Heavy duty wheelchairs are traditionally designed to accommodate the increased weight of a plus sized user based on weight.  However, increasingly it is not only weight that needs to be considered but body shape which dictates increased width of wheelchair. The needs of the plus-sized heavy duty wheelchair user require the design to include additional […]

Manual wheelchair performance is only as good as maintenance A smooth ride encourages efficient propulsion and decreases upper extremity repetitive strain injury.   Without wheelchair maintenance, an individual can feel as if they have lost function and/or need to move into a new piece of equipment when in fact some simple repairs improve the performance. In this […]

The two most common forms of foot support for wheelchairs are footrests and leg rests. Wheelchair footrests, in particular, come in a range of designs – from fixed bars upon which a user may place their feet when seated, to footrests that clip in place and can swing away from the users legs to create […]

A Transit Wheelchair, or sometimes known as a transport wheelchair, is normally attendant propelled and therefore unlike a self-propelling wheelchair has smaller back wheels.  This means that the carer or family member can quickly and easily enable the wheelchair user to move locations. Posture is often associated with moving/handling of objects or loads but in […]

Choosing the right mobility aids for the bathroom is important in order to give you the most control possible. The bathroom is a place where we usually desire privacy. But many people with a SCI need help from a caregiver to bathe or use the bathroom. Even so, here are some things you can do […]

Propelling your manual wheelchair takes a lot of strength and effort. Besides that, when the design of your chair is not optimized for you, it can cause you to overuse certain muscles and joints, which will lead to pain and difficulty later on. One thing every manual wheelchair user should be looking for in a […]

Wheelchair backs often come to mind when we are in a hurry, trying to pack our chair into the car for the next adventure. But we often don’t think about them at other times. Because of that, it can be easy to neglect the topic of choosing the right wheelchair back for your active lifestyle. […]

I’ve been a wheelchair user since the age of nine.  Before this, family beach holidays were a favourite of ours, but my new ‘on wheels’ situation didn’t go too well with sand or sea.  So, beach times were cut short and city breaks ensued.  Subconsciously, I then took a disliking to sunbathing, swimming in the […]

I’ve now been a wheelchair user for fifteen years and, as a travel writer and accessibility consultant, I’ve had my fair share of taxi journeys.  Some have been great, with drivers who have been extremely conscientious and interested to learn more and educate themselves on disability and the varying needs of those of us who […]

Wheelchairs are wonderful devices for helping people to get around when they otherwise would not be able to. They offer transport and make the world accessible, allowing people to get out and about either on their own or with company. However, the situation is not yet perfect. If somebody is propelling themselves, or if they have trouble […]