Manual
Wheelchairs
Just
as the name suggest these wheelchairs are manually operated.
We can categorize this into nursing home manual wheelchairs
and daily use or everyday manual wheelchairs.
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Nursing
home manual wheelchairs
These are mostly used in nursing homes, hospitals, departmental
stores, airports etc. for temporary transportation of persons
who need aid for mobility. These manual wheelchairs require
another person to push the chair from the back using the handles
provided. These do not suit anyone who requires independent
mobility without the aid of another person.
Basically,
a nursing home manual wheelchairs can be described as a chair
fitted with four small wheels. These manual wheelchairs are
simple and inexpensive.
Price
range of a Nursing home manual wheelchairs:
Daily
use / Everyday manual wheelchairs
Persons with good upper limb strength can use these manual
wheelchairs. As the name suggests this is for everyday use.
When manual wheelchairs technology was in Stone Age they were
heavy, fixed came in very few colors. Today they are light,
foldable, colorful, easily maneuverable can be transported
in a van, truck, car, train or a plane by the individuals
themselves.
Unlike
nursing manual wheelchairs, these have 2 small caster wheels
in the front and 2 big wheels at the rear. These big wheels
fitted with ring type handles are used for maneuvering by
the user. A basic everyday manual wheelchairs also have cross
brace frame (for folding), adjustable swing foot rest, fixed
or removable arm rests, brakes and upholstery for back support
and seat / cushion support.
When
to go for manual wheelchairs
The user’s upper body strength is good. Propelling the
manual wheelchairs also is a good exercise to the upper limbs.
For long distance travel, manual wheelchairs suits better
because of their light weight, easy fold ability and simple
working.
Different
parts of an Everyday manual wheelchairs
Cross
Brace Frame
This is the skeleton of the manual wheelchairs that almost
all the weight of the person using it. Earlier only heavy
steel was used. Now, more light weight materials like light
weight tubes, alloys, titanium are used which reduced the
weight of the manual wheelchairs considerably without much
compromise on its strength. The basic frame can be classified
into two types in respect to its folding technology.
Fixed frame in manaul wheelchairs : In this the frame
is rigid and the wheels can be detached for traveling or storing
purposes.
Cross
brace frame in manaul wheelchairs : The frame
is made of two cross bars which can be folded with wheel fixed
on the manual wheelchairs.
Wheels
in manaul wheelchairs
Caster Wheels in manaul wheelchairs : Caster Wheels
are usually solid rubber or combination various materials
like plastic etc. on a metal rim. Sizes vary from 6 to 8 inches
- manual wheelchairs
Rear
Wheels in manaul wheelchairs : Standard 24 inches rear
wheels consists of metal rim / forks and tires. These tires
solid rubber or combination of rubber, plastic etc or inflatable
tube and tire set. Inflatable tires are almost outdated these
days because the solid tires are as much shock resistant.
manual wheelchairs
Brakes
in manaul wheelchairs :
Brakes in manual wheelchairs are not used to stop wheelchairs
while moving but stop them from moving accidentally while
parked. They are also called Parking brakes. A good brake
is a must in every manual wheelchairs to prevent accidents.
There are numerous braking systems.
Foot
rests in manaul wheelchairs
Foots rests are mostly adjustable and adjusted to suit the
height of the user. The platform should not be rough and should
be soft to prevent pressure sores.
Arm
rests in manaul wheelchairs
Arm rests are optional. Mostly arm rests are detachable, which
helps to use tables and desks comfortably. But if the user
has a good upper body control arm rests can be removed. A
wheelchair without arms rests are easily maneuverable
Upholstery
in manaul wheelchairs : They come in different materials
and color. Could be chosen according to the user’s taste.
But durability in all weather condition should be considered
first.
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