Sep
27
2008
In the first few parts of this series (1, 2 and 3), I dealt with the wheel options for a manual wheelchair. Today, I’d like to talk about a minor but nonetheless important part of the chair: the handles. As mentioned, you should always choose wheelchair parts primarily according to your physical and medical situation, and then according to your lifestyle. Provided your body can cope with the choices you make, you are free to mix and match any number of parts to assemble your perfect wheelchair, but there is no part that can be chosen without some thought about your physical requirements: from the wheels all the way to the handles, you need to consider each part carefully.
On my last two wheelchairs, I chose not to have handles. Many of my friends would say this is further evidence of how stubborn I am: I much prefer getting around under my own steam, and you can’t push a wheelchair that has no handles. Well, you can, but it’s more difficult, because there’s nothing to grab onto, especially on a low-back wheelchair of the type I prefer. However, that is not the reason I chose not to have handles.
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Sep
19
2008
Before I begin today’s topic, I would like to direct your attention to this post by Mark E. Smith at the Powerchair Diaries. It’s a thought-provoking post about why we should be cautious in recommending our wheelchair to someone else. I would also like to remind you of what I told you in the first of the posts in this series: your precise medical condition is the determining factor in your choice of wheelchair, and you shouldn’t take on a chair that you can’t handle.
So far in this series, I’ve talked about the tires on the main wheels of your chair (air-filled for more comfort, solid for easier maintenance) and the types of casters that are available (small for maneuverability, large for comfort on rough surfaces). Today, I’d like to talk a little about wheel camber. Camber refers to the angle between the plane of the main wheels and the frame of the wheelchair. In a standard wheelchair, the camber is 0°: the wheels are parallel to each other, perpendicular to the ground. In some models, particularly those for sports, there is a positive camber: the tops of the wheels are closer together, the bottoms are farther apart, and the wheels are at an angle to the ground. Continue Reading »
Aug
22
2008
This is the second in a series of posts about choosing the right wheelchair for your needs. The first is here, and it is about main wheel tires for manual wheelchairs. This week’s post is also about wheels, but this time the focus is on the front wheels or casters.
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Aug
15
2008
This is the first in a series of posts about choosing the right wheelchair for your needs. In the first few posts, I’ll only be dealing with manual wheelchairs, and this time, I’d like to write a little about the wheels. The first question is whether you want to have pneumatic tires (with air-filled inner tubes) or what is called a solid or air-free tire on your main wheels.
Please note that if your primary physician or physiotherapist strongly advises that you have one or the other type, you should take that advice over any other. Medical professionals will have a better idea of the condition of your spine and arms and whether or not you can take the added weight and vibration effect of airless tires, or deal with the maintenance of pneumatic tires.
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