#Wheelchair transporter manual#

#Wheelchair transporter manual#

Manual wheelchairs are heavier than transport wheelchairs so you will need to determine a plan for lifting the wheelchair in and out of the vehicle, house, etc. The overall weight of manual wheelchairs may vary. Unlike the transport wheelchair, an individual can use their hands or feet to propel the standard wheelchair depending on their functional abilities or it can be used as a caregiver operated wheelchair and simply pushed. The brakes on manual wheelchairs are usually located on the large rear wheels and can be pushed to lock or pulled to unlock. The need for removable arm supports will depend on the type of transfers that are required. The foot supports should be swung out of the way or removed to ensure that they do not impede safety when transferring the person into or out of the wheelchair. Like the transport wheelchair, the removable and/or swing away foot supports on a manual wheelchair are important. If using a cushion with this type of manual wheelchair, ensure that the cushion does not slide on the wheelchair seat as it may or may not come with a way to secure the cushion to the seat. These types of manual wheelchairs are often seen in malls or stores for customer use and come in various widths. Manual wheelchairs come with basic seating and are not designed to sit in for long periods of time. The larger wheels in the back have push rims and are available in several different sizes. Manual wheelchairs have smaller castors in the front and larger wheels in the rear. They can be used for transporting the person lengthier distances or for short-term use after an injury or illness. Manual wheelchair without seating components for occasional useīasic manual wheelchairs come with a back, seat, push handles, and footrests. Injury may occur if an individual’s weight exceeds the weight capacity of the transport wheelchair.

The overall weight of the different types of transport wheelchairs may vary but some styles are available in a light-weight version.Įnsure to check the weight capacity of the transport wheelchair prior to use. You should ensure that you can safely lift and transport the wheelchair especially if you will be responsible for these tasks. Some styles of transport wheelchairs have a handle and a folding back in order to increase the ease of lifting the wheelchair. Transport wheelchairs are often easier to get in and out of the car because they are compact. The brake on a transport wheelchair is most commonly located on the back wheels but a few models come with handbrakes that are located by the wheelchair handles. It is also important to ensure that you are able to get the wheelchair in and out of areas such as the car, house, etc. You should test out pushing the transport wheelchair while it is occupied to ensure that you can easily manage the wheelchair. Unlike a manual wheelchair, the care recipient is unable to propel themselves in a transport wheelchair and will require someone to push them. The arm supports may need to be removed depending on the type of transfers that are required. The foot supports should be swung out of the way or removed to ensure that they do not impede the safety of transferring in and out of the wheelchair. Removable and/or swing away foot supports are important. Swing away and/or removable foot supports.Fixed, flip back, or removable arm supports.Transport wheelchairs are available with different options that may include: They do not offer pressure redistribution and therefore are not meant for individuals with seating needs. Transport wheelchairs typically do not have as many options for seat widths and come with a basic fabric back and seat. They are not meant for use if the care recipient spends lengthy periods of time sitting in the wheelchair and uses the wheelchair as their main mobility device. Transport wheelchairs are meant for temporary use. Transport wheelchairs are useful if the care recipient has difficulty walking lengthier distances or if you are going on a longer outing than usual. It is not meant for someone to sit in for long periods of time. Transport wheelchairĪ transport wheelchair has four small wheels with two push handles and is meant to move an individual between destinations. Here’s some comparison information on transport wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs. This can help you and the person in your care to find the wheelchair type that best suits both of your needs. Whether the person you are caring for has been using a wheelchair for years or this is a new development in their care needs, caregivers need to be knowledgeable about the different types of wheelchairs available.