Blog How to integrate a collapsible Wheelchair into your active life style

A collapsible wheelchair is, also known as a folding wheelchair, are wheelchairs that fold up flat to save space and make transportation and storage more convenient. There are two types of wheelchairs: self-propelled and attendant-propelled. The backrests fold down to reduce height, while the vertical 'X frame' reduces width.

Who benefits from collapsible wheelchair?

As other non-folding chairs, for instance, are likely to be motorized or provide significantly greater postural support, people with less complex needs generally use collapsing wheelchairs. However, it is important to note that collapsible wheelchairs are popular among people who want comfort and flexibility while maximizing their independence and participation. It is unlikely that users will require significant nursing assistance because they have good core strength and do not require reclining or tilting in space features.

Overview of StrongBack wheelchair

Ergonomic

The ergonomic design provides superb lumbar support while aligning with the spine's natural curvature.

Improve Posture with a Strongback Mobility Chair

Strongback Mobility wheelchairs and transport chairs set new standards for mobility and comfort with their design aesthetic that emphasizes improving posture by supporting the spine properly. With their ergonomic design and ultra-lightweight materials, these wheelchairs provide exceptional support and a great sense of well-being for their users. When you can improve your life with our wheelchairs, why settle for an inferior product?

Ultralight

A compact and collapsible design makes it easy to pick up. High-tech materials make our lightest innovations weigh less than 20 pounds.

Stylish

We designed our wheelchairs and transport chairs with beautifully curved lines and sleek innovations.

Feel Comfortable in Any Setting

It is the goal of STRONGBACK's design style to deliver exceptional levels of comfort in any environment. You can find a wheelchair from Strongback Mobility that will ease movement when you are out and about or allow you to sit comfortably for extended periods without causing lower back aches and pains. 

Our products provide comfort, reliability, and support whether you are going on an excursion, commuting, or spending time with family and friends.

Adjustable

Each wheelchair is easily adjustable to fit the individual's needs, regardless of their level of mobility.

STRONGBACK Wheelchairs – Intelligent Design for Everyday Use

With a lightweight design that makes them easy to fold up and place in your car trunk, our wheelchairs offer everyday practicality. Aside from its sporty-looking design aesthetic, each ergonomic wheelchair stands out from traditional models due to its distinctive design aesthetic. 

This chair boasts sweeping lines, an elegant color scheme, and a functional frame-integrated posture support system.

Benefits of a collapsing wheelchair

1. Repair – Most small components are easy to replace since there are many moving parts.

2. Collapsible– Since the wheelchair folds, it is easy to transport it; in most cases, it can be folded down and thrown in the trunk of a car. In this way, wheelchair users can travel anywhere and access parts of the environment or community that they may not otherwise be able to access. 

Additionally, folding chairs can be stored in aircraft and other spaces, making it possible to take your wheelchair on vacation.

3. Storage – the folded wheelchair can be stored away when unused.

Social interaction

Social activity has a long history in terms of impacting meaningful activity. Many people with mobility impairments would become socially isolated if they didn't have collapsible wheelchairs and couldn't make flexible decisions about their daily routines, activities, and even goals without devices such as a collapsible wheelchair. 

Carers, wheelchair users, and non-wheelchair users suffer mental health consequences associated with this inability to engage.

Making an individual's environment enabling rather than being disabled helps them maintain their physical and mental well-being by enabling them to make flexible and spontaneous decisions.

Below are some things to consider when buying a manual collapsible wheelchair

Configuration

A manual folding wheelchair's configuration is simply the combination of your chosen parts. Two standard configurations are available: self-propelled and transit/attendant-propelled.

The user can propel themselves most of the time in a self-propelled wheelchair thanks to its large rear wheels and small front castors.

Assistant-propelled wheelchairs can have the same configuration as self-propelled wheelchairs or be transit chairs with smaller wheels for shorter distances.

Weight

It is important to consider the weight of a wheelchair for propulsion and transport. A standard wheelchair can weigh anywhere between 6-16 kg, so it is especially important to consider this for self-propelled individuals.

Physiotherapists or occupational therapists can assist you in choosing a chair that supports your functional abilities and needs most effectively.

These chairs' wheels and leg rest can be removed to reduce the chair's weight. They come in self-propelled and transit options and are generally not adjustable out of the box. Bariatric users can also select heavy-duty models that weigh 15-27 kg.

Transfers

To complete or support front or side transfers safely, you need a wheelchair that best fits your needs, promotes independence, and ensures safe manual handling for your carers. 

The user may need to be able to get close enough to the chair by using swing-away leg rests. For slide transfers, use flip-away armrests. If the user is hoist transferred, the tilt option will enable them to gain optimal positioning.

Tilt

The tilt feature is also available on manual collapsible wheelchairs, which benefits users with more complex needs than those of a standard wheelchair. Therapy practitioners often prescribe tilt to provide comfort and stability in postures, meet functional outcomes, change the user's orientation and reduce pressure.

For example, one of our clients, who was in a standard wheelchair, presented with a posterior tilt, lateral lean to the right, and poor control of her head and neck. Having completed an assessment and trialed seating and wheelchair options, we advised tilt. 

By tilting by 10 degrees, the posterior tilt of the user was minimized, resulting in the client remaining in the position he preferred and reducing pressure and shearing risks. As well as promoting an upright posture, tilt helps support transfers by reorienting the body in space and reducing the effect of gravity.

Bottom line 

It is essential to consider the user's needs when choosing a wheelchair. Our local Sky Medical Supplies dealer can answer questions about which wheelchair to choose, including body measurements, prognosis, lifestyle, and budget.