Manual wheelchair or transport wheel chair?

tentaguasu · Apr 28, 2016

Hello everyone.

We're two weeks out from out trip, and my wife just severely injured her ankle. We know we'll need a wheelchair to get around. We're trying to decide on a manual versus a transport wheel chair.

(http://www.buenavistascooters.com/products.asp?cid=2)

She should be able to walk short distances, so I'm hoping for something that we can fold up and bring on the buses fairly easily (we're using all Disney transportation).

So for us the trade-off seems to be this - transport wheelchair looks smaller, lighter and easier to carry on the bus - but also likely less comfortable for being in all day long.

But honestly we have no idea, as we've never had to use one before.

Though I'm not looking forward to this extra wrinkle in our trip, I will say that (as I'm sure many of you know) even this small taste of disability has been eye opening.

Any insights would be appreciated.

starry_solo · Apr 28, 2016

Would you be willing to push the chair after a long day? Her arms are going to get tired rolling the wheels.

minnie mum · Apr 28, 2016

You may find this helpful: http://blog.rollmobility.com/2010/0...eelchair-and-lightweight-standard-wheelchair/

I prefer a wheelchair. I can push it myself when I need to walk, I can have DH push me if I'm tired, and I can push myself when I need to. Even if it's only to move myself a few feet, or to turn around. With a transport chair I can't move myself at all when I'm sitting in it.

tentaguasu · Apr 28, 2016

starry_solo said:
Would you be willing to push the chair after a long day? Her arms are going to get tired rolling the wheels.

If I'm at Disney, I have to at least try to be a prince, right?

Yep, I'll push her all day long. I think I can manage it... hopefully.

tentaguasu · Apr 28, 2016

minnie mum said:
You may find this helpful: http://blog.rollmobility.com/2010/0...eelchair-and-lightweight-standard-wheelchair/

I prefer a wheelchair. I can push it myself when I need to walk, I can have DH push me if I'm tired, and I can push myself when I need to. Even if it's only to move myself a few feet, or to turn around. With a transport chair I can't move myself at all when I'm sitting in it.

Great point, thank you. How easy is it to collapse a normal wheelchair and haul it onto the bus?

mamabunny · Apr 28, 2016

It's not too difficult to collapse a standard wheelchair, but you may not have to.

Bring a cheap pair of bike gloves to help prevent/avoid blisters on your hands.

Also, bring (or rent) a nice gel cushion - it can become uncomfortable to sit in the "sling" of the wheelchair for extended periods. A towel from the Resort is nice to cover the seat on hot days (black plastic/fabric can get hot). A brightly colored bandana, or length of ribbon will help distinguish your rental wheelchair quickly in a sea of nearly-identical rentals.

Finally, please counsel your Princess that when she is sitting in the chair, people may accidentally bump into her foot/ankle - so she will need to be vigilant about the actions of others.

SMD · Apr 29, 2016

Will she need to elevate the ankle? Transport chairs don't usually have adjustable leg rests.

BabyFu18 · Apr 29, 2016

I don't know how long your wife will need to be in the chair at a time, but if she's going to be in the chair for the majority of the day a transport chair can get really uncomfortable. Take it from someone who is always in their wheelchair, a standard chair will be much more comfortable and afford your wife the right to wheel herself around if she feels so inclined.

Also if your wife feels like she wants to get up and walk for short distances, something like a foldable cane might be helpful to have. My mom who uses a scooter for long distances but likes to carry a foldable cane with her for things like getting out of her scooter to go into the restroom and when she wants to walk around in small shops or walking into a restaurant if she wants to leave her scooter outside.

Betty Rohrer · Apr 29, 2016

I second the folding cane for walking short distances helps a lot.

PlutoPony · Apr 30, 2016

Note that if she is not of "average" height, the standard sized wheelchair may not be the best fit for her / most comfortable. I'm 5' and need a smaller chair to be most comfortable. Would assume someone a foot taller would feel the same way. YMMV though

gwb · Apr 30, 2016

pushed DW around wdw 1 time that was enough!! You may think you will be able to doit all day but think again. It's very tiring. Use foldable cane and get ecv etc(yes they can't fold). I have worked in medical facilities for many years transport chairs are uncomfortable and only for short distances they don not have elevated legs. Save yourself and her a potntial tiring vacation

Princess of Pirates · May 2, 2016

I would definitely go with a wheelchair. The transport chairs are not meant for spending time in. With a regular chair, you have the ability to push yourself if you want, you aren't just at the mercy of the person you are with. I used a transport chair at church for just a couple hours once and went crazy, having to stay where I was put. Collapsing a regular chair should be no problem for the bus, and the driver, I would think will help you if needed.

Mommee · May 4, 2016

See now I disagree, for me at least, and here's why: standard wheelchairs seem to be larger, and I'm not, so they are uncomfortable for me. Now of course I'm sure a custom chair would be more comfortable, but not standard rentals. I can move myself quite easily in my transport chair for short distances by scooching with my "good" foot (like you would on a rolling stool) so I'm never stuck somewhere. I cannot push myself with my arms, so that is out of the equation for me. Also, DH swears that it's much easier to push me in my chair since it's so light compared to a regular chair. Folding it for buses is quick and easy. Oh, and it came in pink :teeth:

Kindermouse · May 4, 2016

My son was in a wheelchair on our last visit and I almost got the transport chair becuase it was cheaper and...well I'm a cheapskate. I decided to spend the extra and I'm glad I did since he had to be able to wheel himself on several occasions. In a transport chair you have to be pushed. If youre in the bathroom or you go ahead for something she will be stuck. Also we had more sizes to choose from with wheel chairs and since my son is very small (12 yrs but only 86 pounds) it was more comfy and easier to maneuver a smaller chair.

That being said the wheels on a wheels chair can be a safety issue when you are in the crush of a big crowd. Make sure in a big crowd that your wife doesn't try to use the wheels herself and keeps her hands in her lap. We got stuck on a really pushy crowd that was hard to maneuver so we went to the side and to parked it there until the crowd had thinned. Well a really rude person tried to push his wheelchair out of the way and his hands were on the wheels and his finger got smashed pretty bad. It was not long before we were headed home so we just went to first aide, iced and bandaged it but when we got home we found out it was broken. Just like a ride on genies magic carpet you need to keep your hands and arms inside "carpet".

Mrsjvb · May 7, 2016

a transport chair has 4 small wheels so she will not be able to self maneuver/propel at all. this can mean the difference between making small adjustments to make lines easier, and overall negotiation. there are also meant for VERY short duration use.. car to airport check in, airport check in to gate, gate to plane. NOT several miles a day of use.

Bete · May 8, 2016

You can get a transport chair that weighs less than 15 pounds and it will fold up quite easily. Get one that has taller wheels in the back. Not sure how strong her one good leg is, but that is how you can try to propel yourself by pushing with the good leg, if necessary. We used one for my mother all the time at Disney World. It worked well for us. I couldn't handle pushing a regular wheelchair.

Manual wheelchairs take a lot of strength to push yourself all day or even part of a day. They are much heavier and in my opinion harder to get in and out of a car.

Pridemom · May 8, 2016

Kindermouse said:
My son was in a wheelchair on our last visit and I almost got the transport chair becuase it was cheaper and...well I'm a cheapskate. I decided to spend the extra and I'm glad I did since he had to be able to wheel himself on several occasions. In a transport chair you have to be pushed. If youre in the bathroom or you go ahead for something she will be stuck. Also we had more sizes to choose from with wheel chairs and since my son is very small (12 yrs but only 86 pounds) it was more comfy and easier to maneuver a smaller chair.

That being said the wheels on a wheels chair can be a safety issue when you are in the crush of a big crowd. Make sure in a big crowd that your wife doesn't try to use the wheels herself and keeps her hands in her lap. We got stuck on a really pushy crowd that was hard to maneuver so we went to the side and to parked it there until the crowd had thinned. Well a really rude person tried to push his wheelchair out of the way and his hands were on the wheels and his finger got smashed pretty bad. It was not long before we were headed home so we just went to first aide, iced and bandaged it but when we got home we found out it was broken. Just like a ride on genies magic carpet you need to keep your hands and arms inside "carpet".

Oh that makes me angry. No one should push a person's wheelchair without permission and this is one excellent reason.

Paula Sedley-Burke · May 8, 2016

I am sorry your wife has injured her ankle. I don't know if you have been to the parks before but do not under estimate the distances! Even us full time wheelchair users find it impossible to use our arms all day for that. Well I do. Plus pushing somebody hard work. It's great that she can walk short distances but it might make the ankle worse. Have you considered rental of a scooter? I have a power chair. I could not do the parks without a scooter or power chair/cane and comfy cushion and plenty of shade!

Manual wheelchair or transport wheel chair?

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