How to choose a wheelchair for a house, street
A wheelchair is an important attribute of a person's life with disabilities, since he spends most of his time in it. Accordingly, the stroller should be comfortable and have all the necessary options. Otherwise, it will be possible to forget about comfortable movement.
But how to choose the wheelchair correctly, especially for people with modest financial capabilities? Let's understand together.
1. Scope of application.
2. Type of drive.
3. Weight.
4. Rigidity of the wheels.
5. Design options( the most important nuances).
6. Body parameters.
7. Armchairs toilets.
8. Anti-decubitus cushions.
9. Cost and place of purchase.
Area of application
In the field of application, wheelchairs are conditionally divided into three types:
- Active.
- Semi-active.
- Passive.
The main difference between them is the distance between the front and rear wheels.
The distance is longer, the stroller is more stable, but at the same time less manoeuvrable, with large dimensions and weight. 
In active strollers, the distance is minimal.
They are designed for people who do not have problems with controlling the upper body.
Basically, active strollers are used for leg fractures and pelvic region injuries.
They are not heavy, maneuverable and, as a rule, do not have a high backrest, anti-dumpers and other additional options.
On passive wheelchairs, the distance between the wheels is much larger.
Due to this they are stable and safe.
Plus, they have a number of additional options to control the correct position of the body.
Passive armchairs for people with serious impairments of the musculoskeletal system that can not fully control the upper half of the trunk are created.
These are children with cerebral palsy, patients after a stroke, etc.
Half-active models are a cross between active and passive strollers.
They are bought by people who have limited physical activity in the upper part of the body, but only partially.
The choice between active, semi-active and passive stroller in 99% of cases is obvious and is carried out on the basis of the recommendations of the attending physician.
Winders
Winders in contrast to the seats do not have their own drive and controls.
They are moved by a nurse or guardian.
Wheelchairs are used for disabled people who are not able to drive the wheelchair on their own, as well as to transport patients during rehabilitation.
Drive type
The wheelchair can be mechanical and electric.
The mechanical drive is divided into two types:
- Wheel.
- Lever.
In the first case, another one is attached to the main wheel, which is driven by the hands.
The wheelchair is rotated by stopping one wheel or scrolling it backwards.
In the second case, the movement is carried out by means of a lever, which must be moved forward / backward with one hand.
Turns are already made with the help of another lever and front small wheels. 
Wheelchair-operated wheelchairs require a lot of effort for movement, are more difficult to manage and significantly weigh more.
Plus, they are less manoeuvrable, that on the street is not so terrible, but in the rooms significantly reduces the comfort of movement.
Their only plus - this movement on a wheelchair for long distances does not lead to a 100% appearance of corns.
If you do not need to travel a lot of kilometers a day, then uniquely standard drive( wheel) is much better in all respects.
With
motor Wheelchairs with electric drive have a motor on the battery and a manual control panel.
With the remote control you can adjust the speed of the stroller and turn.
The electric drive makes driving as comfortable and fast as possible. 
The disadvantages of electric strollers are three:
- High price( unaffordable for most disabled people).
- The need for periodic charging of the battery.
- It's a lot of weight.
- Complexity of transportation.
Also do not forget that constant movement on a wheelchair with an engine reduces physical activity and can lead to a general weakening of the body .
If this is possible, it is recommended to alternate the electric wheelchair with the usual one, or to load the body in other ways( physical culture).
Weight
We have already noted above that wheelchairs with an engine have a high weight and carry them extremely difficult.
Models with a mechanical drive also differ in weight, there are:
- Standard strollers( from 16 kg).
- Lightweight( from 7 to 16 kg, usually 7-10 kg).
The lighter uses an aluminum or carbon frame.
It is due to this that they weigh less.
The options are generally the same as those of the standard models.
Lightweight wheelchairs are much more comfortable, since they require less effort for movement and more maneuverable.
Well, it's much easier to transfer them.
The only drawback is the high cost compared to the standard models.
Rigidity of wheels
On modern wheelchairs there are two types of wheels:
- With cast tires.
- With pneumatic tires( camera with a tire, like a bicycle).
Cast wheels can not be pierced, they will not be put down at the most inopportune moment and they do not need to be pumped up from time to time.
However, they are quite tough, so traffic on a bad road will cause some discomfort.
Pneumatic wheels opposite soft, which makes the movement on the wheelchair comfortable, both at home and along the street.
But they have all the disadvantages of bicycle wheels, namely they require swapping, sometimes they break through and wear out faster.
Which option should be chosen based on your own preferences:
- If comfort is more important, then pneumatic( rubber).
- If the main quality is reliability, then cast.
The best option is using two strollers - with rubber for the street and cast for the house.
This is not only convenient, but also hygienic.
Construction
1. Possibility to fold .
Most hand wheelchair wheelchairs have a folding design, that is, they can be folded to simplify carry in hands and transport in road transport, including in public transport.
However, there are models that do not add up.
If the chair needs to be transported and transported often, then it is not recommended to purchase them.
2. Backrest .
Backs for armchairs for disabled people are of several types:
- Low.
- High.
- With tilt adjustment.
- With headrest.
Low are used on most seats.
They are suitable for people who move around in the stroller due to leg problems and do not have problems with the upper body.
Plus, a low backrest greatly simplifies movement.
High backboards are already designed for people who can not keep their backs straight for one reason or another.
And also for disabled people and patients who are in the armchair most of the day.
On many models with a high backrest, the tilt angle can be adjusted to 100 degrees, which allows you to choose the ideal position for movement and rest.
On low-backed strollers, a change in tilt angle is generally not provided, or adjustment is only 5-15 degrees.
3. Steps of the .
Steps on wheelchairs can have several different adjustments:
- In the angle of inclination( setting a certain angle of the backrest and the footrest allows you to be in the chair in a completely horizontal position, or reclining).
- Height( supports under the feet are lifted and released if necessary).
The presence of these adjustments significantly increases the comfort of the stroller and allows you to perfectly customize it for a specific person.
We recommend that when choosing a wheelchair to pay attention to the presence of anatomical cushions for the lower legs, since without them the legs will swell and swell. 
4. Seat height and removable armrests .
Some seats allow for adjusting the seat height and quickly removing the armrests or tilting them to the side.
These options allow you to approximate the height of the stroller to the height of the sofa or toilet, thereby simplifying the process of transplantation for the patient / disabled person as well as the accompanying person.
Removable or folding armrests also create extra comfort when coming to a table and transplanting into a car.
5. Anti-tumblers .
Anti-dumpers protect the seat from falling back, and accordingly the person sitting in it from serious injuries.
They are recommended for use on passive and semi-active strollers. 
In active strollers, there is no special need for anti-dumpers, and often they do interfere( compromise may be removable anti-dumpers).
Body parameters
Each wheelchair has a maximum weight holding value, a certain width, depth, etc.
These parameters are very important and they must be taken into account, otherwise there is a risk to pick up an uncomfortable chair, or at all negatively affecting health.
Weight - it is worth choosing a model with a margin of 5-10 kg.
The width of the seat - should be equal to the width of the hips, plus 5-7 cm.
Simply measure the width of the hips as follows:
- In the sitting position, place 2 medium-sized books on the sides of the hips.
- Measure the distance between them( not counting the thickness of the books themselves).
Note:
When choosing the width of the stroller, consider the following: the wider the seat, the wider the outer dimensions of the stroller, which means there is a risk not to pass through a narrow elevator, in the doorway or in the apartment aisles( for example, between the table and the fridge).
In this case, do not forget that in a very narrow landing place in winter, you can not fit because of outerwear.
Therefore, taking a model with a large margin or vice versa is too narrow. Seat depth
- is the distance from the inner edge of the buttocks to the knee bend, minus 5-7 cm height footrests
-. The distance from the top point of the seat legs to be approximately equal to the distance from the heel to the level of the thigh( where the buttocks begin).
Accuracy should be rather plus, becauseIt can be adjusted by a pillow.
Armchair toilets
Among wheelchairs you can find and combined options that can be used both as an armchair and as a chair-toilet.
In them, the seat reclines and a special bucket with a hygienic bag is installed instead.
Toilet chair, like any other multi-functional thing is a compromise and have a number of inconveniences.
Buy them at the very least when there is no opportunity to purchase a separate chair and a separate toilet chair. 
Anti-bedsore pillows
For people who are in a wheelchair most of the day, it is recommended to use special anti-decubitus pillows.
They are rarely included in the basic configuration, as a rule, they must be purchased separately.
Anti-decubitus pillows distribute the load on the muscles more evenly, preventing a lot of possible health problems, including the formation of decubitus.
Price
When thinking about how to choose a wheelchair, do not forget about such an important characteristic as its quality.
Buying the cheapest models( from 5-6 thousand), you can be sure that the quality will not be the best( frankly bad) and use the stroller will be uncomfortable.
And it will fail quickly enough.
This choice should be made if you plan to use the stroller on a short-term basis, for example, with a fracture of the leg, to take the elderly grandmother to the clinic 2-3 times a year, etc.
Models for 8-15 thousand are already better.
But, as a rule, this is also a budget segment with minimal functionality, high weight and a number of shortcomings.
Carriages for 15-25 thousand is quite an acceptable option.
But if you want to make the life of the disabled as comfortable as possible, then it's worth to spend and buy a good model with a light but strong body, smooth running, comfortable seat and a lot of adjustments.
It will cost about 35 thousand, which is not so much, given the potential lifespan.
Buy wheelchairs need only certified and in specialized stores with good reviews and competent consultants ( example).
Otherwise, there is a high probability that you will be advised not by the model that is suitable, but by the one that is stale and requires a quick sale.
