63 replies to this topic

[Beautiful]

wheeliebear75, on 11 January 2012 - 01:34 AM, said:

I wanted to take my son to the San Diego Zoo. Now since I didn't have the man power to bring along....this zoo has loads of hills that a manual wheelchair would have next to impossible time trying to get up let alone having to chase around a 5yr old.

Hahaha. Yep. Next to impossible for sure. I went there three summers ago... oh my gosh, I don't know how my arms were still attached at the end of the day!

[edlee]

Didn't mean to be offensive, Richo,, just needed a little more information. I can't blame you for not wanting to tip over backwards,,, I've done it enough to be a bit wary, myself. I'm pretty fortunate to not be bothered with spasms,, so for me,, for now,, it's manual. I'm sure you would feel the same way, in my place.

Some here have had good luck controling their spasms,, others not so much,, I'm guessing that you fall into the second group. Different circumstances require different actions. As long as you do what you need to do to keep your upper body strong,, and stay healthy,, how you get from point A to point B is your buisness.

But,, as I said before,,, the lazy part, you have to decide on your own. I've decided about myself,,,,,, for me,, yes.
ed

[KayDub]

I was at Craig the other day and overheard one of the PT's telling his patient (who was a young female para like myself) that he used to never believe in electric chairs for para. However that changed when one of his patients asked for one. She was a para but just gave birth and the electric chair allowed her to care for her infant much better for her. I 100% believe in my manual chair, I'm a T9/T10 para. I've had AB people ask why I don't get an electric chair and I always chuckle and explain to them that the majority of paras don't use them because they can be detrimental to strength and independence, and they're also bulkier and harder to maneuver for the most part. But I don't believe anyone should judge anyone else's decision. Each person has different reasons for choosing the chair best for them and to make sweeping generalisations based only on an injury level is ridiculous, considering most SCI folks don't want people making generalisations on them. I think it's a decision that should be between an individual and their doctors and PTs. You never know who is caring for young children, who has to roll long distances daily, who has other issues with their arms or upper body, who has horrible spasms, etc. I don't think you should feel horrible at all about using an electric chair. It's not for all paras, but that doesn't mean it's "wrong".

[wheelie182]

Well said Kaydub.

However, I think that if you do have the choice, the benefits obtained from using a manual wheelchair far outweigh those of an electric chair.

[Jeepmanmatt]

I agree that it's more personal preference. I use a manual chair for 95% of my daily activities. The other 5% is in a powered chair to get around our 10 acres of rolling hills with the family.

[Big E]

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.

Better off to use an electric chair even if u are capable of using a manual. Why risk ruining your shoulders, wrists, hands, getting arthritis and all that good stuff. Unless you wheel around an incredible amount of miles, you really won't burn a whole lot of calories anyway. Go electric, join a gym and do some intense workouts with weights using good form which any decent trainer can teach you, and save your joints from being destroyed later in life. Weightlifting with proper form will actually strengthen those joints that a manual chair will tear apart, plus you can build a lot better looking body than you could by just wheeling around with your arms. Take Care.

[isobar]

You should use the type of chair that you need and shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed about your choice after -all you know why you're in it ...... there's no need to justify your decision to anyone. Some women wear padded bras and some bald men wear toupees. I remember this same issue being addressed before , going back and forth getting nowhere. If your chair suits your needs that's all that really matters.

[A trophy guy]

isobar, on 17 January 2012 - 05:36 AM, said:

You should use the type of chair that you need and shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed about your choice after -all you know why you're in it ...... there's no need to justify your decision to anyone. Some women wear padded bras and some bald men wear toupees. I remember this same issue being addressed before , going back and forth getting nowhere. If your chair suits your needs that's all that really matters.

"double-like"

[LeviM]

Many things besides the use of your arms can factor in when deciding between a manual and powered wheelchair.
I've been paralyzed 10 years now. I already have arthritis in both shoulders as well as a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder and degenerative joint disease showing in both shoulders. I'm only 33 years old. Another thing that can affect ones decision is heart and lung issues. And then their is fatigue and safety issues.

I have spent a great amount of time in a manual chair and power chair. Honestly if I could go back and spend less time in a manual chair to prevent the shoulder issues I have now, I would. Shoulder problems affect more then just ones ability to move around in a manual chair. They affect ones ability to transfer and move around to shift pressure while sitting on the couch, getting in and out of the tub etc. The pain can be very limiting, leading to other issues such as sores.

I use a manual chair when moving about the house and often on trips to the grocery store, when I know someone will be with me. However when I'm going to a doctors appointment alone I find it necessary to use my power chair. No, my paralysis doesn't affect my arms but it does my hands wrists and fingers. I also have severe fatigue and muscle weakness issues from MS and not very much endurance either. Have you ever been going through a parking lot and have some person not see you and starts backing out of their parking spot with you in their direct path? I have lol, it wasn't a good experience at all. I can't imagine that happening with me in my manual chair without an AB there to save the day. I don't have the arm/hand burst strength/quickness to get me out of the way in time.

I know it's not possible for a lot of people but in my opinion it's idea for a person to have both a manual and a power chair to pick between depending on the situation they find themselves in. Why destroy your shoulders completely if you can at least slow that process down? I'm not saying don't use a manual chair because it will mess your shoulders up, I'm saying pick and choose your battles. Be smart about when you use a manual chair verse power chair.

[Ironside]

richo, on 09 January 2012 - 12:55 AM, said:

ive been in a chair now for three years,i get around on a electric chair.one of my freinds the other day(whos ac6)had ago at me for beeing a T6 para and getting around in elecrtic and not a manual chair.well i got realy upset over his comment.but it dose play on my mind a bit about am i lazzy or am i doing ok. I will tell yous a few main reasons i ride electric-in manual i have spasams and tipmyself backflip out-were i live the foot paths and cerbing are not freindly at all-i cant cruse around with my boy,or carry anything-They are the main ones.let me know what you people think...RICHO

I don't use a manual chair anymore, I use my electric chair all the time. I don't want to be restricted to whether I can go out or not, I may suddenly decide that I need to nip out to the shops, if I stuck in a manual wheelchair then I've got to go through the hassle of transferring into my electric wheelchair. However, I use my Uppertone exercise machine every single day so I suppose that does compensate for not using my arms to push a wheelchair.

[silone74]

I use a manual chair and at this moment in time my arms and shoulders are in pain and I would like to rest them and use some kind of power chair or turn my chair into a power chair so to speak with the trike attachment and seeing as the electric power chairs cost so much I have no choice but to stick to my manual but I am looking into the trike option the viper made by team hybrid I have one of there hand cycles and it is a great bit of kit but needs my arms to power it and i need to rest them until I can find out what the problem is with my arms.



Si

[richo]

Ironside, on 30 January 2012 - 05:17 PM, said:

richo, on 09 January 2012 - 12:55 AM, said:

ive been in a chair now for three years,i get around on a electric chair.one of my freinds the other day(whos ac6)had ago at me for beeing a T6 para and getting around in elecrtic and not a manual chair.well i got realy upset over his comment.but it dose play on my mind a bit about am i lazzy or am i doing ok. I will tell yous a few main reasons i ride electric-in manual i have spasams and tipmyself backflip out-were i live the foot paths and cerbing are not freindly at all-i cant cruse around with my boy,or carry anything-They are the main ones.let me know what you people think...RICHO

I don't use a manual chair anymore, I use my electric chair all the time. I don't want to be restricted to whether I can go out or not, I may suddenly decide that I need to nip out to the shops, if I stuck in a manual wheelchair then I've got to go through the hassle of transferring into my electric wheelchair. However, I use my Uppertone exercise machine every single day so I suppose that does compensate for not using my arms to push a wheelchair.

sound good....yea i figer if idident use my arms too walk around when i could,why should i now

[richo]

silone74, on 30 January 2012 - 09:22 PM, said:

I use a manual chair and at this moment in time my arms and shoulders are in pain and I would like to rest them and use some kind of power chair or turn my chair into a power chair so to speak with the trike attachment and seeing as the electric power chairs cost so much I have no choice but to stick to my manual but I am looking into the trike option the viper made by team hybrid I have one of there hand cycles and it is a great bit of kit but needs my arms to power it and i need to rest them until I can find out what the problem is with my arms.



Si

that sucks.cant the goverment or disability orginisation help you out.good luck

[richo]

LeviM, on 19 January 2012 - 02:15 AM, said:

Many things besides the use of your arms can factor in when deciding between a manual and powered wheelchair.
I've been paralyzed 10 years now. I already have arthritis in both shoulders as well as a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder and degenerative joint disease showing in both shoulders. I'm only 33 years old. Another thing that can affect ones decision is heart and lung issues. And then their is fatigue and safety issues.

I have spent a great amount of time in a manual chair and power chair. Honestly if I could go back and spend less time in a manual chair to prevent the shoulder issues I have now, I would. Shoulder problems affect more then just ones ability to move around in a manual chair. They affect ones ability to transfer and move around to shift pressure while sitting on the couch, getting in and out of the tub etc. The pain can be very limiting, leading to other issues such as sores.

I use a manual chair when moving about the house and often on trips to the grocery store, when I know someone will be with me. However when I'm going to a doctors appointment alone I find it necessary to use my power chair. No, my paralysis doesn't affect my arms but it does my hands wrists and fingers. I also have severe fatigue and muscle weakness issues from MS and not very much endurance either. Have you ever been going through a parking lot and have some person not see you and starts backing out of their parking spot with you in their direct path? I have lol, it wasn't a good experience at all. I can't imagine that happening with me in my manual chair without an AB there to save the day. I don't have the arm/hand burst strength/quickness to get me out of the way in time.

I know it's not possible for a lot of people but in my opinion it's idea for a person to have both a manual and a power chair to pick between depending on the situation they find themselves in. Why destroy your shoulders completely if you can at least slow that process down? I'm not saying don't use a manual chair because it will mess your shoulders up, I'm saying pick and choose your battles. Be smart about when you use a manual chair verse power chair.

thankyou very mutch for shering your experiance with me.take care.richo

A trophy guy, on 17 January 2012 - 05:43 AM, said:

isobar, on 17 January 2012 - 05:36 AM, said:

You should use the type of chair that you need and shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed about your choice after -all you know why you're in it ...... there's no need to justify your decision to anyone. Some women wear padded bras and some bald men wear toupees. I remember this same issue being addressed before , going back and forth getting nowhere. If your chair suits your needs that's all that really matters.

"double-like"

cheers

Big E, on 17 January 2012 - 04:47 AM, said:

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.

Better off to use an electric chair even if u are capable of using a manual. Why risk ruining your shoulders, wrists, hands, getting arthritis and all that good stuff. Unless you wheel around an incredible amount of miles, you really won't burn a whole lot of calories anyway. Go electric, join a gym and do some intense workouts with weights using good form which any decent trainer can teach you, and save your joints from being destroyed later in life. Weightlifting with proper form will actually strengthen those joints that a manual chair will tear apart, plus you can build a lot better looking body than you could by just wheeling around with your arms. Take Care.

thanks guys.take care too

[A trophy guy]

I have a bit of a different take as far as the use of a manual, the wear and tear it has on your shoulders and what you can do about it.

The motion of propelling a wheelchair is one, specific motion. In this motion, you are using specific muscles; and you are using them repeatedly and chronically. Without working the other surrounding and opposing muscles as well, injury and overuse symptoms are much more likely.

I have been using a manual for the entire time I've been paralyzed (just about 12yrs) and I've had both rotator cuffs torn ever since about six months into my life in a wheelchair. It's been a testament to my lifestyle and workout habits that I not only have been able to avoid surgery for my shoulders, but I have actually improved in the years since they were at their worst.

Consistent use of a UBE is key, too, I believe. This keeps circulation in your upperbody in an excellent state, and this has many benefits (i.e. arthritis, weakness, lactic acid buildup, heart health, range of motion).

(I think it's important, if you can, to get your cardiovascular exercise from means other than pushing your chair; this just puts additional strain and wear/tear on the same muscles you use all day/every day. Plus, wheeling isn't the most efficient form of cardio. UBE use or even swimming is best)

Edited by A trophy guy, 31 January 2012 - 05:59 AM.

[Tetracyclone]

AT Guy- What is UBE?

I found I was pushing my chair more with upper arms and shoulders. When I got hips looser so I could straighten my back into a lean I now use my back muscles much more.

Still, any extra stress, like dealing with carpet, pushes the right shoulder into pain.

With some leg use, i can now use an elliptical machine and one of those sit-down, leg and arm machines for cardio-v. What fun! last night I made a new record going for a full hour.

many members have written that they had to get power chairs when their shoulders gave out and they wish they had done it long ago.

[greybeard]

UBE -- Upper Body Exercise ??

[A trophy guy]

Tetracyclone, on 31 January 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

AT Guy- What is UBE?

I found I was pushing my chair more with upper arms and shoulders. When I got hips looser so I could straighten my back into a lean I now use my back muscles much more.

Still, any extra stress, like dealing with carpet, pushes the right shoulder into pain.

With some leg use, i can now use an elliptical machine and one of those sit-down, leg and arm machines for cardio-v. What fun! last night I made a new record going for a full hour.

many members have written that they had to get power chairs when their shoulders gave out and they wish they had done it long ago.

Sorry; UBE-Upper body ergometer, or in plain spoken english an arm bike.

[Ironside]

A lot of people feel guilty about using an electric wheelchair all the time because they think that it won't do them any good. I would agree to a point that your muscles will probably deteriorate if you do use them. I'm lucky, I have got an exercise machine that is designed especially for people like myself, it enables me to exercise when ever I want with out the need to ask anyone for help. I almost certainly get more exercise from doing this I would do if I was sitting in my manual wheelchair. If you think about it, if the wheelchair is fairly easy to push them that's not going to build muscle and make you stronger,to a certain extent it will keep your arms supple but if you're not doing a lot of pushing you're not getting exercise. It's not easy for tetraplegics to do cardiovascular exercise just by using your arms, after we can't even build up a sweat :-). The only way you will gain strength is to lift heavy weights and build muscle, you needn't go mad, 15 min a day lifting weights is more than enough to build muscle, even if you are a tetraplegic.

[Kimu]

Hey richo,

I dont know if i can add anything that hasnt already been said but personally i think that a combination of both chairs is best, i love my manual chair and i find that indoors it wins hands down, more agile, skinnier, doesnt need to be charged, easier for my wife to get it in and out of cars and ALOT less that can go wrong. But on the flip side i love my power chair for romantic walks with the wife, gardening, camping and when im feelin a bit crook. so my advice is use both

Ben

[richo]

id like too say thank you too everyone for there thougts,and addvice all good.and it has helpt to make my head feel better,with my form of transport.i have allso realise i do need to do a lot more exesise.SO

[Tarkus]

Deleted....better judgment

AMAC

Edited by Tarkus, 03 February 2012 - 01:43 AM.

[McTavish]

It is up to each individual what they think is best for them, me personally am grateful that I am able to use a manual chair, but I have no problem with anyone who decides on an electric model

[Danimal_1985]

I believe that my manual chair makes the world more accessible to me. I can break down the chair and load it into a vehicle on my own, I can go down stairs with it, I'm working on going up stairs with it, plus when I go to a friends house or somewhere without a ramp my friends can pull me up stairs or other obstacles. If I had a power chair, I couldn't go anywhere that didn't have ramps, plus my manual chair is a lot more compact so manuvering in bathrooms and stalls is a lot easier. Plus it builds upper body strength and stamina. When I was in rehab at the hospital all the other patients were in power chairs, granted two of them needed them because of limited or no hand dexterity from high c injuries, even the guys with lower injury levels than myself were in them for a variety of excuses. In my eyes, if you have the ability to use your arms and hands and are in a power chair, it is because you're lazy.

[richo]

Danimal_1985, on 21 March 2012 - 09:43 AM, said:

I believe that my manual chair makes the world more accessible to me. I can break down the chair and load it into a vehicle on my own, I can go down stairs with it, I'm working on going up stairs with it, plus when I go to a friends house or somewhere without a ramp my friends can pull me up stairs or other obstacles. If I had a power chair, I couldn't go anywhere that didn't have ramps, plus my manual chair is a lot more compact so manuvering in bathrooms and stalls is a lot easier. Plus it builds upper body strength and stamina. When I was in rehab at the hospital all the other patients were in power chairs, granted two of them needed them because of limited or no hand dexterity from high c injuries, even the guys with lower injury levels than myself were in them for a variety of excuses. In my eyes, if you have the ability to use your arms and hands and are in a power chair, it is because you're lazy.

dan my littel freind yourve got 21 years on me,and iv still got me money on my self when it comes too picking grasshoppers off ya back.LAZZY RICHO

Kimu, on 02 February 2012 - 10:55 AM, said:

Hey richo,

I dont know if i can add anything that hasnt already been said but personally i think that a combination of both chairs is best, i love my manual chair and i find that indoors it wins hands down, more agile, skinnier, doesnt need to be charged, easier for my wife to get it in and out of cars and ALOT less that can go wrong. But on the flip side i love my power chair for romantic walks with the wife, gardening, camping and when im feelin a bit crook. so my advice is use both

Ben

Thanks mate.....

[HowiRolldotcom]

People walking around have said to me, "if I were you I'd totally be in an electric wheelchair, your manual wheelchair looks so hard". They didn't understand that I want to push myself because so much was taken away. I think that if a person can physically swing it, they should choose a manual wheelchair, even if it's hard at times. The daily exercise is healthy. But, if the reason for using an electric chair is a health issue it makes sense. Just don't be LAZY.

[Willie03]

I had polio at age 4mos. & grew up in the old time PT days when you had to stay up on crutches or you were considered to be lazy. So, I dragged my body around for almost 30 yrs. Now the PT philosophy has changed, a little too late since I now have torn rotator cuffs, bulging discs and arthritis. I tried a manual chair which further damaged my shoulders.

My point is although I can still physically push a manual chair, I would rather save the remainder of my shoulder use for other uses like independent feeding, dressing and transferring rather than wasting a damaged shoulder. Power wheelchairs are a God-send.

[richo]

Willie03, on 19 April 2012 - 03:53 AM, said:

I had polio at age 4mos. & grew up in the old time PT days when you had to stay up on crutches or you were considered to be lazy. So, I dragged my body around for almost 30 yrs. Now the PT philosophy has changed, a little too late since I now have torn rotator cuffs, bulging discs and arthritis. I tried a manual chair which further damaged my shoulders.

My point is although I can still physically push a manual chair, I would rather save the remainder of my shoulder use for other uses like independent feeding, dressing and transferring rather than wasting a damaged shoulder. Power wheelchairs are a God-send.

and i hope you can still get around without any pain........take care RICHO

Edited by Apparelyzed, 06 May 2012 - 01:18 PM.
Duplicate quotes removed

[paradi]

I use the manual chair inside my home and when visiting friends' houses (portable ramps are stored in my vehicle). But when it's a trip to the city, tour of a museum, long shopping trip or outing to a park with paved trails or just a birdwatching roll around the neighborhood - it's the power chair to the rescue! I also find it a LOT less frustrating when I have the power chair to skip fighting for a handicapped parking spot closest to the store and just park farther away taking up two spots and power back to the store!

[Iain]

I remember a while ago being "shouted at" by one or two members who insisted that I was at least amoral for using a powerchair as a T4, and that I ought to just give it to someone who needed it. The powerchair got me to places I couldnt get otherwise, and for a couple of years meant that I could get out to work, when I was still too weak to manage that in my manual chair. Now I've got a manual - which I put on a Viper powerwheel to go out with the family in the country, or a manual chair with e-fix, which I can get loaded into the car by one of those arm things. It really is a matter of using the right tool for the right job, accepting things change, and adapting for the terrain you are living in. ABs dont have just one set of shoes for everything, and we can't necessarily do everything we want with one standard manual wheelchair. So, as others have said, do what works for you, but don't be bullied by the "manual" police!