63 replies to this topic

[MarcosX]

Beautiful, on 09 January 2012 - 01:49 AM, said:

Hopefully I don't offend anyone.

My thinking is if you're able to use your arms, you should be using a manual chair. When I was younger, people tried to get me to use an electric chair, but I have complete use of my arms. If I had an electric chair, think of how much my upper body would waste away by not using my arms as much. There is medication for spasms, but if they're too strong for you and make you fall out of your chair, then people should be somewhat understanding. But as far as carrying things go and curbs... people learn how to deal with them.

The choice is yours. If you can't, you can't. If you don't know if you can, maybe you should try and see.

Well said. I agree. We should use our bodies as much as we possibly can depending on our condition. Manual Wheelchairs in my opinion just make you feel better because you can feel the road more, kind of like a car...

pistol_pete, on 09 January 2012 - 02:26 AM, said:

Beautiful, on 09 January 2012 - 01:49 AM, said:

Hopefully I don't offend anyone.

My thinking is if you're able to use your arms, you should be using a manual chair. When I was younger, people tried to get me to use an electric chair, but I have complete use of my arms. If I had an electric chair, think of how much my upper body would waste away by not using my arms as much. There is medication for spasms, but if they're too strong for you and make you fall out of your chair, then people should be somewhat understanding. But as far as carrying things go and curbs... people learn how to deal with them.

The choice is yours. If you can't, you can't. If you don't know if you can, maybe you should try and see.

I concur.
If you're spasms are so bad that they flip you out of your chair then you probably need some medication for that
Make the most of what you've got. My arms and shoulders are really strong now from using a manual.
People have asked me, when they see me pushing up an incline or working hard to get somewhere, why I don't just get an electric one.
I tell them I'll think about it when I'm seventy.
Don't be a pussy, get a manual.
You'll end up with triceps like Danny Green and all the girls will look at your buffed muscles and want to shag you.
You can get in and out of a car easily and drive.
So many positives to going manual.

LMAO! I agree!

[myshoeisonfire]

they started me out in a power chair, because I have problems with my wrists and arms....

used it for about 10 months... but i felt like I was not getting any exercise at all... and I wasn't happy.. I HATE sitting around doing nothing...

I had to travel to salt lake city from Portland with a friend.. it was a nightmare!! all I had was the powerchair, which ya cant take on a plane.. so i used those crappy manual ones at the airport...

long story short, I decided I needed my own manual chair at least for traveling... they told me using one long term would cause permainant damage to the problems I have in wrists and arms...

I got setup with a used QUICKIE GPV, which was my specs... got it back to the house, and decided to try using it for a few days.. just for no reason..
I couldn't get anywhere!!! it was soo much work!! but I just kept using it, and my arms and wrists seemed ok...

its been 3 months now, and the manual chair is the best thing ive ever done!!! I can get almost anywhere.. places my powerchair would NEVER be able to go!! Ive dumped myself out of it a couple times... (one of which caused a decent injury.. but it was totally my fault.)

My arms and wrists are just fine!!! im so happy!!! ive built a TON of upper body strength,(and sweet farmers tan) and have started going to the pool, and swimming an hour per day...

I still have the power chair... use it in the house for when I need free hands to get stuff done

for me, its manual chair all the way though now!!! never going back!!

Edited by myshoeisonfire, 10 May 2012 - 07:25 AM.

[Ironside]

If you want lots of independence than an electric wheelchair is the way to go, a manual wheelchair is just not going to enable you to travel very far outside. I just don't see the point of tetraplegics going to the trouble of getting a car that they need help getting in and out of and then use a manual chair, you still don't have any independence. Even if you can push the wheelchair well in doors, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an electric wheelchair, it will give give you the independence to go out on your own without help from anyone

Edited by Ironside, 12 May 2012 - 02:04 PM.

[Suttzzs]

I use an electric chair because the NHS issued chair is so heavy and takes a great deal of arm power to shift on the flat let alone on an incline - I also have a damaged right shoulder rotator cuff which makes self propulsiion nigh on difficult so I have always used an electric chair.

Manual wheelchair is so easily tipped backwards if too much power is used in setting off - I know this is all standard problems but what really annoys me is the fact that the public see an electric chair as a "Cop Out" - used by the obese and lazy....to save the effort of getting about on two feet....the amount of contempt shown is unbelievable - respect for disabled people went out the window many moons ago.

If an electric chair provides the answer then go for it - exercise regimes can still be maintained - I do mine twice daily - mainly stretching all the bits that work - P.T. will always advise.

Best of luck - keep safe.