Getting your 1st wheelchair can come with mixed emotions. A wheelchair can offer freedom and independence while also representing a loss. Sometimes we dwell on that loss even when good things are happening. Once you get a wheelchair that works for you, it’ll be easier to see hope rather than loss when you look at your chair.
When getting fit for your 1st wheelchair it’s important to get a chair that is custom while being adjustable – this will allow for minor adjusts to the center of gravity or dump as needed in the first month.
Here are 3 keys questions to ask your health care provider when getting your 1st wheelchair.
These questions are specific to ordering a custom manual wheelchair.
The most effective person to ask these questions to would be an occupational therapist or wheelchair fitting specialist.
- Can I trial any wheelchairs?
- With my condition what physical considerations should I be aware of?
- Will I be a full-time or part-time wheelchair user?
Can I trial any wheelchairs?
When getting your 1st wheelchair, it’s important to know (1) what you absolutely need, (2) what can you live without, and (3) what would you prefer to have? By trialling a wheelchair, you can gain these insights rather than learning after you have ordered.
I bought and used a 2nd hand wheelchair for 8 months before ordering my own. This experience allowed me to practice loading the wheelchair into my car, maneuvering my apartment, and attending classes.
I learned:
- Loading a folding wheelchair into my car was possible but challenging, which is why I ordered a rigid frame for my custom chair.
- Rolling around my apartment I needed a wheelchair width that fit through my door ways – which some where abnormally narrow.
- While attending classes I needed to place books and my laptop on my lap without falling off. This became a key part of my wheelchair fitting, which was to make my lap as flat as possible.
Personal experience
If you can trial a wheelchair, any amount of time will be helpful – I’d recommend anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month. Sometimes, you can even trial different wheelchairs for a short amount of time. When you have a trial wheelchair it is new and worrying but with someone you trust try new activities. Such as, loading your chair into a car, getting ready for the day, or rolling to a coffee shop.
If you can’t trial a chair, then at the very least a vendor should be able to bring a few chairs to you. In addition to my 2nd hand chair, I had 3 separate appointments with my vendor to try 3 different wheelchairs before selecting my current chair. These appointment trials help you narrow down the brand and model that will be best for your lifestyle.
With my condition what physical considerations should I be aware of?
Every person and every medical condition will present differently, which is why we have CUSTOM wheelchairs (with sooo many features). Asking your healthcare team about considerations for your medical condition will start useful conversations during the fitting process. Knowing how your condition will progress over time, allows for you to plan ahead.
The life of a wheelchair is 2-5 years, therefore knowing how your body may change in that time will help with wheelchair dimensions/features. For almost any 1st wheelchair, you will want push handles and flip up/removable anti-tippers. You will see a lot of people without these, but these tools are immensely useful to keep yourself safe when starting off.
For example:
- If you have limited core strength then you want to increase the dump of your chair, bringing your knees higher. This position can make it easier to stay balanced. Another option is to have a backrest with lateral supports, holding your core in place.
- If you have some movement in your legs and want the option to foot propel your chair, possibly around the house, then a flip up foot plate may be useful.
- If you need head or neck support then a rigid backrest that can attach head support may be useful.
- If you have limited hand grip or it is expected to decrease, then pushrims with grip or texture may be useful.
Will I be a full-time or part-time wheelchair user?
This could fit into the previous question, but often people don’t have this conversation with their provider. You may start as a full-time user and move to part-time or visa versa.
For full-time wheelchair user, having a custom wheelchair set up for long days is key. With full-time users the risk of pressure sores/injuries increases, which is why the fit of the chair and a proper cushion will go a long way. Additionally, full-time users will often benefit from rigid wheelchairs especially if independently loading into a car. Additionally, full-time users are often sized upwards for their seat width in anticipation for weight gain. Some have found this helpful while others haven’t, it’s fully based on your body’s reaction to mobility loss.
For part-time wheelchair users, having a custom wheelchair that fits your condition is important. With part-time use, you may need to be more vocal with your provider about when and where you use your wheelchair. This will help draw them a picture of the adaptations needed, because part-time use is on a sliding scale of abilities. For part-time users, a custom folding wheelchair may suit your lifestyle better if you load the chair into the back of a car or need to store it away every other day.
A big decision to make it if you need a rigid or folding custom wheelchair. Both can be lightweight and customize the only difference is how they collapse.
These suggestions are fully based on my own experience as a wheelchair user, and are designed to help new users navigate the world of wheelchairs.