Basic wheelchairs are great options for mobility. But selecting the right basic wheelchair has to be done considering the person’s need for it with certain features along.  

Here are a few features to be considered while buying a basic wheelchair  

1. Weight of the chair: Check the maximum weight a wheelchair can withstand. The weight of the wheelchair is how much it can travel with a user by bearing equal weight on all the portions of the wheelchair. If you buy a wheelchair that is lesser than the weight of the user, all the weight of the user leans to only one side of the seat, leading to tilting and falling due to unequal wait.  

2. Height and depth of the seat: The ideal seating space of the wheelchair should be a little wider than the size of the person. The extra 2-4 inches in the seat provide comfort to the user. To make it more accurate check the depth of the seat of a wheelchair. The more depth, the more it gives the user comfort and flexibility to move and provides stability to sit for long hours.  

3. Adjustable Footrests and Armrests: Adjustable footrests and armrests are a great source of relaxation and help the user be comfortable. The footrest being non-adjustable gives the ache and unresponsiveness to the legs of a user making it discomfort. Making your arms and legs flexible to move and relax, adjustable footrests are necessary even though they seem like a negligible feature, they contribute a lot to the seating position and comfort level of the user. Wheelchairs allow adjusting your footrests the way you like. Also, the armrests shall be comfortable and user-friendly. The armrests of wheelchairs should have soft padding and cushions that help you avoid cramps as well as add to the great comfort. 

4. Picking up a basic wheelchair with comfortable upholstery: The upholstery of a basic wheelchair is the padding material of the seat. Most of the time it is the nylon material used that makes it breathable with better insulation.  Even Vinyl is used in some wheelchairs that are easy to clean but have lower breathability than nylon. However, check the quality of the padding used. It is said that after sitting for long hours, the user feels a burning sensation. So, ask your manufacturer about the quality of the upholstery they’re providing.  

5. Wheel brakes and locks: Wheel brakes are imperative for safety and are an essential feature of wheelchairs to have control over it.  

Also, check with the wheel lock to keep the wheelchair steady when the user needs to stand in a place without moving or having any jerks. Wheel locks are different according to the design and usage, so before buying make sure to check the wheel locks according to your strength and comfort in the movement of the hand while pulling the wheel locks.  

6. Handbrakes for caretakers: It is the important factor usually ignored if the person has no previous knowledge of buying a wheelchair. Handbrakes while helping the person in the wheelchair to move definitely need handbrakes. So, check the grip of the handbrakes to avoid sudden unnecessary jerks while moving.   

7. Seatbelts: According to physiotherapists, a seat belt is no more a minor feature. It is one of the important features of a basic wheelchair that contributes a lot to design and safety. Seatbelts are great support for a user when the person has to continually move around.  

Well-fitted and stable seatbelts provide not only comfort to the user but protect them in the crowd, by falling off due to an accidental rush, or hustle-bustle.

8. Is it for outdoor or indoor use?  

A basic wheelchair comes with different capabilities. Indoor basic wheelchairs with light weight are suitable to run on smooth surfaces and outdoor wheelchairs are suitable for different surfaces and terrains and usually weigh heavier.  

Wrap-up: Buying a basic wheelchair is a one-time investment, and is a matter of comfort to the user. Make sure to check all the possibilities of the wheelchair that are designed to relieve the user and keep them safe avoiding jerks and injuries. Check for the mede-move basic wheelchair to buy a basic wheelchair in India.  

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