Choosing The Right Wheelchair

If you've found yourself in a situation that requires purchasing a wheelchair, how do you know which one is right for you?

Well, you'll want to take several factors into consideration. These include:

• How long you'll be confined to the wheelchair.
• Your overall health and strength.
• How much you intend to spend.
• How often you'll be traveling.

Generally, if you're able to propel yourself around in a wheelchair and you expect that being confined to a chair will be temporary, then buying a manual wheel chair might be your best option. Compared to electric models, manuals are cheaper and usually lighter.

On the other hand, if you're going to be confined to a chair for an extended period, an electric wheel chair may be the better route for you. Consider this: if you have poor upper body strength, propelling yourself around in a manual wheelchair is not only going to be difficult, it's going to make your day-to-day activities miserable. Why exhaust yourself trying to get around if your body isn't up to it?

Here are some additional factors to consider:

Seat Size: This is absolutely critical to your quality of life when choosing a wheelchair. Ideally, you'll want to sit on a measuring tape and add several inches to allow for heavy clothing such as winter coats. You'll also want to sit upright in the chair and measure from the back of the seat to about two inches behind their knees. This is to make sure the seat is long enough to provide proper leg support without rubbing or irritating the back of your lower legs.

Keep in mind, that for a person 5’4” and taller, the standard 19” to 21” seat height will work well, unless you're using a seat cushion. If you're 5’4” or shorter, then a 17” to 18” hemi seat height will usually be ideal. And for those who are 4’11” and shorter, the super hemi seat height of 14” to 16” is usually what you’ll want.

Footrest: The more the wheelchair footrest sticks out, the more difficult it is to maneuver the wheel chair. It’s inevitable that you'll bump into objects. When that happens, the footrest will usually take the punishment. Here are two types of footrests to choose from:

Standard Footrest: If you don't need your 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 your leg.

Elevating Legrest: If you have issues with your legs such as swelling, then this type of footrest may be ideal for you because it does have calf pads.

Arm Rests: There are two types of arm rests. The first is Desk Length Arms, which are ideal for getting close to desks and tables. The second is Full Length Arms, which are good for those who will be pushing 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 arm rests is that for people taller and shorter than the average person, you ideally want to look into adjustable arms to compensate for height requirements.

Cost: A manual Wheelchair (rigid) will range anywhere from $400 - $3,500. An electric powerchair can range anywhere from $1,600 - $7,500. And a motorized scooter can range from $900 - $3,000.