Living With A Lightweight Manual Wheelchair

Argue all you like, but if your doctor says you need a wheelchair in order to safely get around, you need a wheelchair. At first, your lightweight manual wheelchair seems like a newborn baby because it's clumsy and looks strange. You have to rearrange your life into traveling in the lightweight manual wheelchair rather than on your own two feet. But after a few weeks, you will wonder how you ever got along without your wheelchair.

How Others Treat You

At first, it might seem strange that standing people have to look down at you when you are in your lightweight manual wheelchair. It might seem that you are constantly having to look at people's backs and telling them to get out of the way. But gradually, you get to see that this isn't such a bad position to be in.

Employees of stores or services practically drop everything to open doors for you. You can roll over annoying people's toes and pretend you're deaf and this is socially acceptable. People will move out of your way because you have that mark of distinction by sitting in a lightweight manual wheelchair. And little kids will look at you longingly, wondering why they can’t get a ride.

How Light Is It?

If you live by yourself, then it's important how light your manual wheelchair is. You might have to install a manual wheelchair lift. May I recommend hiring Sven as your wheelchair lift? But for some conditions, like arthritis, you can still lift but just not walk very far. Lightweight manual wheelchairs are remarkably strong for their weight – a mere 28 to 34 pounds. If you're used to picking up bags of kitty litter, bales or hay or bags of mulch, then you're used to lifting a lightweight wheelchair.

Most lightweight manual wheelchairs fit easily in your car, too, so you are not stuck in your home. You just fold them up somewhat like an accordion and then stick them in your vehicle's trunk. Although it's always best to keep at your ideal body weight, your wheelchair should be able to carry 250 – 300 pounds. This way, you can do some shopping in your wheelchair.

Great Dog Toy

Your dog will also love your new lightweight manual wheelchair. If the dog is tiny, then they will enjoy riding on your lap. It's like a moving throne for them. And larger dogs, especially retrievers or of bulldog breeds, very quickly learn to pull you when you need it.