WHEELCHAIRS & ACCESSORIES

If you require a wheelchair all or most of the time for mobility, or can walk perhaps with a walking stick or frame but are unable to cope with longer distances, a manual wheelchair might be your best option.

When you're looking at wheelchairs, think about:

• whether you're going to be pushing yourself or pushed by someone else

• whether you need to use it indoors or outdoors, or both

• how comfortable it is

• how much it costs to maintain and repair

The most common types are attendant-propelled or self-propelled.

1. Attendant Propelled wheelchairs are designed to be pushed from behind by another person. They generally have smaller back wheels, so are often lighter and easier to transport. They're also easier to navigate and control for the person pushing, although they can prove more challenging than larger-wheeled chairs to mount obstacles such as kerbs.

2. Self propelled manual wheelchairs are designed to be propelled by the user. They have larger back wheels, each with an outer ‘push rim’ that you turn to control and propel the chair.