Types of Manual Wheelchairs

Most manual wheelchairs are designed to be propelled by the user, who grasps a pushrim on each wheel to move the chair forward or back. Many wheelchairs have push handles so they can be propelled by someone other than the user, such as a friend or caregiver. There are also one-hand manual wheelchairs for people with the use of one arm, and for people with limited use of the legs there are wheelchairs with a lower, or hemi, frame that are designed to be propelled by the user's legs.

Manual wheelchairs can generally be placed in one or more of the following basic categories:

• Standard/everyday wheelchairs
• Child/youth/growing wheelchairs
• Institutional/nursing home/depot wheelchairs
• Lightweight wheelchairs
• Reclining/tilt-in-space wheelchairs
• Specialty wheelchairs
• Sport wheelchairs
• Standing wheelchairs
• Transit wheelchairs
• Transport wheelchairs

Source: ABLEDATA Fact Sheet on Manual Wheelchairs