A beginners guide to shopping for a great manual wheelchairs

Shopping for a wheelchair is no simple task, with so many variations on the market.

Every disability is different, and every wheelchair is different. If you have the ability to operate a manual wheelchair, it’s well worth it to make the effort to retain your upper body strength.

Luckily, there are many of specialized wheelchair manufacturers that are just waiting to create the perfect manual wheelchair for you. This article will explore some of the main things to look for when shopping for manual wheelchairs.

Manual wheelchairs 101:

The most important aspect of choosing a manual wheelchair is getting the measurements right. There are so many areas on any manual wheelchair that can be customized to meet your specific measurements. There are seven measurements you will need to ensure a proper fit with your wheelchair:

- the seat depth
- back height,
- seat width
- front seat to floor
- rear seat to floor
- the wheel camber
- and the hanger angle

If you are looking to find a wheelchair that is a perfect fit, you are going to need to consult a few online diagrams to get a feel for how these measurements work and which would be optimal for you.

Once you have the measurements down, you are going to need to decide between a rigid frame wheelchair and a folding frame wheelchair.

- The rigid frame wheelchair:
 
While it might sound like a transportation nightmare in the making, rigid frame wheelchairs are made to be lightweight and easy to transport. Rigid frame wheelchairs are the most popular choice for most wheelchair users.

- Folding frame wheelchairs:

For the most part, folding frame wheelchairs are a substandard wheelchair choice. There are many everyday situations where folding frame manual wheelchairs are best. Because they fold away completely, they are great for travelling or any situation where you need to be able to pack your wheelchair away.

Once you have the right measurements and have selected the right kind of manual wheelchair for your needs, you are ready for the fun part. Take your time browsing the available wheelchairs online and be sure to select your perfect one.