To those people who are challenged physically the debate continues to rage over the power wheelchair versus the manual wheelchairs. Although the point is not they type of wheelchair that the person has chosen but rather the fact that the chairs are available. Since wheelchair now come in such diverse selection of styles it has become exceedingly difficult for a person to select one that properly fits their lifestyle. With such a diverse amount of information readily available on the net, a person can easily do all their necessary research on both manual and electric wheelchairs prior to purchasing one.
An interesting note is that manual wheelchairs do in fact have benefits over their electric counterparts that one may not imagine. They are lightweight whereas the electric ones are heavy. This may be a significant selling point for those people who lack body strength necessary for some chairs. They are simpler to maneuver and even though the electric power chairs can move by themselves there is the chance that perhaps the battery may die. One of the major advantages of the manual chair is that it can go virtually anywhere. A person in the wheelchair should not be concerned with whether the terrain is uneven or bumpy as they would if they had a power chair.
The major disadvantages of the manual wheelchairs have to do with ones upper body. Although the exercise may be good for the people who push themselves over a period of time the same motion continually can eventually lead to injury. Another disadvantage of a manual chair is that the tires will need to be inflated regularly. A variety of factors must be properly considered prior to a person choosing between a power chair and a manual version.
The manual chairs may not come with all the fancy accessories that the power wheelchairs tend to offer for the handicapped individuals however they can be cheaper and a bit more efficient than their bulky power chairs alternatives. Some insurance providers may not cover the motorized chair and if that is the case it makes the selection all the simpler. It doesn’t matter that a person has to choose between the motorized or manual chair the fact of importance is that they do have the choose. Wheelchairs have tended to move toward greater machines when compared with the original three wheelers of past years and as the choices broaden so much for the better.
Copyright @2008 Joseph Parish
