People can use a wheelchair for many reasons; sometimes, it is because of a permanent disability or temporarily while they recover from an injury. Whether you are a permanent caretaker or a friend helping out, though, it is helpful to know what handling a wheelchair is like.
Pushing someone in a wheelchair can be difficult, depending on several factors:
- Terrain
- Person’s size
- Type of wheelchair used
However, although pushing a wheelchair can be challenging, there are things you can do to make it easier.
If the person you are pushing has been in their wheelchair for a while, ask them for some tips. They may have adjustable handles or know the easiest way to go up and down a curb. If you know you are going to be pushing them somewhere, take some time to plan out the best route: one that avoids stairs, steep hills, and uneven ground. Doing these things will help prevent any difficulties while pushing it.
Why Pushing a Wheelchair is Hard
A wheelchair is a tool that makes moving someone around easier. However, you are still transporting their entire mass. Conditions on the ground, the size of the person you are pushing, and the type of wheelchair they use will impact the level of difficulty.
The Terrain
The easiest terrain to push a wheelchair on is flat or gently downward-sloped, smooth pavement. However, unfortunately, these conditions do not exist everywhere.
Since a wheelchair, as the name implies, has wheels, flat ground is the easiest to push on. If the ground gently slopes downward, then you have gravity helping you out. However, if you are pushing on a steep downhill slope, gravity can be too helpful, and you need to hold the wheelchair back from running away.
Gravity is your nemesis when it comes to any grade of uphill. Even an incline that you might not see, your body will notice. You must apply force to keep the wheelchair from just running you over and even more to make progress moving forward.
The smoother the ground, the easier it is for a wheel to roll. Types of ground cover that makes a wheelchair not want to move include:
- Gravel
- Mud
- Grass
- Brick
- Cobbles
- Stairs
Then there are curbs. Regardless if you’re going up, coming down, or navigating around, curbs are a straight nuisance.
There is also weather that can make even the smoothest, flattest terrain turn into a nightmare; for example, wheelchairs do not like snow and ice.
The Size Of The Person You Are Pushing
While a small child will be much easier to push than an adult, it does not mean they will always be easier to move. However, the smaller and lighter the person, the easier it will be to push them.
For example, pushing an adult that significantly weighs more than you is going to be the most challenging on your body.
The Type of Wheelchair
The easiest type of wheelchair to push is one that moves itself. Electric wheelchairs are battery powered so the person in the chair can move around independently.
However, if you are pushing a wheelchair, it will likely be a manual wheelchair. There are different types of manual wheelchairs, and some are a little easier to move than others:
- Adult Manual Wheelchair – moderate difficulty
- Pediatric Manual Wheelchair – slightly easier
- Sports Wheelchairs – more difficult
A pediatric wheelchair is smaller than an adult one, making it easier to push because it weighs less. A sports wheelchair is built so the user has more space to move their upper body. This means the back of a sports wheelchair is lower, making it harder for someone to push it.
Keeping Yourself Free from Injury
When pushing someone else in a wheelchair, you want to avoid hurting yourself in the process. Try to keep these tips in mind:
- Make sure handles are raised to a comfortable height, so your elbows are gently bent.
- Be close to the wheelchair.
- Keep a straight back.
- Push with your whole body; engage your legs and core.
As you get more experience pushing a wheelchair, it will become more intuitive and, in a way, easier. The ground and conditions will always present a challenge, but your muscles will grow stronger with time.
Keeping the Person Safe and Happy
While you want to keep yourself injury-free, you also don’t want to cause harm to the person you are pushing. Every wheelchair user is going to have their opinion on what they like and don’t like when it comes to someone pushing them. However, there are a few general guidelines for pushing someone in a wheelchair:
Always Communicate
The most important thing to remember when you are pushing a wheelchair is to communicate with the person sitting in it.
- Ask them questions about how they like to be pushed and things that you should avoid. It is their wheelchair, after all, so their comfort should be the priority.
- One thing you should ask about is their preference for going up and down curbs. They may like to go over them facing forward, or they may prefer to go backward. Ask them what they prefer. If something they prefer is physically challenging for you, tell them. Together you can find a solution that keeps both of you safe.
- Let them know where you are going and when you plan to stop and start. There is no need to channel your inner Siri, but it is a consideration to say, “We’re headed right around this building and up the ramp.”
- When going across grass, gravel, or other cumbersome terrains, it may be easier for you to press down on the handlebars and pop the front wheels off the ground. Once again, communicate to the person in the chair that you will do this before you send their feet to the sky.
Go Backwards
When going down a steep incline, move backward. This puts you between the wheelchair and whatever it can crash into at the bottom. Gravity will hold the person in the chair, instead of having them feel like they are about to hit the concrete.
Never Let Go
This goes along with communication. If you need to let go of the wheelchair. Tell the person you are stopping, ask them to put their brakes on, and then say you are letting go.
If you just let go, the chair might not be on perfectly flat ground and may roll off on its own. The person in the chair may hurt themselves trying to get it to stop.
Be Aware of Feet
Many wheelchairs have footrests that extend out a bit. This means the feet of the person in the chair stick out. It can be really easy to crash their feet into things and other people, so stay mindful of where they’re positioned when navigating tight areas.
Be Considerate
When you push a wheelchair, you are controlling where the person in it goes. For some people, this may be perfectly fine, but for others, they want to be in control, so the idea of having someone transport them from place to place may be frustrating. Be empathetic and considerate of how they feel.
In Conclusion
It can be hard to push someone in a wheelchair. The size of the person you are moving in relation to you, the terrain you are traveling over, and the type of chair they use can make things easier or harder.
For a safe, comfortable experience, be sure to have proper posture when pushing to prevent injury to your back. Always communicate with the person in the chair to let them know where you are going and how to make them feel secure.