Types Of Wheelchairs

By Author: Heinz Golz
Total Articles: 189
Comment this article

A wheelchair is used by by the people with partial ability to move because of an illness, handicap, or injury. It assists them to become more movable and independent. There are different types of wheelchairs that are used for all kind of reasons. It is important to understand the limitations and secure functioning of whatever wheelchair you choose.

Manual Wheelchairs
A manual wheelchair is one that is moved by the user. It is generally done by pushing on round bars that surround the wheels. This wheelchair also has handles on the rear so it can be pushed by another person. A manual wheelchair is easy to maintain, is lightweight, and is the least expensive to buy.

Electric Wheelchairs
Electric wheelchairs are propelled by a motor and battery. They are very complicated. They are operated with a joy stick or push buttons. Some electric wheelchairs use highly developed technology and can go up stairs, move on gravel and even rise up to provide access to high shelves. Electric wheelchairs require tough frames to carry the motor and battery so they are very heavy and also quite expensive. The average cost ...
... of an electric wheelchair is $7000 but can change anywhere from $3000 to $30,000.

Sports Wheelchairs
As the name suggests, these wheelchairs are designed for playing sports. They are ultra lightweight yet very stable. They are often used for tennis, basketball and marathons .

Dog Wheelchairs
Yes, there is such a thing as wheelchairs for dogs. They were made to help handicapped and injured dogs regain their ability to move. Many times, the trouble is hip displacement or a spinal cord wound that leaves the dog with no control over his back legs. The dog wheelchair fits onto the back legs and rolls across the floor and the dog moves forward with his front legs. This assists the dog get back mobility and go on to lead a normal life.

Pediatric Wheelchairs
Pediatric wheelchairs can be either manual or electric type . They are just smaller versions of the larger adult wheelchairs. These are usually adjustable so they can change with the child and get bigger to accommodate increased weight and bulk as the child grows.

Whenever you are in the market for a wheelchair, no matter what type you are looking for, it is a good idea to do some comparison shopping. Different wheelchairs are sold with different capabilities and different prices as well. You may want to be sure you obtain a good deal for your money and end up with the best wheelchair for the person who will be using it. You can buy wheelchairs today in festive colors and seat prints. Plus you can customize them more after the purchase to make the wheelchair exclusively to fit the user .

The author is the owner of The WheelChairs web site .
For more information on WheelChairs types go to http://www.the-wheelchair.com/