How is a wheelchair correctly used

The brakes need to be in the locked position before entering or exiting the wheelchair. You do not want to risk the wheelchair moving while you are trying to reposition yourself. You should also turn off the power when you are getting in or out of a power wheelchair. This can help you save some battery power, while also ensuring that you or anyone else does not accidentally hit the lever and make the wheelchair move. Avoid pulling on doors or any other type of object while you are in a manual wheelchair.

You do not want the door or the object to inadvertently release and throw you and the wheelchair backward. It is also easy to tip over your wheelchair and injure yourself doing this. Remember to raise the footplates prior to entering or exiting the chair. Also, some models may feature removable arm and leg rests.

If your wheelchair has these, you should always make sure that they are secured by raising the arms and moving the leg rest away from the chair. This needs to be done prior to each and every use to ensure an easy entrance or exit to your wheelchair, which can help reduce unnecessary accidents.

Avoid putting anything heavy in the back of the wheelchair. It may seem as if there is plenty of space for some extra storage, but your wheelchair is not meant to be used this. Heavy loads placed in the back of your wheelchair can cause the wheelchair to tip backward, which can lead to an accident.

Sitting in the wheelchair for long periods of time can also cause pressure sores. These sores can develop at any point of contact between the skin and chair surface.

Some of the common places for pressure sores to develop in wheelchair users include the spine, sacrum , buttocks, ankles, and heels. Patients who are less mobile and stay in one position are at higher risk. Check the skin regularly for blisters or sores. Be sure to let a care team member know about any skin changes. Special care may be needed for children who have treatment side effects such as skin problems , nerve damage peripheral neuropathy , or increased risk of infection.

Manual wheelchairs can be pushed by a caregiver or propelled by the user using the hand rims of the back wheels. Practice is needed to learn to self-propel a wheelchair. However, even younger children can become skilled at using a wheelchair. The following tips provide basic information on using a wheelchair.

However, your care team can provide specific information and training based on your wheelchair type and mobility needs. Going forward in a wheelchair — To self-propel forward, grip the wheelchair hand rims near the back of chair.

Push forward and down on the hand rims, and then let go. Move hands back to the starting position and repeat the motion. Turning a wheelchair — To turn right, push forward on the left hand rim to propel the left wheel forward while slowing down or stopping the right wheel.

To turn left, propel the right wheel forward while holding still or slowing down the left wheel. Going backward in a wheelchair — To go backwards, grip the hand rims near the front of the chair. Push back and down to move the wheels backward. Anti-tips bars can be placed on the back of the wheelchair near the back wheels prevent backward tipping. Stopping a wheelchair — To stop the wheelchair, grip the hand rims and use friction to slow them down.

If the rims are wet, pinch the tire instead. Be careful, as this friction creates heat that can burn the hands, especially when on a slope or stopping suddenly. Going up and down curbs or small steps in a wheelchair — The safest way to go up and down curbs is with caregiver assistance. If the user needs to negotiate a curb independently, more training and practice will be needed under supervision of a trained healthcare professional.

Going up and down ramps in a wheelchair — Take care to maintain control when going up or down ramps or slopes. If going up a ramp independently, the user should lean slightly forward and use quick, short pushes to help momentum. When going downhill, maintain friction on the hand rims to control speed. A caregiver should always assist on steep slopes. Keep the wheelchair straight when going up or down slopes so that the chair does not tip over. Learn more It may take a little while to get comfortable in your wheelchair, but you soon you will be able to move around like a pro!

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Read More Once you've gotten into your wheelchair, adjust the breaks, footpads, and armrests as needed. To move forward, rotate the wheels or push the joystick forward; to move backwards, simply reverse the movements.

To turn in a manual wheelchair, hold the wheel on the side that you want to turn still, and then rotate the other wheel. For example, if you want to turn right, keep the right wheel motionless, and turn the left wheel! To learn how to use the brakes to safely stop the wheelchair, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.

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Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Take a look at your wheelchair to see what type you have. Misuse or improperly handling a wheelchair can cause serious accidents. Fortunately, most of these accidents are easily avoidable when equipped with proper knowledge and safety procedures.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid these types of accidents. You must keep up with the maintenance on your wheelchair. You must ensure that all of the parts are in the best working order. Faulty, inadequate, or recalled parts may cause your wheelchair to malfunction, which can lead to an accident.

The brakes always need to be in the locked position before getting in or out of the wheelchair. You never want to risk the wheelchair moving while you are trying to reposition yourself. Also, remember to turn off the power when you are getting in or out of a power wheelchair. Not only will you save yourself some battery power, but you do not want anyone accidentally hitting the lever and causing it to move.

Refrain from pulling on doors or any other type of object while you are in a manual wheelchair. You do not want a door or any other type of object to inadvertently release and throw you and the wheelchair backward. You could easily tip over and injure yourself. Always lift the footplates before getting in or out of the chair.