Wearing wheelchair gloves will protect your hands if you’re a manual wheelchair user. Manual wheelchairs are a great way to move around for disabled people. More often people go in for these wheelchairs because they are cheap, lightweight, and help keep your upper body strong.

However, one of the downsides of propelling your own wheelchair is that turning the wheels puts strain on the hands. If you don’t wear gloves, your hands can get callused and rubbed raw.

You see, the rims of the wheelchair are often made up of slippery material and must be gripped tightly in order to minimize slipping. To brake the wheelchair, it’s rider must use his hands to put pressure on the rim. Padded gloves can help minimize discomfort, even when the chair is moving quickly (as in a wheelchair race, or when moving downhill).

This breaking procedure puts extra strain on the forearm muscles and while using the wheelchair the user’s hand often comes in contact with the tires and may get scratched. The result often seen is abrasions, scrapes and development of calluses on the hands. To counter these problems wheelchair gloves are used.

There are a variety of wheelchair gloves available on the market. The standard wheelchair glove incorporates a full thumb with padding that extends to the areas necessary for comfortable wheelchair use. They are securely fitted with a Velcro tab and have a stretch cuff for comfort and flexibility.

There are other gloves available for use in wet weather as well as in cold weather. People with limited motor ability can use lightweight gloves made in neoprene. These gloves are not padded and are suitable for light use. Most of the gloves come in the range of $12 to $20 depending on the material they are made of. Gloves come in two options. Full fingered gloves and gloves in which fingers are cut.

When choosing a glove, figure out your daily activities and buy it accordingly. Fitting of the glove is extremely important. Loose or improperly fitting gloves make usage sloppy. The gloves come in 6 sizes ranging from extra small, to extra-extra large. Most leather gloves in black and brown colors. Gloves made of other material come in a variety of colors.

If you think wheelchair cushions are a frivilous accessory, try sitting in your chair all day without getting up and moving around! You will be sore. This is the challenge of the wheelchair user! Not only will it be physically uncomfortable, but if you find yourself sitting in an uncomfortable position day after day, you could potentially develop bedsores – which can lead to dangerous infection! Correct cushioning of the body is imperative to prevent these problems!

This wheelchair cushions challenge is exacerbated for those who don’t have the ability to feel pain in their posteriors! While some with uncomfortable seats may think this is a benefit, it is not. Normally, the body’s sense of touch tells us when we have rested too long in a certain position, our muscles get sore or fall asleep due to lack of circulation. This is our body’s signal to us to shift our weight and get the blood flowing again.

Parapalegics and others who lack this sense of touch can actually suffer damage to their bodies because of these problems.
Find the right wheelchair cushions! Talk to your doctor, physical therapist or wheelchair provider to find a cushion that is both soft and supportive. Your health is too precious to jeopardize with bad seat cushions on your wheelchair!

If you are looking to purchase a wheelchair, you should also be aware of some of the wheelchair accessories that are available to you. After all, the base of the wheel chair is only one part of the overall package. The accessories are what completes the picture. Here are a few extra wheeled chair add-ons that you should look for.

Seating is an important consideration in any chair, wheeled or not, where someone will be resting for long periods of time. It is an especially important consideration in wheelchairs or scooters designed for people who may not be able to readily move or shift their weight as their seat grows fatigued.

Fortunately, in many wheelchair models, different seating accessories are available. For example, you could choose from hard linear seats, to hip guides, armrests, ankle rests, chest straps and more. Remember, not all wheel chairs offer the same add-ons, so you should research your options carefully and consider what accessories you may want to use before you make a wheelchair purchase.

Another accessory that you should look at (particularly if the wheeled chair is for a child) is the amount of growth that the wheelchair will allow for. If the wheelchair user gets taller or puts on weight, will the chair be able to adapt? Some wheelchair models will permit the chair’s leg length to extend generously, while other wheelchairs will only provide a slight growth factor. In addition, some wheelchair model accessories will provide for a lot of growth in the seating area and back height.

The weight of the wheelchair’s base is another option to consider when choosing a wheelchair model or accessories. There are lightweight chairs on wheels, and the more traditional manual wheelchairs, which are heavier and more difficult to move around. If you are going to be putting the chair in and out of cars, or pushing it around a lot, you should consider the accessorizing with lighter wheelchair replacement parts to reduce the overall weight of the wheelchair.

So you see, there are many accessories to consider when buying a wheel chair. Be sure to keep all of your special requirements in mind when you make your purchase to ensure that you select the best possible wheeled chair for your needs.

If injury or illness has forced you into a wheelchair, that doesn’t have to mean you’re being pushed out of life!

These days, wheel chair users are more mobile than ever before. With battery-powered electric wheelchairs, stair lifts and home elevators to help you navigate stairs, and a variety of other wheelchair accessories you’ll be set to get wherever you need to go and your wheelchair will help you get there.

If you or a loved one are considering the purchase of a wheelchair or other mobility aid, it pays to do your homework. That’s why you’re here! There are so many options to choose from, and different features to learn about. Be sure to take your time and consider all your options, so you can make a choice you will feel good about.

Please browse our articles about wheelchairs and supplies and visit our recommended vendors when you’re ready to make a decision! We welcome your feedback, suggestions and pictures. If you’ve enjoyed this site, please link to us!

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