There are many different transport chairs available. They vary in the type of chair, size, and weight capacity. There are also features such leg rests, cushioned desk arms, and whether it's fold-able or not. Here, you'll learn everything you need to know about each feature of a transport chair so you can make a firm buying decision. As you know, transport chairs are used to move patients that either just came out of surgery, have a medical problem, or some kind of injury. They enable patients to be mobile until they have fully recovered. Some patients have serious illnesses or health problems and will need to use a transport chair for an extended period of time.
These chairs require another person to move it but the patient can also use his feet to move around. To make a decision on which chair to buy, you first have to think about how long it will be used. If the person needs a transport chair for a short length of time like for recovery from a surgery, they can opt for cheaper chairs that do not come with as many features.
However, if the transportation chair will be used for an extended period of time, things like comfort and other features need to be strongly considered. Other than that, you will have to buy a chair in relation to the size and weight of the person. Not all chairs will be able to fit or support everyone so you need to look into the specifics of the chair.
Usually the transport chair will state how many pounds it can support without any issues. You can also find the seat width to see if it would fit the person comfortably. It's important that the width isn't too big as it will be too loose to the person sitting down and also make it harder to push the chair. Seat depth as well as seat to floor height is another thing to look at. Everybody's torso and legs are different in length so figuring out the right fit is important.
If the transporter chair is going to be used for some time, it's often better to pay extra for comfort features. Make sure there are leg rests and foot rests. The expensive transport chairs have adjustable leg/foot rests and even have padding to reduce stress. You should also look for padding on the arm rests so that the person's elbow and wrists do not get tired. You have the choice between the full arm and desk arm, with full arms offering full support. Getting a chair that folds and unfolds is something to consider too. You want be able to easily store the chair when it's not used and also make it easy to transport in a car.
The features, durability, and support will factor into how much you pay for your transport chair. The budget chairs start out at $80 and can go up as high as $150. The quality chairs start at $150 and can go up as high as $250. Ultimately, how much you pay will depend on how long you think the chair is going to be used and what kind of options you need for the patient.