Site icon Invacare Blog

Wheelchair gloves: why it’s important to protect your hands

Wheelchair gloves
Share this content:

Being a powered wheelchair user myself, I had never considered the importance of using wheelchair gloves. Until I met a manual wheelchair user and had a brief discussion with him on the subject. He asked me: “Do you know what carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is?”. He kindly explained to me that apart from this serious medical condition (that is often the result of nerve compression caused by forceful exertions on the hand and wrist), one can face other problems as well.

Hand and arm strength is very important to many wheelchair users. Although arms are not designed to replace legs, often they do, though this of course depends on the type of disability a person has. If you use a manual wheelchair that you propel yourself you need to protect your hands, whether you’re doing sport or or out shopping. The repetitive use of your hands for starting, stopping and turning the wheelchair, will most likely cause pain, blisters, calluses and other forms of discomfort. Moreover, your hands may be affected by severe weather conditions. That’s why gloves for wheelchair users are basic to protect the health of a lot of people.

 

Why specific wheelchair gloves? Not every kind of glove is suitable…

If you wish to avoid all of the above and more, you should consider using wheelchair gloves. It is important not to go out purchase just any kind of gloves though. You should seek to buy specific gloves for wheelchair use. Here’s why.

  1. wheelchair glove as any other glove, should allow your hand to breathe, preventing them from becoming sweaty or irritated in any way.
  2. It should protect your hand from any of the aforementioned conditions. Although a power wheelchair user, I appreciated the importance of protection, when I tried to use my wheelchair outdoors in snowy and windy Berlin in -20 degrees Celsius!
  3. At the same time, gloves should be manufactured using a strong, long-lasting material.
  4. Wheelchair gloves should provide flexibility, therefore allowing the user to use his hands for various tasks and movements without causing any issues.
  5. For obvious reasons, the gloves should provide good grip, in order to allow the user to firmly grip the hand rims of the wheels. In order to avoid strain and subsequent problems, the gloves should provide adequate support for the hand.
  6. Overall, ultimate comfort is key.

Specifications of gloves for wheelchair users

 

When it is time to buy

If you’ve read this far, this means that you understand the importance of using specific wheelchair gloves. A good wheelchair glove should be flexible, allow your hand to breathe, be comfortable and supportive, as well as providing good grip and protection. You may buy wheelchair specific gloves online, but I would suggest you visit a store in order to try them out and decide for yourself which type fits best fits your needs.

Other kinds of accessories

Check out our other posts about accessories for your wheelchair, such as this one about what to use on rainy days.

 

Exit mobile version