Wheelchairs

The total width of your wheelchair can be found in the user manual (or in the ordering documentation of your wheelchair). What is important to know when it comes to manual wheelchairs is if you have a camber, the overall width increases rapidly. For example, a wheelchair with 6 degrees camber and 24 "wheels, becomes 80 mm wider than a chair with 0 degrees camber.

Please consult your user manual for more information on setting changes for your wheelchair.

Yes, our Built-4-Me team can help you achieve requirements that go above and beyond what you would find on the typical product order form. They'll make every effort to provide you with the most suitable solution to your request. 

We'd recommend that your wheelchair is serviced by an authorised Sunrise Medical dealership every year. For your safety, some elements of your wheelchair should be checked regularly. Please refer to your user manual for more information.

Ultra-lightweight wheelchairs tend to be made of areospace-grade aluminum or carbon fibre, so they're stronger whilst not compromising the weight of the wheelchair. More durable, ultra-lightweight wheelchairs are tailor-made to your needs and are highly personalizable with a wealth of features and style options. QUICKIE's range of ultra-lightweight wheelchairs also employ a range of unique patented features to further strengthen the frame whilst minimising weight (such as ShapeLoc Technology on the Xenon series or X-Braid Technology on the Krypton). 

A multi-functional wheelchair is larger and has more equipment options than a traditional standard wheelchair. With options such as elevated legrests, adjustable backrests, seat tilt, headrests and wider armrests, multi-functional wheelchairs are less manouverable, but provide a greater level of comfort for users who are seated for longer periods of time with limited mobility or more severe disabilities.

A standard wheelchair tends to be used more on a temporary or occassional basis, such as after a leg injury or when transferring a patient. Often quite simple in design, standard wheelchairs tend to have less adjustability, with only options such as the seat height or footrests that are adjustable. Standard wheelchair frames tend to be made from steel, which can also make them quite difficult to propel for long periods of time. Many standard wheelchairs are now made from aluminium instead of tubular steel, like the BREEZY RubiX 2, which is far easier to propel with considerably more adjustability options than you would normally associate with a standard wheelchair.

Lightweight wheelchairs (available in folding and rigid frame versions) are traditionally made out of lightweight aluminium or titanium, so they're significantly lighter and easier to propel than a standard wheelchair. Ideal for those who enjoy an active lifestyle, lightweight wheelchairs also provide greater adjustments and are easier to personalise via a variety of colours and styling options. 

If you have a folding wheelchair, your serial number will be on the cross-brace (the folding bars underneath the seat of your wheelchair). If you have a rigid wheelchair, the serial number will be on the rear side of the frame.

The pressure depends on the type of tyre. For more details please refer to your user manual.

The choice of a tyre depends on the use of the wheelchair, and its environment. There are two categories: inflatable and non-inflatable. In general, an active user will always prefer an inflatable tyre, as it provides greater comfort, precision and driving performance. It is however subject to punctures and regular maintenance. As for non-inflatable, it requires no maintenance (not at risk of punctures), but its ride quality is lower, thus better for the less active.  

The choice of wheel size will depend on your height and desired seated position. Larger wheels can provide more comfort thanks to lower rolling resistance, especially when outdoors. Smaller wheels however are considered to make your wheelchair more agle. Your choice of wheel size should allow you to sit comfortably whilst requiring the minimum effort to propel your chair.

Sideguards are mounted on the left and right side of your wheelchair. They help to protect your hands and clothing from the dirt and water that can be  kicked up by the wheels of your wheelchair. Sideguards an be fixed or removable and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Spokeguards are plastic covers that fit over your wheelchair's rear wheel. Attached using cable ties, they help to prevent  your fingers getting caught between the wheel's spokes when propelling your wheelchair. They're also a great way of adding a flair of personalisation. Available in a variety of designs, our Built-4-Me wheelchair personalization department can even produce spokeguard covers with your own, unique design!

Camber is the angle of the wheelchair's rear wheels in relation to the ground. Traditionally, the rear wheels are at  90° to the ground, so the camber measurement is 0. A negative camber (usually seen in sports wheelchairs) adjusts the angle of the rear wheels inwards, so they're easier to grasp - helping to manouvre your wheelchair with less force. The increased width from the spacing of the wheels also helps to improve lateral stability (but can also make it more difficult when navigating narrow environments).