Manual Wheel Chairs

A wheelchair is a mobility device used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. Manual Wheelchairs that are human powered (by the rider). Also known as "self-propelling". Many are designed so that they can also be pushed by another person. It typically consists of a seat and back supported on two large wheels on two axles attached towards the back of the seat and two small wheels near the feet.

However, there are often small additional features to assist mounting curbs or prevent toppling. "Anti-tippers" are rountinely mounted on the back of the chair, (but can be found on the front in some chairs) and prevent the user from overturning the chair. Wheelchairs come in many sizes and colors and can be highly customized, with several options including seat size (width and depth), seat-to-floor height, footrests/leg rests, cup holder, and much more. A person moves a manual chair by pushing with their hands, circular bars on the outside of the large wheels, which have a diameter that is slightly less than that of the rear wheels.

Also available, one arm drive enables individuals to guide and propel the wheelchair from one side. Two handrims, one smaller than the other, are located on one side of the chair, left or right. On most models the outer, or smaller rim, is connected to the opposite wheel by a folding axle. When both handrims are grasped together, the chair may be propelled forward or backward in a straight line. When either handrim is moved independently, the chair will turn left or right in response to the handrim used.  

The manual wheel chair can be the right choice for same people.
The biggest advantage is that it has unlimited range. You will not have that embarrassing moment when your battery runs out and you are blocking aisle 6 of the local market. The manual wheel chair will continue to go as long as you have the energy to move it. They are lightweight so you are able to move it with ease. They are easy to move as well to transport. You will be in better shape physically using a manual wheel chair lift.

The kinds of manual wheel chairs are lightweight, sports, transport and specialty.
A lightweight manual wheel chair is light in weight because it is either made of aluminum or titanium. A titanium manual wheel chair can weigh as little as 14 pounds. A aluminum manual wheel chair can weight somewhere between 28 and 34 pounds. They provide great freedom to the user and reduce upper body stress. The only drawback to these manual wheel chairs is the maximum weight capacity they can take. The maximum weight capacity that they can take is 400 pounds.
The sports manual wheel chair is the wheel chair to race in marathons like the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon. They offer increased mobility, but are hard to turn. Line lightweight manual wheel chairs, they are made of aluminum or titanium. The only problem with them is that you can not fold them. They are usually specially made for the user and cost somewhere between 2,000 and 8,000 dollars.

Transport wheel chairs are manual wheel chairs that hospitals use to transport patients from one area to another. They are lightweight and easy to transport. They do not have push handles and have small back wheels. A person has to pushed by somebody to move or you will not get anywhere in this manual wheel chair.

 

The specialty manual wheel chairs are specialized either of how you make them move or what kind of seat that you get. The one-arm manual wheel chair move by using a hand rim. The left and right wheel axles are fused together to make it possible to use a hand rim. This manual wheel chair is not for everybody and you should test it out to make sure that is the wheel chair for you. The foot-driven manual wheel chair is obviously moved by your feet and like the one-arm manual wheel chair, you must have the coordination to be able to move. The seat on reclining manual wheel chairs can recline 90 degrees. The seat on a tilt-in-space manual wheel chair allows you to change your orientation and can relieve pressure on different parts of your body.

Before buying any of these manual wheel chairs, you should do the following:
1. You should talk to a Recreation Specialist who can tell you the special features that are right for recreation leisure.
2. You should talk to a Physical Therapist for the manual wheel chair that can make your work and home life easier.
3. You should talk to other people for their opinions about the manual wheel chairs that they have purchased.
4. You should get as much information as you can from the Internet as well wheel chair.
With all this help and information, you should be able to pick a manual wheel chair that is right for you.