Choosing the right wheelchair
A mobility powerchair is a technical mobility aid that makes it easy to transport a sitting person on a flat surface.
Above all, the powerchair must be seen as an extension of the body. It helps regain mobility by compensating for the inability, difficulty or fatigability of walking, whether temporary or permanent. Wheelchairs represent a return to independence that is much more important than the symbol of disability they represent in the collective psyche.
Today, many sports are accessible to people in powerchairs, hence the need to have a sports powerchair adapted to the activity.
What is the selection criteria for choosing a wheelchair?
In order to choose the most suitable wheelchair, you must take into consideration:
The type of chair:
Sunrise active electric powerchair
Whether it is active or passive: “active” powerchairs are intended to offer the greatest autonomy to users. They allow people with reduced mobility to move quickly by themselves, and to pass through confined spaces once they have mastered their powerchair. Often equipped with quick-release wheels and a foldable backrest, these chairs can easily be stored in the trunk of a car.
On the other hand, “passive” powerchairs are pushed by a third party and are intended for transporting disabled people who do not have the strength or ability to push themselves. These vehicles can also be folded or easily dismantled by another person.
Whether it is electric or manual: electric powerchairs offer greater comfort and require less effort from users. They allow users to make tight turns and easily overcome obstacles such as entry thresholds. Thanks to technological advances, these powerchairs have a very solid structure while remaining lightweight and easy to dismantle. They can be equipped with a second battery to allow for a longer range, up to over 20 km. The vehicle control unit can be placed, on request, on the right or left side of the powerchair. The on/off switch is easily accessible to any user and a selector switch allows the speed to be adjusted.
Manual powerchairs promote the autonomy of people who still have some upper limb range. They sometimes require measurement of the user ahead of time as well as a thorough study of the user’s needs so that they are best adapted to each person.
Daily use of the chair: what comfort level is needed? If a person with reduced mobility spends most of their time in a wheelchair, it is advisable to choose the most comfortable vehicle possible with a thick seat cushion, armrests, headrest, footrest, etc. If, on the contrary, it is a wheelchair that simply allows a person to be transported from their home to the car, for example, all of these accessories won’t be necessary.
Indoor or outdoor powerchair and maneuverability: while a lot of wheelchairs can be used both indoors and outdoors, some are designed for special temporary use. This is the case for shower powerchairs, which are used for showers or toilets.
Depending on whether the powerchair will be used indoors or outdoors, handling is an important factor to consider. The smaller the front wheels, the more maneuverable the powerchair will be indoors; and the larger the front wheels, the better the powerchair will overcome obstacles such as doorways, sidewalks or gravel.
Accessory options: many accessories can be added to wheelchairs. In addition to the armrests, headrests or footrests mentioned above, it is possible to integrate a cover for the seat cushion, a multifunctional bag to attach to the backrest of the powerchair, a folding tray for writing or eating, a seat belt, leg rest, etc. Handles can also be screwed to the wheels of active powerchairs for a better grip.
Are there wheelchairs designed for sports?
Just because a person has a physical disability does not mean that they cannot participate in sports. Today, equipment is more and more diversified and easy to use, increasing the options for people with reduced mobility to participate in recreational and competitive sports.
There are many sports that people with physical disabilities can participate in: basketball, rugby, tennis, cycling, hiking, skiing or track and field. The latter was one of the first Paralympic sports and is now among the most popular.
Sport wheelchairs are very different from regular manual or electric wheelchairs. Athletes with disabilities also have a standard chair for everyday life and a competition chair for their sport.
Competition wheelchairs are lighter and easier to handle than traditional ones. They have a smaller seat and no armrests or headrests to allow for a greater range of movement. In many cases, they have tires adapted to the sporting venue, whether this is a gym or an outdoor field. The wheels are generally tilted to allow for better speed management, the chassis is narrower and reinforced while the seat can be tilted differently.
Wheelchair racing requires the acquisition of specific equipment such as a rigid frame mounted on three wheels, and essential accessories such as a helmet and gloves. For wheelchair or handbike cycling, a manually propelled three-wheeled vehicle is also required, complete with elements for propulsion (chainrings, derailleurs, cranks) and braking (handle and brake levers).
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