Folding And Rigid Manual Wheelchairs: What Is the Difference?
If you have not been in a wheelchair before, it is possible that you think that there's little difference between them. The do appear to be quite basic and for most people, they all seem to be virtually the same. But when you begin researching further, you understand there is a huge difference. For one thing, if you begin looking into prices, you will discover that there's a large difference in cost. Manual wheelchairs begin close to $100 and can go up to numerous thousands. Why?
The primary advantage of the foldable type is that they can be folded for storage without removing the big wheels in the back. This one unique advantage has made the folding manual wheel chair the most selling type worldwide. In fact, in some parts in the world as much as 90% are foldable. But there are lots of disadvantages to those which fold. A foldable wheel chair requires numerous moving parts in order to fold. These folding parts give much more weight. The joints which cause the wheel chair to fold often allow vibration and this can result in a loss of energy making them significantly less efficient when the wheelchair user pushes on the wheelchair hand rim. As the wheelchair ages, these joints can get looser and looser resulting in them become even less efficient. In addition, the less exspensive folding wheelchairs usually do not fit well to the user, making them uncomfortable when used for a lengthy time.
Non-folding adjustable rigid chairs have the advantage that the wheelchair frame can be adjusted to fit the size and shape of the wheelchair user. If the owner finds that the fit of the wheelchair just isn't comfortable or ideal, the wheelchair can usually be adjusted to meet their needs. But adjustability also requires extra parts. Similar to folding wheelchairs, adjustability results in added pounds and loss of efficiency. Plus the extra parts add several pounds of weight. While normally, adjustable wheelchairs are lighter and generally more efficient, some of the top quality folding wheelchairs are starting to reach the efficiency and weight of the adjustable folding type.
Of all the manual wheelchairs, a welded rigid frame has the smallest number of brackets, bolts and moving parts. As it has little or no adjustability, a wheelchair that is welded is generally custom fit to the dimensions of the individual who will own the wheelchair. So, the advantage of the welded wheelchair is weight, efficiency as well as fit. But of course it has disadvantages as well. Without adjustibility, the chair can usually fit only the first buyer. And if the fit is not perfect or the dimensions of the user change, they may feel uncomfortable.
The primary advantage of the foldable type is that they can be folded for storage without removing the big wheels in the back. This one unique advantage has made the folding manual wheel chair the most selling type worldwide. In fact, in some parts in the world as much as 90% are foldable. But there are lots of disadvantages to those which fold. A foldable wheel chair requires numerous moving parts in order to fold. These folding parts give much more weight. The joints which cause the wheel chair to fold often allow vibration and this can result in a loss of energy making them significantly less efficient when the wheelchair user pushes on the wheelchair hand rim. As the wheelchair ages, these joints can get looser and looser resulting in them become even less efficient. In addition, the less exspensive folding wheelchairs usually do not fit well to the user, making them uncomfortable when used for a lengthy time.
Non-folding adjustable rigid chairs have the advantage that the wheelchair frame can be adjusted to fit the size and shape of the wheelchair user. If the owner finds that the fit of the wheelchair just isn't comfortable or ideal, the wheelchair can usually be adjusted to meet their needs. But adjustability also requires extra parts. Similar to folding wheelchairs, adjustability results in added pounds and loss of efficiency. Plus the extra parts add several pounds of weight. While normally, adjustable wheelchairs are lighter and generally more efficient, some of the top quality folding wheelchairs are starting to reach the efficiency and weight of the adjustable folding type.
Of all the manual wheelchairs, a welded rigid frame has the smallest number of brackets, bolts and moving parts. As it has little or no adjustability, a wheelchair that is welded is generally custom fit to the dimensions of the individual who will own the wheelchair. So, the advantage of the welded wheelchair is weight, efficiency as well as fit. But of course it has disadvantages as well. Without adjustibility, the chair can usually fit only the first buyer. And if the fit is not perfect or the dimensions of the user change, they may feel uncomfortable.
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