With a little extra planning, some manual wheelchair users can regain their independency with the simple activity of climbing stairs.
Tips for climbing stairs with a manual wheelchair
The back of the manual wheelchair pushes against a wall and the user steps on their own without pushing.
Every stair should have parallel rails to allow the wheelchair to slide up and down.
Do not place rails in a position that would cause you to tilt forward or backward.
Know the benefits of manual wheelchairs
If someone has mobility issues and wants to live independently in their own home, then a manual is the ideal alternative instead of an electric wheelchair. It’s lighter weight, so it can be taken up stairs more easily. People who use manual wheelchairs also need to think about stamina. Wheelchair racers start out with sprints and work their way up, taking one step at a time. Training for three hours is equivalent to doing a 45 minute run.
Although the post doesn’t mention anything specific about ergonomic benefits of using manual wheelchairs, they are beneficial in keeping the person’s back straight while steering or sitting on it for long periods of time as opposed to an electric wheelchair which puts direct pressure on one’s back when using it which causes spinal degeneration over time – so first consider if an electric kick scooter and semi-availability push will suffice before investing in a manual wheelchair at all.
Tricks for climbing stairs with a manual chair
Some of the obstacles that people with disabilities must confront involve mobility. Climbing stairs can be particularly challenging for those who use a manual wheelchair. To help you get up stairs safely and easily, here are a few tricks to try:
-Increasing the weight of your chair by adding heavy items such as books or weights onto the back of it.
-Using a ramp to get up stairs instead of trying to ascend them without one.
-Climbing the stairs only going up one step at a time and using your hands for stability and balance.
More detail on benefits, tips, and tricks
There can be many benefits to climbing stairs with a manual wheelchair. The tips and tricks for this are as follows: Be strategic about body positioning. Imagine a triangle between your back, the wall, and the stair. Push up against that object to help make the ascent shorter. Use your hands to push up on the lever of your chair if you need more angle. Keep in mind that a manual wheelchair is usually more stable when backing down than climbing up.
Conclude
For those living with a disability, it can be tough to find the energy, or just the inspiration, to get from one place to the next. Climbing stairs, for many people, is an impossible feat. Thankfully there are other methods of movement that people can utilize to aid in this issue. One example of this would be a manual wheelchair. Operating a manual wheelchair may seem difficult at first but with some push and pull practice it is possible to maneuver your way up any set of stairs you encounter assuredly and successfully.
