The arts of a wheelchair you need to know for regular maintenance & repairs

Parts of a Manual Wheelchair

Understanding the various parts of a manual wheelchair is crucial for routine maintenance and to ensure optimal performance and safety. Manual wheelchairs, compared to other mobility devices, are quite simple to learn. Below are the key components that require regular inspection and care.

Push Handles

The push handles are located at the back of your wheelchair. These are often rubber handles that are installed to make them more comfortable for whoever is pushing you along. Over time, push handles can become worn or dirty, which may reduce comfort and grip. Replacing them during regular servicing is recommended.

Rear and Front Wheels

The rear and front wheels of your wheelchair are absolutely essential — without them, your wheelchair is useless! Your front wheels or “castor” wheels are more complex than the rear wheel because they’re designed for steering and can move in various different directions. Your rear wheels only move forward and backward. If castor wheels become unresponsive or misaligned, consult a technician immediately.

Push Ring

Push rings or “hand rims” are the metal or plastic rims attached to the outside of your rear wheels and allow you to propel yourself forward. Everyday wear-and-tear can eventually cause dents, bends and cracks — this can be painful! Loose push rings may need tightening using an open-end wrench or screwdriver.

Brakes

Brakes are designed to stabilise your wheelchair when transferring to other surfaces (e.g. your bed or couch) or if you would like to slow down to a stop. Realistically, you should check your brakes monthly — ensure your brakes are secured tightly to the frame and apply the lock to check that it holds your wheels firmly in place.

Tip Assist Bar

Most manual wheelchairs come with an anti-tip bar (stops the chair from tipping back when self-propelling the wheelchair) or a tip assist bar (helps a carer tip the chair back to get the castor wheels over small obstacles). If you don’t have an anti-tip bar, we recommend attaching one as this can prevent your wheelchair from tipping backwards and/or forwards.

Calf Straps & Footplates

Calf-straps are designed to stop your legs from falling off the back of the footplates. Every now and then, check that your footplates are intact, tightened and can easily be released/flipped away (if applicable).

Armrests, Backrest, and Seat

When checking your seat and backrest, look for any wear, tears, stretched upholstery or any metal parts that are sticking out. Your armrests ensure you have a good resting posture in your arms and shoulders. Regular checks for sharp edges and loose fittings can prevent discomfort and injury.

Parts of an Electric Wheelchair

While electric wheelchairs share many components with manual ones, they also include several electronic features essential for powered mobility. Understanding these parts helps maintain performance reliability.

Joystick

Joysticks are the most common control interface between you and your wheelchair. Each month, turn off the controller, check the joystick and the rubber boot around the base of the joystick for damage.

Charging Port

Without your batteries and your charging port, you may as well have a manual wheelchair! It’s important to only use the charger that came with your wheelchair and inspect the charging cable once a month for any wear and tear.

Battery Storage

Most power wheelchairs have a plastic cover or shroud to protect the electronics and battery of your wheelchair. It’s crucial to always keep the cover in place to avoid dirt and moisture getting inside your wheelchair — this can cause major malfunctions!

Seatbelt

All power wheelchairs should come with a seatbelt for pelvic support, pelvic positioning and safety while travelling. Check that the buckle latches securely and that the hardware that attaches the seatbelt is undamaged.

Folding Mechanism

The red level or “folding mechanism” is the manual override so the brakes on the chair can be manually overridden and the chair can be pushed manually. This feature is critical during emergencies such as battery failure.

SUPERPI Model P2 electric wheelchair: become our distributor

img.SUPERPI Model P2 lightweight foldable electric wheelchair.webp

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