Light weight wheel chairs can be manual or electric, foldable or rigid. For
some companies light weight is not good enough anymore and they advertise their
chairs as ultra light weight. This might not be untrue at all, as some of these
chairs weight as little as 15 pounds.
Considering the price of wheel chairs it
is important to make an informed choice based on what will the
best and most affordable for you.
Rigid Light
Weight Wheel Chairs
The rigid chair is focused on the user and his or her comfort
and abilities. It is more suitable for active users with the
main goal to optimize performance. A rigid chair can be easily
converted and customized to suit the needs of each individual.
The seat area can be wider than that of a foldable chair, which
will make it more comfortable for someone that has a larger body
frame.
Foldable Light Weight Wheel Chairs
A foldable chair is normally designed with the ability to
fold quickly and store or transport easily. Foldable chairs
wont be as adaptable as rigid chairs. These chairs are more
convenient for a caregiver to handle and can be the better
choice for older people who are not active anymore while the
rigid chair is more ideal for younger users who are still active
and independent.
Manual Light Weight Wheel
Chairs
The weight of these chairs varies between 15 and about 23
pounds. For a wheel chair user with good upper body strength it
would be easy to handle and transport this chair. Caregivers
would also find it an easy wheelchair to handle.
Electric Light Weight Wheel Chairs
Light weight here is not exactly the same as light weight in
a manual chair. As electric chairs depend on its battery pack it
will be considerably heavier. The weight of these chairs is
around 70 pounds.
When considering a light weight chair there
are a few other things to be aware of:
These chairs are pricey. With
all the different models available and the choices between
manual, electric, rigid and foldable you can pay far over a
$1000 for a chair like this. There are, however companies that
offer light weight wheel chairs at much lower prices, but you
will have to make very sure that it is a reputable company and
that the wheel chair is suitable for your needs.
Because the main feature
of these chairs is to be as light weight as possible they might
not be able to support as much weight as other chairs.
Do
extensive research and speak to people who already use this type
of chair. Ask them to point out the negative and the positive
features of light weight chairs.
Ask the advice of your
doctor and therapists before buying a wheel chair. They
understand your needs and specific disability better than anyone
else. Their advice will be with your best interests in mind.
If a light weight wheel chair fits your specific needs it will
add value to your life and your mobility.
