Need a wheelchair? Which one is right for you?

In 1783, John Dawson of Bath England, invented a product which came to be known as  the “Bath wheelchair”, named after the town of Bath. Dawson designed a chair with two large wheels and one small one and his design outsold all other wheelchairs in the world in the 19th century.

Recently, the use of wheelchairs has increased 83% between 1980 and 1994, with more than 2.2 million Americans 15 years and older using wheelchairs. The number of people with mobility impairment is expected to continue to increase as more people live longer with disabilites.

There are many types of wheelchairs, and all very useful according to your needs or lifestyle. Manual wheelchairs are the type that require people tp move them, there are three types of manual wheelchairs: namely self propelled, attendant propelled, and powered.  A transport chair is distinct design that is often used when someone needs to be pushed in a chair for a short period of time. For example, if you’re taking your aged Grandmother out to lunch. The transport chair is typically lighter than a standard wheelchair. Most common uses for a transport chair are when you have a doctor’s appointment, going to the mall, or not able to walk long distances and having someone there to assist you.

All wheelchairs include foot and leg rests, sometimes offering elevating leg rests and either full-length or desk-length arms. Seat width options are 16″, 18″, or 20″. Seat widths come in sizes according to the hieght and weight of the patient, if needing larger than the standard sizes it would be considered as a  specialty order. 

The electric powered wheelchair was invented by George Klein who worked for The National Research Council of Canada, to assist injured veterens after World War II. Today powered wheelchairs come in diferent types, just like a manual, according to  your needs or lifestyle. The benefits of power mobilty, including improved self esteem, decreased pain and increased activty levels. There are two types of drive mechanism are used on electric wheelchairs: indirect drive and direct drive. Indirect drive systems (pulley and drive belts) are used on conventional electric wheelchairs, where as direct systems (gear boxes) are used on power-base wheelchairs. The vast majority of contemporary electric wheelchairs are used  on power-base wheelchairs. Most powerchairs are powered by two 12 volt batteries that are rechargable with electricity.