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.