Folding Wheelchairs Vs. Rigid Wheelchairs
Folding wheelchairs have been around for many years. They are one of the most popular kinds of wheelchairs on the market today. People love them because they are flexible, portable, and usually a pretty comfortable ride. But how does one decide if this type of wheelchair is the way to go? What about wheelchairs that don't fold? They seem like they might be a little better when it comes to comfort and rigidness. Well, when trying to make a decision on your wheelchair purchase the best thing to do is take a moment and reflect on the type of life you lead. Ask yourself some questions about the kinds of activities you like to engage in. Could you be the outdoor type that loves to spend most of your time strolling terrain that might be less than smooth? Or are you more of an indoor kind of person that doesn't spend much time outside other than to get somewhere else that will also be indoors. Since folding wheelchairs can be put in the trunk of any car, it makes it much easier than buying a specialized van or truck to carry your wheelchair all over town, as space is not an issue.
To help make your decision a little easier, a few advantages and disadvantages folding wheelchairs have include the following.
The advantages of folding wheelchairs are that they can be stored practically anywhere. You don't have to remove any parts from these wheelchairs in order to fold it. You won't feel that you are cluttering up some corner in your home as you might with a rigid wheelchair. Because it's flexible all the wheels will keep to less than perfect surfaces just as they would for smooth surfaces. Finally, powered folding wheelchairs are also available for those that can't use manual wheelchairs. You still get the flexibility, but without the need to exhaust any energy.
On the opposite end of the spectrum where the disadvantages dwell, folding wheelchairs have removable parts that could potentially get lost if you are not carefully. If you participate in any wheelchair sports, folding wheelchairs might not be right for you. Because of their flexibility they could be to flimsy to take on the basketball court. Also, unlike most ridge wheelchairs, most folding wheelchairs can't adjust the seat for added comfort. The parts that go into making up folding wheelchairs also make them heavier than the rigid kind. For someone pushing you, folding wheelchairs can be a problem because they are generally harder to push around. And at last, they are far less durable then their counterpart. Cost is the last factor to consider when weighing your options. Folding wheelchairs are more expensive then rigid wheelchairs. You can expect to pay almost double for a folding wheelchair. That's why it's best to take a moment to look at the type of person you are and what kind of life you lead as to whether this type of wheelchair is ideal in your situation.
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