Which Wheelchair Fits You Best?

September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Modern wheelchair
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When looking for a wheelchair, there are many models and options to consider. The following information may give you a start. Manual wheelchairs are more affordable, but can also be less convenient. Some people with a disability may be unable to maneuver the wheelchair on their own. However, the price of a manual wheelchair makes it a good option, and some people enjoy the work it takes to get around, similar to the effort it takes to walk. This can be a slight help in staying in shape when you have a disability that requires a wheelchair.

If you have decided on a manual wheelchair, you also need to decide between a rigid frame and a folding frame wheelchair. The rigid frame is lighter, made of aluminum. These can therefore be easier for you to lift into a vehicle without help. Rigid wheelchairs can also last a little bit longer than folding wheelchairs. However, this wheelchair is very bulky.

Folding frame wheelchairs collapse flat, making them easier to store. However, they are made out of heavier material. Newer versions are slightly lighter, but users are usually unable to load it into a car without help. These wheelchairs are not quite as durable as the rigid wheelchairs, as the moving parts means that they take considerable more wear and tear.

Electric Wheelchairs are another option. While more expensive, generally starting in price at over $1,000, they require significantly less effort than a manual wheelchair. There are several different types of electric wheelchairs to choose from, varying in outdoor use, price, and endurance. Indoor-use wheelchairs are light and more cost-efficient, but wear down quickly when used often outside. Other models can be used outside, with some of them including spring suspension. You can also choose between front wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and mid-wheel drive. Rear wheel are the most common type, being faster than front wheel, although they do not turn as well as other kindsMid-wheel drive models are best used indoor and on steady, even surfaces. While they turn very quickly, they may become shaky or wobbly when stopping and starting.

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Finding Recreation that is Accessible for Your Disability

September 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you have any sort of mobility disability, finding ways to still enjoy your passion for the outdoors can be frustrating. Fishing and hunting are two areas where you may want to find a way to still participate in. You will see how these activities are accessible to someone with a disability, or can at least be found in versions that are disability friendly.

Fishing. While you can fish on a boat and on a shore, you can also find good fishing by going on a dock. Fish sometimes feed underneath these, especially if they do not see a lot of people. Fishing docks are extremely easy for someone with a disability to get to, and they are numerous enough that yoyu can pick and choose your favorite spots, and find the places that are least busy but have excellent fishing.

If you also need extra support in holding a fishing rod, you can find several devices which will attach to your forearm, or attach to the armrest of your chair or wheelchair Either way, there may be an option that will allow you to enjoy the calm pleasure of fishing.

Hunting. This is another activity which, while it can be difficult, does not have to be impossible. For getting around into an area to find your target, you may need to find a hunting area with is especially disability-conscious. These areas may have paved roads around a section of woods so that you don’t have to go far off of easy terrain to get close to your target. If you need assistance in holding the gun up, you can use several devices to aid you. One is a strap that helps the gun rest on your chest, taking some of the weight off of your arms, while others can even be arranged so that you can pull a handle to fire the gun instead of having to pull a trigger. You can even find a camouflage wheelchair cover to disguise yourself like any other hunter. This cover will camouflage both you and the wheelchair.

Source: thewheelchairsite.com

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Hockey as Exercise for Those in an Electric Wheelchair

September 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you have a disability that significantly limits your mobility and confines you to an electric wheelchair, don’t give up on finding a sport to get involved in. Staying active will help you stay healthy and happy, and a sport could be just the thing you need. Electric wheelchair hockey is one of the few sports that allows those with electric wheelchairs to enjoy the thrill of the game!

Electric wheelchair hockey has some significant modifications from regular hockey, but has most of the same rules and goals. The puck is actually a ball with electric wheelchair hockey, which allows for easier playing and a faster game. The sticks are different as well, being made out of plastic instead of wood. This makes them lighter and easier to maneuver. Pads and headgear are recommended when able, although they are not required.

Also, unlike ice hockey, electric wheelchair hockey is not a contact sport at all, and therefore the thing that gets the most wear out of it is the wheelchair, not the user. This makes it an ideal choice for those with disabilities that can make them weaker and more prone to injury. There are several benefits to this game, one of them being that, since the wheelchairs themselves receive the most wear and expend the most energy, men and women can play together and be evenly matched.

There are a number of sports and activities for those who are in a wheelchair, whether an electric wheelchair or a manual wheelchair. They allow you to use the mobility that you have, keeping you in better shape. They also create an environment of other players and participants who have a passion and love for the game as well. Do you want to experience the thrill and excitement of making a goal, pushing your team to be its best, and counting down the minutes as you scurry to score again? If you have played sports before and remember the game’s emotion, energy, and excitement, then take it up again with electric wheelchair hockey. For information on teams near you, research “electric wheelchair hockey.”

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Stylin’ in your Wheelchair

August 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Stylin in your Wheelchair If you regularly use a wheelchair, walker, brace or crutch, why shouldn’t you let your personality shine through with it? Deck it out with ribbons, patterns, or other pieces of personality.

You can get camouflage covers for wheelchairs, or pattern covers to put over your backrest and seat. These can be solid colors, or several other prints, including animal prints. If you do not like the idea of limiting your chair to one color, get several patterns and change them out as you feel like you want to. You can also try getting a bumper sticker to put on the back of it, or even cover the whole thing in different bumper stickers. Be a little sarcastic and write “How’s my driving?” You can even add racing flags or ribbons to the handles.

The same follows for a walker: think about it like a bike and add the same accessories. Get a basket to put in front of it, and you can even add a bike bell. Ring it when people get in your way or do not see you!

If you have a wrist, arm, leg, or other brace that you have to wear often, see if you have get it in a color or pattern. You can either try to find a color that matches most of what you have, or you can find something flamboyant (think leopard print) that will stand out and add panache. You can even try getting a few different patterns and choose which one you want to wear based on your outfit or the occasion. Treat it like another accessory just like jewelry or a scarf.

For crutches or a cane, wrap it in cloth or ribbons so that it stands out and becomes a cheerful accessory. Cover it in stickers, or decoupage it with magazine pictures or tissue paper (be sure to put a separate final coat on it, however, so that it will not bleed glue or paint when wet!). Whatever you decide to do, embrace your accessory and dress it up to match who you are.

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Easy Steps for Dealing with the Wheelchair

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This is the internationally recognized symbol ...
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One of the more difficult things to do when dealing with a newly disabled person in your life is finding a way to accommodate them in your home. When you first bought your home you never envisioned it would have to be equipped for your loved one who is now going to be using a wheelchair for the long term. But life changes and so does the circumstances.

Dealing with a wheelchair in the home is not only an emotional and mental adjustment but in order to do it right it is a financial adjustment as well. But sometimes it’s not easy to make all the adjustments necessary at one time so sometimes you have to improvise. A few simple steps can make your home wheelchair friendly and without hurting you too much in the pocket book.

Adding a rail to the bathroom can be a quick and painless fix. You can go to a local hardware store or a home medical supply store and find a metal rail which you could install in your home for under 30 dollars. All you will need is an electric drill. You can place a rail by the toilet and on the inside of the shower.

Moving products on shelves to a lower location is easy and doesn’t necessarily require any other tools. Simply removing useful items from the top of cabinets and putting them underneath counters or on counter tops can create a comfort for your disabled loved one by making everything they need in the home within reach.

If you are going to make adjustments then you might need to accommodate for the stairs. If your loved one used to occupy a bedroom upstairs then you might want to do your best and swap rooms in order to keep them on the level floor. This can be a big sacrifice for everyone involved but it can make the ease of living with a wheelchair improve. A few simple adjustments and you can make a tough situation much more manageable and comfortable for your loved one.

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