Some people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will experience significant degeneration of their weight-bearing joints and will need a wheelchair. Since the disease affects many different joints, choosing a wheelchair will be harder.

Go For Power

Manual wheelchairs are rarely an option with RA due to problems with your hands and wrists, so you will need a power wheelchair. Your immediate concerns should be the size of the wheelchair and how it is maneuvered. Power wheelchairs come in different sizes based on how you plan to use your device. For example, if you are not confined to your home, you will likely need one that is capable of travel. This means the wheelchair is lightweight and folds easily so it can fit in many types of automobiles. People who rarely leave their homes may be more concerned about power wheelchairs that have a small turning radius, so it is easier to make it through tight corridors of their homes.

Consider Comfort

The comfort of your wheelchair will be more or less important depending on how often you need the device. If you plan to spend many hours sitting in your wheelchair, you should select models that have a higher back and thicker cushioning in the seat. This will provide you with more back support and the thicker cushioning can minimize discomfort in your lower back and pelvis. If your wheelchair will be mainly for occasional use, such as going to the store or outings, you can easily compensate for a less comfortable seat by using your own cushion. You may find that you need to sacrifice some degree of comfort to have a lightweight device that will be easier to take with you.

Leg Rests

Leg rests are an important feature that can be easily overlooked until you need them. Ideally, you should choose a power wheelchair that has leg rests that can be easily folded out of the way when not in use. Leg rests can be critical when you spend many hours in your chair and need to change positions. People with RA who have significant knee pain can find keeping their knees bent for long periods is not only painful, but the act of straightening out their knees once they have become stiff causes considerable pain. Leg rests can allow you to change the position of the legs periodically to avoid stiffness and unnecessary pain.

With RA, power wheelchairs are often the only option to use a wheelchair while having hand/wrist problems. Selecting a device to provide you with maximum comfort will prevent unnecessary discomfort while you are using the device.

For more information on wheelchairs, contact a medical center.