Some people start life with the need to use a chair of some kind to move around. Others go through circumstances which mean they suddenly need to use a chair, whether temporarily after an accident or illness, or permanently.

But the biggest question regarding this topic is which chair will be right for you. Everyone has different needs and when it comes to finding what works best in your situation, it may take some thought and experimentation before you find the answer.

Starting with the basics, wheelchairs come in two forms – manually operated ones or electric ones. If you have strong arms and you want to keep active, a manual chair will certainly help you burn the calories. But you may still want to get an electric one as well, since a manual one may prove problematic over longer distances or if you are on uneven ground.

You also need to consider your budget. There are some very cheap wheelchairs available, but they may not be adequate for your needs. Obviously the more you pay, the more you will get in the way of features – a more comfortable seat, better quality tyres and so forth. Shop around just as you would for any other item, in order to get the best deal possible.

It may be the case that someone else will be pushing the chair quite often. In this situation it helps to buy a lightweight chair that will still be robust and easy to manoeuvre for the person who is using it. It should be easy and comfortable for both people to use when needed.

Some wheelchairs are also designed to be folded neatly and easily away to fit inside a car boot. If you can drive and you need to be able to get your chair in and out of the car easily, make sure it will be simple to fold away by yourself. This will give you greater freedom in getting out and about, both in your car and in the chair.

There are plenty of things to consider and weigh up before you make your purchase. But it is worth spending that bit of extra time figuring out what will work best for you.


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