The Characteristics of the Folding Wheelchair

There are two types of the manual wheelchair. One has a rigid frame while the other has a collapsible frame. The latter is called the folding wheelchair. It is easier to store and transport than the former. It is also generally heavier because it has folding and locking mechanisms and reinforcing elements. Heavy-duty and lightweight models of this kind of chair are available.

Instead of having to use a larger vehicle or provide for special transportation arrangements, a car can be used to transport a folding wheelchair; it will fit easily into the trunk when folded. The option to fold it is made possible by an x-frame that allows it to be collapsed sideways. Thus, it can be kept in a relatively small space when not in use.

The four wheels of a folding wheelchair remain on the ground when navigating on an uneven surface, making it more stable on such a surface than the chair with a rigid frame. The flexible frame of the chair yields to accommodate the unevenness of the floor, ground, or terrain. On a hard floor surface, however, it is less stable than the rigid wheelchair.

The cost for keeping a wheelchair that can be folded in good condition is greater than that for a chair with a rigid frame. The parts of the folding chair that can be adjusted and removed, while making it easy to fold and transport the chair, are worn down and get lost more easily and this leads to more frequent need for repair and replacement.

Furthermore, the folding wheelchair’s relatively greater weight requires more effort to propel and maneuver the chair. Its moving parts also make the frame flexible and this flexibility absorbs much of the force exerted to propel the chair making it harder to push and control. Greater strength and dexterity is needed in propelling and maneuvering the folding chair when compared to the chair with a rigid frame.

When in a wheelchair that can be folded, there are certain activities that it is not appropriate for the user to engage in. This is because certain compromises are made in terms of stability and strength in order to have the ability to fold the chair. The desirable features of the folding chair also make it less durable and less stable at the same time.

Individuals who are from zero to four years and those who are from 60 to 90 years old are the patients for whom the folding wheelchair is appropriate. This is because it is not optimized for self-propulsion and is therefore appropriate for those who minimal or no upper body strength. A wheelchair with a rigid frame is more appropriate to those who are able to propel a wheelchair.

The folding wheelchair is suitable for transporting in smaller vehicles that have less capacity as well as for smaller living quarters that have minimal storage space because it takes up less room when folded. Even if it is relatively heavier than the wheelchair with a rigid frame, it is more convenient for the invalid’s companion to carry and keep. Its focus is portability and ease of storage.

A Brief History of the Electric Wheelchair

In the 1950s, the electric-powered wheelchair was invented by George Johann Klein, the Canadian inventor who is considered as the most productive in the 20th century. He came up with the electric wheelchair, which was meant for injured World War II veterans, while he was with the National Research Council of Canada. His other noteworthy inventions are the ZEEP nuclear reactor, the Canadarm, the Weasel all terrain vehicle, and the microsurgical staple gun.

In a gesture to demonstrate the commitment of the Canada to help disabled individuals all over the world, the first successfully working electric wheelchair was given to the government of the United States in 1955. Fifty years later, in Ottawa, during the official launch of Dr. Klein’s biography, the chair was repatriated. The Canada Science and Technology Museum now has it on display.

The influx of World War II veterans who had been disabled by battle injuries brought about the development of the electric wheelchair, which has been called Canada’s Great Invention. The National Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, and Canada’s Department of Veteran Affairs collaborated to develop a functional electric motor propelled wheelchair that would help the disabled veterans return to a semblance of normal life.

Dr. Klein, with the help of other scientists, engineers, medical practitioners, and patients, originated the concept of the electric wheelchair in response to a need for devices by which quadriplegics could move around independently. John Counsel, founder of the Canadian Paraplegic Association, had earlier lobbied the Canadian Government for the mass purchase of manual wheelchairs which helped a significant number of paraplegics. It fell to Dr. Klein to come up with a way to provide mobility for quadriplegics.

For his work on the electric wheelchair and other notable inventions, Dr. Klein was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968. Born on August 15, 1904 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, he was inducted to the Canadian Science and Technology Museum Hall of Fame in 1995, after he died at the age of 88 years in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on November 4, 1992.

Variants of the electric wheelchair, such as rear, centre, front wheel and four wheel drives are now available. This kind of wheelchair has been customized in response to the different needs of patients. The mobility and independence that the chair makes possible perpetuates the memory of Dr. Klein in the minds of the people so benefited. This is in addition to the legacy of his other inventions.

Now also prescribed for patients with cardiovascular disorders, the electric-powered wheelchair was originally meant for quadriplegics and invalids who can not self-propel a manual wheelchair due to certain disabilities. It can be a portable chair or a full featured “rehab” chair. Some have separate chargers and others have on-board chargers. There are models that are designed for outdoor use, indoor use, or both.

The electric wheelchair helps its occupant perform certain motions and activities, which would not have been possible otherwise, through functional movements like tilt, recline, leg elevation, and seat elevation, among others. These movements, along with the chair’s direction and speed, are controlled by the use of a joystick or some other kind of device such as a chin control or a puff/sip scanner.

When to Opt for a Lightweight Wheelchair

A lightweight wheelchair weighs 34 to 36 lbs. A high strength lightweight one weighs from 30 to 34 lbs. An ultra lightweight type is less than 30 lbs. And a standard wheelchair is more than 36 lbs. These are the classifications of manual wheelchairs according to their lightness or heaviness and from which an individual weighing up to 250 lbs can choose.
Standard wheelchairs are the least expensive of all the types mentioned and come with fixed back rests, foot rests, and arm rests, and thus are not adjustable. These are made from materials which have a less desirable kind of quality. These are also the hardest to propel and transport because of their weight. Users who will not need a wheelchair for a long time are the ones for which standard types are recommended.
Individuals who can not use a standard wheelchair are those for whom lightweight wheelchairs are intended. The lightweight types are usually made from materials of a higher quality and have customizations such as foot rests, back rests, and arm rests that are adjustable. Because they are light, they are easy to operate and control. They are more expensive than the standard chair types.
The most durable of the lightweight types is the high strength lightweight wheelchair. This type offers even more options, being very functional, highly adjustable, and exceedingly manoeuvrable. Those who have special needs such as atypical seat dimensions or regularly engage in activities that lightweight and standard types do not have the capacity for are the ones that need to use this type of chair.
For those who need to have a wheelchair for more than three months and must spend a considerable amount of time in it day after day, the most desirable type is the ultra lightweight wheelchair. It is durable, very easy to operate, and has optimum adjustability. Because it is made from expensive materials and can be highly customized for the needs of the users, it is the most costly.
The heavier and less customized a wheelchair is, the less expensive it is. Lightness and added features make wheelchairs more expensive. That is why the standard wheelchair is recommended for those who do not need special features, do not spend too many hours in it, and need it only temporarily.
The features of a wheelchair must be carefully weighed against the particular needs of the user. Those who definitely can not use a standard type must have a lightweight type of chair. This is because the acquisition of a lightweight wheelchair can involve a considerable amount. If an individual can use a standard wheelchair without discomfort, inconvenience, and reduced functionality and/or mobility, a lightweight type would not be necessary.
A stronger, heavier, and/or more active individual who must use a chair for an indefinite time should have a high strength lightweight wheelchair. One who is less active, lighter and/or not so strong but must also use a chair indefinitely should have an ultra lightweight chair. These two types are the most desirable kinds of chair but they are also the most expensive.

The Kinds of Manual Wheelchair

The manual wheelchair, so called because it is propelled with human power, has many types. One is the attendant propelled wheelchair which is pushed by a person other than the occupant of the chair. This type does not have hand rims on its large wheels. What it has are handles at the back of the chair which the attendant uses to control it.
Another type is propelled by the occupant himself. This is the self propelled wheel chair. Attached to the outside of its large wheels are hand rims which the user manipulates in order to move the chair. These hand rims have a diameter that is less than that of the wheels for better control. The speed and direction of the chair is determined by the actions of the user on the hand rims.
The fundamental components of a manual wheelchair are the seat, the back rest, the foot rest, two large rear wheels and two small front wheels. Additional chair features can be added as required. Such additions are tailored to the needs of the intended users. The height of the chair, the size of the seat, and the position of the foot rest as well as the back rest can be varied.
There is a one arm drive type of self propelled wheel chair. On one side of this type of chair are two hand rims, one smaller in diameter than the other. By moving the two hand rims simultaneously, the chair can be propelled forward or backward. By operating only one of them, the chair can be turned either right or left depending on which one is moved.
A lever is used to control another kind of self propelled wheel chair. The chair can be moved in any direction by pumping the lever in certain ways. Still another way of propelling wheelchairs is possible for those who can not use their arms or hands. Special mechanisms are incorporated into the manual wheelchair so that it can be manipulated using one or both feet.
The wheelbase chair is a type of wheel chair that is specially tailored for users with complicated postures in order to serve their unique needs. This type of chair is basically a custom-built seat attached to a platform with wheels. A cast of the user is made while he is in the best seated position that he can achieve, and the seat is moulded from this cast.
Some types of manual wheelchair are easily stored because these can be folded. Others have rigid frames. Some have adjustable foot rests or adjustable back rests, or both. Still others have features that are specially designed for the requirements of their users. Such features may include holders for oxygen tanks and other medical equipment, safety belts, and even holders for drinks, books, and such.
The common inexpensive wheel chair is usually made of tubular steel. These are heavy compared to the more costly ones that are made of lightweight materials. Wood was a common material used in earlier wheel chairs. Today, most wheel chairs are made from combinations of materials such as metals, plastics, fabric, and fibreglass. The wheels on these chairs look very much like those on bicycles.