the person who’s 4’11” and shorter, the super hemi seat height of 14” to 16” is usually what you’ll want. 

Then there’s the footrest of the wheel chair to take into consideration.  It’s important to know that the more the wheel chair footrest sticks out, the harder it is to maneuver the wheel chair.  And some footrests are better quality than others.  It’s inevitable that a wheel chair user will bump into objects and when that happens the footrest will usually be the part that takes the most punishment.  Here are two types of footrests to choose from: 

Standard Footrest:  If the wheel chair user doesn’t need their legs elevated, but need the footrest to swing out of the way to get in and out of the wheel chair then you might want what’s called the “Swing-Away Footrest.”  Keep in mind these footrests do not have calf pads to support the leg. 

Elevating Legrest: If the wheel chair user has issues with their legs such as swelling then then this type of footrest may be ideal for them.  This footrest does have calf pads. 

Finally, there are the armrests of the wheel chair to take into consideration.  There are two types:  Desk Length Arms, which are ideal for getting close to desks and tables.  There’s also Full Length Arms, which are good for the user to push themselves up from the wheelchair, or if extra arm support is required. Please note Full Length Arms take roughly 2 inches off the seat width.

One last consideration of armrests is that for people taller and shorter than the average person, you ideally want to look into adjustable arms to compensate for height requirements.


What are the Pros and Cons of a Manual Wheel Chair? 

Are you trying to decide between a manual wheel chair and an electric one?  Before I explain the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair as opposed to an electric wheel chair, here are some important considerations to take into effect.  A manual wheel chair requires you to use your own muscles to propel yourself forward.  So if you have decent to good upper body strength, these may be ideal for you.  You can get manual wheel chairs that are lightweight.  You can also get sports chairs and outdoor chairs too.

Here are the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair:

Pros:




  1. More affordable.
  2. Great for temporary/short term use.
  3. May maintain upper body strength and endurance, as it is a self-propelled wheel chair requiring upper body ability.
  4. Most common models are lightweight and fairly easy to transport.
  5. May require less maintenance.


Cons:




  1. If you lack upper body strength or ability, and the ability to self-propel yourself throughout the day, on a daily basis – manually, then this may not be the wheel chair for you.
  2. Harder to get around than in an electric wheel chair.  You lose the luxury of “automatic” mobility the electric wheel chair offers.
  3. Depending upon your condition, you may require a helper to push you around if you own a manual wheel chair.

When talking to a sales rep at a wheel chair store, it’s important to let him or her know your physical condition.  What you will and will not be capable of. Let him or her know if you have a nurse or someone available who can push you and if temporary, for how long you expect to be in the wheel chair.  (If it’s not to long, you may want to look into getting a used wheel chair or even wheel chair rental.) With that information, he or she can better help you pick out the model and brand perfect for you.


Wheel Chair Rental: When to Do It 

Many elderly people who suffer hip problems and require a cane or walker to get around may find wheel chair rental extremely helpful as there are times when relying on a cane or walker isn’t enough in a public setting. Wheel chair rental is a viable option for these people, and it’s an especially good option for people who only need a wheel chair to provide that extra “cushion of comfort” for getting around quickly and easily.

So how affordable is it to rent a wheel chair? Wheel chair rentals can range from $70 weekly to $195 weekly for an electric wheel chair.  For long-term wheel chair rental use, you can usually get a special deal for your particular situation.

And you can get various types of wheel chairs, suitable for your situation.  For example, if you expect to be outdoors, exploring on terrain difficult for you to get around on with a cane or walker, you can rent a wheel chair perfect for that situation.

Many resort locations in North America and the Caribbean offer wheel chair rental.

Be sure to ask your travel agent to look into getting you set up with a wheel chair rental.  And find out if the place you’re traveling to is wheel chair friendly.

Or, if you’re going to a wedding or any other large family gathering, a wheel chair will be a blessing indeed.  Just pull out your phone book and look up wheel chairs and find the wheel chair rental section. If you don’t see it, call up one of the wheel chair vendors and ask them if they or someone they know offers wheel chair rental.  In most cases they should be able to help you. 

Wheelchairs and Other Medical Equipment

Wheelchairs are a common piece of medical equipment but most of us are unaware of the different types available on the market today. If your are ever in the unenviable position of needing a wheelchair for yourself or a loved one, you must be aware of the different types that are out there. Who would ever imagine there could be such a variety?

First of all, there are the manual wheelchairs that are powered by the user himself or by someone else who pushes the chair for him. These chairs are very light and easy to maneuver and are recommended for everyday or occasional use.

The next on the list are electric wheelchairs, which have a motor and are ideal for someone who must use a wheelchair for most of the day. They are fairly expensive, costing around $3000 or more, and are not recommended for outdoor use as most will not stand up structurally to the rigors of outdoor use.

Sports wheelchairs are available and can be designed for any number of sports. It is advised that you buy a sports specific wheelchair to get the most enjoyment out of your sport.

Believe it or not, you can even buy wheelchairs designed for dogs with mobility problems, though I have yet to see a dog being pushed in a wheelchair by a person.

Some things to consider before buying a wheelchair is whether it is designed for indoor or outdoor use. You might need to buy two if you plan to do a lot of outdoor travel in the wheelchair. You need to consider the size and the weight it can hold. If you plan on car travel, the wheelchair should fold up for easy storage in the trunk. If you are planning to buy an electric wheelchair, you will need to know where the power source is located. An electric wheelchair with a rear wheel power source will usually move faster than ones with a front wheel power source. Will you need a wheelchair that reclines or one with removable armrests? Some wheelchairs have adjustable footrests. Last, but not least, you need to find out if it has a warranty and for how long.

Like any other type of purchase you make, do your research and shop around before you buy. If you put some thought and consideration into what you need in a chair and how much you will use it, you will be much happier with your purchase in the end.

Wheelchairs – Leading A Self-Reliant Lifestyle 

A wheelchair is a device that provides mobility to people who are unable to or have difficulty in walking due to illness, disability or injury. Wheelchairs allow the users to move around relatively easily and to lead an active and independent lifestyle.

Different types of wheelchairs are available in the market to meet individual users' needs, such as the manual wheelchair, power wheelchair and electric wheelchair. Manual wheelchairs are wheelchairs that have to be propelled manually by hand, whereas electric wheelchairs rely on motors for motion. Manual wheelchairs are cheaper than electric wheelchairs because of their simpler functions. They can also be easily folded and stored in smaller areas such as in the trunk of vehicles.

The electric wheelchair, with its ease of use, allows the user to depend less on others and to be more self-reliant. The electric wheelchair has greater maneuverability and a better suspension system that absorbs the bumps the wheels travel over. You can even test drive an electric wheelchair before you decide to purchase one. Since every user's physical disability varies, the user can choose the electric wheelchair control system that is best suited to his physical condition. The user can even customize the electric wheelchair to fit his or her physical need.

Wheelchair users usually need their wheelchairs to be easily accessible, comfortable, and versatile to use. The power wheelchair has literally revolutionized the lives of millions of users. Power wheelchairs offer the freedom to move from one location to another without having to rely on others for help. Powerchairs are generally for those with arm, hand or shoulder disability and have difficulty using a manual wheelchair. The user can control the direction and speed by operating a joystick, and also control many other functions such as reclining and tilting, leg and seat elevation etc.

With the rapid advancement in technology today, wheelchairs are no longer just used to get the users from one point to another; today's wheelchairs now allows users the ability to participate in different sports for the disabled such as downhill wheelchair racing, wheelchair skiing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis etc. Each wheelchair sport has their own customized style of wheelchair designed for speed and agility.


Wheelchairs are available in different sizes, shapes, colors etc. depending on personal preference. To make things more convenient for wheelchair-bound people, equipments such as wheelchair lifts, wheelchair ramps and wheelchair vans etc are also available.


Examining the Different Types of Wheelchair Lifts

A wheelchair lift is a mechanical device used to lift wheelchairs, allowing easy access to people who use wheelchairs or have trouble stepping up. These devices are powered by electricity or hydraulics, but are designed to operate manually in the event that one of the power sources fails. Wheelchair lifts come in two designs, one is a retracting platform and the other is a fold-up lifting device.

Design and functions of Wheelchair Lifts

Wheelchair lifts are mainly designed to function for home use and hospital use. It is easy to operate, easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Every safety measures have been carefully designed into these lifts. The wheelchair lift has a non-slip platform, constant pressure switches, a low platform for easy roll-on/roll-off, safety barrier and railing, and rolled edges. Residential Wheelchair Lifts have maximum lift heights of 50 inches or 72 inches. These Wheelchair Lifts are strong enough to lift wheelchairs and scooters weighing 50pounds.They function with the help of a gearbox attached with a chain. Wheelchair lifts ensure a smooth up and down ride and requires little maintenance. They are manufactured completely attractive in its own style.

These lifts are ideal for buildings where it is not possible to accommodate a wheel chair ramp or an elevator. Wheel chair lifts are also economical and prevent from investing too much on ramps or elevators. Wheelchair lifts or Mobilift can provide handicapped access to indoor and outdoor locations very easily and instantly.

There are different types of wheelchair lifts. They are:

- Inclined Platform Wheelchair lifts: The Inclined Platform wheelchair lifts are manufactured for indoor or outdoor applications. It can be found in residences, schools, churches and public buildings. These are very useful for people who have difficulty in climbing stairs.

- Vertical Platform Wheelchair lifts: The Vertical wheelchair lifts are customized to suit any commercial building application or it can be installed as a home elevator.

- Portable Wheelchair lifts: The Portable Wheelchair lift or the Mobilift is specially designed for easy functionality in school stages, outdoor bleachers, vertical raised platforms, and also in numerous other applications.

- Portable Vertical lifts: The Portable vertical lifts are designed to provide the functions of both Portable Wheelchair lift and Vertical wheelchair lifts and it has access to different other applications.

Guide to Building Your Own Wheelchair Ramp

A wheelchair ramp is a man made inclined plane to move the wheel chair from ground floor to top floors. Wheelchair ramps permit the wheelchair user to move the wheelchairs or other wheeled object to a deck of certain height instead of using a stairs. Wheelchair ramps are more economical than wheelchair lifts and are very convenient

Wheelchair ramps are essential at home for a wheelchair user. Building a ramp at home is easy and cost effective. The ramps are constructed for wheelchairs, but they are also ideal for strollers and scooters. A wheelchair ramp can in fact add a resale value to one's home. In the case of building a ramp, it is very important that the slope not be more than 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of run. Ramps should therefore tend to be long. One will need to build a ramp at least 20 feet long to reach a deck of 20 inches in height. The ramp is constructed with pressure treated lumber to prevent the wood from rotting.

First, one should have to measure up from the ground to find out how many inches the ramp will rise. As for every inch of rise, it will need one foot of run. To accommodate turning at the top of the ramp, up to 5 foot square landing must be laid out with batter boards and mason's lines. Each line must be leveled in order to apply the 3-4-5 triangle principle to square the corner. The line then slides along the batter board until the distance between two points (3 feet and 4 feet from the corner) is 5 feet.

The sod should then be removed from the site and 2-3 inches of soil excavated. It should excavate an extra few inches deeper at the bottom of the ramp so that one can build as close to ground level as possible. Landscape fabric is laid down over the excavated site to prevent grass from growing up through the ramp. Joists are laid out and are installed in the ramps. The inner joists are laid out on the header joists. The hangers are nailed to both sides of the joists. The decking boards are attached to the joists with galvanized deck screws. The boards have to butt together. Since they're pressure treated, the boards will shrink as they dry to leave some gap. One can also design a matching railing for the ramp in its own appealing look.

Insider Information on Power Wheelchairs by HMOS

If you have HMO insurance then you know what a pain in the butt it can be to get yourself a power wheelchair. Power Wheelchairs by HMOS may seem like an impossible tasks but it can be done. Below are some insider information on Power Wheelchairs by HMOS and how you can get one.

The first thing you will need to do is get a 'prescription' of sorts from you doctors. Yes that is right a prescription just like the one that your doctor would right for medication. Doctors can even write prescriptions for wheelchairs, crutches, and slings. There are a great deal of wheelchairs, mobility aids, and devices. They come in many different styles and types.

However, Power Wheelchairs by HMOS are fairly limited. You want to make sure you have prescription from you doctor and be sure that he prescribes that you have a power wheel chair other wise the HMO will want you to have standard issue wheel chair – which is no fun at all!

Deciding on a Power Wheelchairs by HMOS can be tricky. First think about what you do every day and what your daily needs are.

For example if you spend a great deal of time in the chair you want to make sure that there are cushions to relieve pressure, brake extension, and adjustable feet and arms rests. These may not seem important but if you use your chair regularly they will be necessary to make you comfortable. Once you have found the wheel chair of your choice have your doctor write you a prescription for that particular chair this will increase your chances of getting Power Wheelchairs by HMOS.

The Advantages of Wheelchair Ramp Rentals 

Being handicapped is not the end of the whole but it certainly can feel like it. It is easy to become depressed and feel as if there are very little options in terms of what you can do and how the rest of your life will be. The depression does pass and you realize that you want to live and live well.

One of the first things you will need, if you are in wheelchair, is a wheelchair ramp. For folks that do not have a handy partner or family member to build an elaborate and well constructed ramp, you can always rent on.

I bet you never thought that there were Wheelchair Ramp Rentals. If you are going to get out and about you definitely need to be able to access your house, car, garage, and any place else easily and with little help.

Wheelchair Ramp Rentals can be rented from the same place you would rent wheelchair accessible vans or even wheelchairs. If you do not know where to begin call a wheelchair place. If they do not have Wheelchair Ramp Rentals then they should be able to give you a name and number of someplace that does.

Remember being in a wheel chair or having a disability does not mean you are out of the game. You just have to find a new way to play it. Begin with getting out of the house with Wheelchair Ramp Rentals. Just getting some fresh air is a great place to begin your emotion recovery. 



Should I get an Electric Wheelchair Standup Type? 

The first city in the whole United States of America to allow the use of electric wheelchair stand type of mobility device was San Diego. Sand Diego has always been a city that has been forward in it's thinking and liberal in thought. Electric wheelchair standup type of mobility device works very similar to that of a chair.

It helps the disable person to daily tasks, and helps free them from being dependent on loved ones and friends. Of course wheel chairs in the past where no where close to the electric wheelchair standup type. They were just standard models that people had to push around.

Today things have changed. Electric wheelchair standup type have increase mobility. In addition, almost all places have wheelchair access now which allows all people the ability to move freely.

Believe it or not there is even a lemon law for wheel chairs. This type of law states that all companies which sell wheelchairs must supply wheel chair users with a functioning wheel chair or fix it for free. In the event that the company not fix an electric wheelchair standup type, they must give the person a new wheel chair for free. They may also give the client a refund if that is what they want. This type of law not only works for electric wheelchair standup type but all wheelchairs and mobility devices. This law is needed, like the lemon law for cars, to make sure the consumer's rights are protected.

Should I get a Wheelchair Assist Seat?

You might be wondering what the heck is a wheelchair assist seat. This is a cushion seat that goes on the seat of wheelchair. When activated it helps people up to their feet by slowly raising the seat at a slight incline. This all the individual to rise slowly and not hurt themselves.

A wheelchair assist seat can be extremely expensive and most folks are going to need help buying one. For people who do not have private insurance Medicare will sometimes cover about 80% of the cost for both the wheelchair assist seat and the wheelchair. If you have a secondary insurance they will usually cover the rest.
 
The problem is that to get wheelchair assist seat you have to quality and meet certain criteria.

The wheelchair assist seat must be used for mobility reasons and the individual who wants the wheelchair assist seat must have severe mobility restrictions. In addition to get an electric wheelchair or wheelchair assist seat you can not be able to use a normal manual wheel chair. For people who are too weak, old, or sick this works out pretty well.

However, for people who are younger and would like some extra help there can be problems in acquiring a wheelchair assist seat. If you feel like you need a wheelchair assist seat then speak to your doctor. He will need to write you a specific prescription for a wheelchair assist seat and then you will have submit a request to medicare. 
                                                                            
Why Buy a Karma Reclining Wheelchair? 

A Karma Reclining Wheelchair is a great wheel chair to buy especially if you have a loved one that is unable to walk and has difficulty moving to and from the chair themselves. The Karma Reclining Wheelchair works like a regular wheelchair. It have folding arm rest and feet rests and can be folded up to be stored or moved.

However, the Karma Reclining Wheelchair is different in that the back of the chair fully reclines. When the back is reclined it looks like a a mini bed and can be extremely useful. It allows wheelchair bound patients the ability to lay down when needed. It quickly folds from a sitting position to a laying position which can be much more comfortable for injured patients.

If you are interested in a Karma Reclining Wheelchair you must specifically ask your doctor for it.

Most insurance companies will not pay for a Karma Reclining Wheelchair unless they have a note from your doctor saying why you or your loved one needs one.


This type of chair is also useful in when the disabled person needs to have their hair washed, for changing, and even in the shower. Most Karma Reclining Wheelchairs are water proof and water resistant making it the perfect chair for both inside and outside activities. If you have a loved one who is extremely uncomfortable in traditional wheel chairs or mobility devices you might want to consider a Karma Reclining Wheelchair.
Lovely Ladies

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