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Wheelchair seating in a theater A lightweight manual wheelchair

A wheelchair is a medical device that takes the form of a chair on wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. They incorporate supportive seating to aid posture and pressure cushions, in many cases. Wheelchairs and seating solutions are prescribed typically by highly specialised physio- or occupational therapists.

Types of wheelchair

Manual wheelchairs

Manual wheelchairs are those that require human power to move them. There are three types of manual wheelchair: self-propelled, attendant-propelled, and wheelbase.

• Self-propelled wheelchairs—These are propelled by the occupant usually by using large rear wheels, typically 24" in diameter (variable 20"-26"). A person moves a self-propelled manual chair by pushing circular bars on the outside of the large wheels with their hands called handrims, these have a diameter that is slightly less than that of the rear wheels. One-arm drive enables individuals to guide and propel the wheelchair from one side. Two handrims, one smaller than the other, are located on one side of the chair, left or right. On most models the outer, or smaller rim, is connected to the opposite wheel by a folding axle. When both handrims are grasped together, the chair may be propelled forward or backward in a straight line. When either handrim is moved independently, the chair will turn left or right in response to the handrim used. An alternative is a lever-drive chair that propells the chair forwards by using a lever that is pumped back and forth. Some chairs are also configured to allow the occupant to propell using one or both feet instead of using the rims.

• Attendant propelled wheelchairs—These are wheelchairs that can only be pushed by another person, having two 12" wheels instead of two large wheels in the rear and two small 8-inch castor wheels at the front. Such chairs are more compact though harder to push for an attendant than self-propelled chairs.

• Wheelbases—These are wheeled platforms with specially-moulded seating systems interfaced with them for those with a more complicated posture. A moulded seating system involves taking a cast of a person's best achievable seated position and the either carving the shape from memory foam or forming a plastic mesh around it. This seat is then covered, framed, and attached to a wheelbase.

Electric wheelchairs

Electric wheelchairs, or "power chairs," use electric motors to move the wheels. They are usually powered by 4 or 5 amp deep-cycle rechargeable batteries, similar to those used to power outboard boat engines. They may be designed specifically for indoor use, outdoor use, or both.

The user typically controls speed and direction by operating a joystick. Many other input devices can be used if the user lacks coordination or the use of the hands or fingers, such as chin controls and puff/suck scanners for those with C2-3 spinal cord lesions or head injuries. Power chairs can offer various powered functions such as tilt, recline, leg elevation, seat elevation, etc. Three styles of power chairs exist: rear, centre, and front wheel driven. Each style has particular handling characteristics.

A standing wheelchair is one that supports the user in a nearly standing position. They can be used as both a wheelchair and a standing frame, allowing the user to sit or stand in the wheelchair as they wish. They often go from sitting to standing with a hydraulic pump or electric-powered assist.

In 2005, University of Toronto researcher Alex Mihailidis and colleagues Jesse Hoey and Daniel Gunn developed an anti-collision system for powered wheelchairs. [1].

General

Wheelchairs come in many sizes and colors and are usually highly customized for the individual user, with many configurations possible including seat size (width and depth), seat-to-floor height, footrests/leg rests, front caster outriggers, tension adjustable backrests, and much more.

All models of Wheelchair are available with a range of accessories that ensure safety, stability, postural integrity, and functional ability of the occupant. These may be, for example, anti-tipping levers (prevent rearward instability when ascending a gradient), posture belts, tension adjustable backrest, tilt and/or recline etc. Some powerchairs are modular and allow the power-unit to be disengaged and replaced with a manual option. Some companies make power assisted hubs for self propelling chairs.

Experiments have also been made with unusual variant wheels, like the omniwheel or the mecanum wheel. These allow more directional movement options. The electric wheelchair shown on the right is fitted with Mecanum wheels (sometimes known as Ilon wheels) which give it complete freedom of movement. It can be driven forwards, backwards, sideways, and diagonally, and also turned round on the spot or turned around while moving, all operated from a simple joystick.

Disabled athletes use streamlined sport wheelchairs for sports that require speed and agility, such as basketball, rugby, tennis and racing.

Buildings

Adapting the built environment to make it more accessible to wheelchair users is one of the key campaigns of disability rights movements and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). For example, the construction of low floor trams and buses is being encouraged whereas the use of paternosters in public buildings without any alternative method of transportation has been criticized due to the lack of access for wheelchair users. Modern street furniture design now incorporates better accessibility for people with disabilities.

Notable users

• Max Cleland, former US Senator from Georgia
• Justin Whitlock Dart, Jr. (1930-2002), disability activist and "father of the Americans with Disabilities Act"
• Ed Roberts, founder of the disability movement
• Julie Fernandez, British actress (see The Office)
• Frank Gardner, BBC journalist who was paralysed after being shot by Al-Qaeda.
• Rick Hansen, wheelchair athlete who successfully circumnavigated the globe in his chair in the name of spinal cord injury research and as a good example of paraplegic athletes.
• Stephen Hawking, theoretical astrophysicist
• John Hockenberry, American journalist
• Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran and peace activist
• Jim Langevin, US Congressman from Rhode Island
• Christopher Reeve (1952–2004), late movie actor, the former Superman
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), 32nd President of the United States
• Ahmed Yassin (~1937–2004), assassinated founder of the Hamas organization
• Vladimir Lenin (~1870 to 1924 A Russian Revolutionary, the leader of the Bolshevik party, the first premier of the Soviet Union and the main theorist of Leninism was in a wheelchair for the last year of his life after suffering a Stroke
• Alan Tholkes, inventor of the EasyStand standing frame
• Sam Sullivan, mayor of Vancouver
• Morag Balfour, co-chair Scottish Socialist Party

Fictional

• Katie from Sesame Park, the Canadian adaptation of Sesame Street
• Grigotte from 5, Rue Sésame, the French adaptation of Sesame Street
• Professor Charles Xavier aka Professor X, founder and leader of the X-Men
• Ironside from Ironside
• Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights
• Timmy, from South Park
• Joe Swanson, from Family Guy
• Pelswick, star of an animated series by the same name
• Stevie from Malcolm in the Middle

Reilly O'Reilly in "John Callaghan's Quads": the main character in a satircal cartoon about a quadriplegic and his unusual friends. The definitive cartoon for people with spinal injuries!

Joe Flaherty's SCTV character "Guy Caballero" used a wheelchair, to try and gain sympathy around the network he owned. The character of Andy in Little Britain does the same.

Peter Seller's title character in the 1964 comedy film Dr. Strangelove can suddenly walk, just before the final bombs in the movie explode. John Locke on the television series Lost is no longer paraplegic, after the jet he was on crashes on a mysterious island.

External links

• SpinLife Manual and Power Wheelchairs View standard and lightweight wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs.
• Dept of Transportation Information about air travelers with disabilities and their rights in the US
• Electric Wheelchair Sports Wheelchair sports for the disabled
• Etiquette: Wheelchair users Suggestions for better communication with people who use wheelchairs
• Compare different types of Wheelchairs
• Kurumaisu Jutsu: Wheelchair Techniques Self defense for wheelchair users

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