 A wheelchair can come in real handy for people who have limited or no mobility due to any injury or illness. Wheelchairs make movement easy and convenient their big and comfortable seats and large wheels, either propelled by the user or an attendant.
There is wide variety of wheelchairs available in the market that can be purchased according to the users’ needs. Before buying a wheelchair make sure that you know well in advance what are the advantages and drawbacks of a particular model.
In this article, we have discussed different types of wheelchairs to assist you in choosing the best model for a comfortable and hassle free usage.
Types of Wheelchairs
Anual Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchair is the one that is propelled by the user himself. To move ahead, the user needs to push on the round bars surrounding the wheels. Manual wheelchairs also have back handles that can be pushed by an attendant. The best part about manual wheelchairs is that they are lightweight and do not need much maintenance. For seat, there is a leather covering that can be cleaned with a piece of cloth and can be folded easily with the chair. In terms of cost too, manual wheelchairs are not that costly and can be easily afforded.
Electric Wheelchairs
 These wheelchairs are propelled by a motor and battery. Unlike manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs are quite fast and complex. They are operated through push buttons or a joy stick. There are few electric wheelchairs available in the market that uses advanced technology and can move across gravel or climb up stairs too.
Strong frames are an absolute must for these wheelchairs in order to support the motor and battery. Because of this, there is not much of a surprise that electric wheelchairs are quite heavy. As compared to manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs are costly too. An average electric wheelchair costs $ 3,000 to $ 35,000.
Sports Wheelchairs
As evident from the name itself, sports wheelchairs are comfortable chairs especially designed for taking part in sports. Despite being ultra lightweight, these wheelchairs are pretty stable and help users enjoy a healthy sports life. They are usually used in sports like basketball and tennis. They are manual and can be maneuvered very easily by hands.
Pediatric Wheelchairs
The best thing regarding these wheelchairs is that they are available in both electric and manual forms. Pediatric wheelchairs can be termed as a smaller scale down versions of the adult wheelchairs intended to be used by children. The main advantage of these wheelchairs is that they are very adjustable; they can grow with children and have an ability to expand to accommodate increasing weight of children.
Dog Wheelchairs
Dog wheelchairs are new variety especially meant for disabled dogs. Dog wheelchairs are quite useful for injured and handicapped dogs who are struggling in regaining their mobility. Dog wheelchairs are fitted onto the back legs and roll across the floor as the dog walks while the dog moves forward with the help of his front legs. This plays a pivotal role and helps dogs to regaining mobility and live a normal healthy life.
Before buying a wheelchair, it is of paramount importance that you shop around in the market and check out the prevalent varieties and their costs. Ask for discounts too. Another important thing is warranty, make sure that the shopkeeper is willing to offer spare parts and after sales service with manual, electric or powered wheelchairs. The different types of wheelchairs can help you select the best product and make mobility an easy and hassle free endeavor.
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