August 10, 2020
Glossary of Manual Wheelchair Terms
See below some of the manual wheelchair terms you will find on our website.
Manual Wheelchair (MWC) | Wheelchair which relies on an occupant or an assistant for manual propulsion. | |
Standard Manual Wheelchair (AKA standard upright manual wheelchair) |
Manual wheelchair with no variable positioning options such as tilt or recline. | |
Scripted Manual Wheelchair | Individually scripted to suit the user’s specific positioning requirements. | Related Blog Post |
Sport specific manual wheelchair | Manual wheelchair specifically designed for participation in a sport (e.g. racing, tennis, rugby, basketball). | |
Manual wheelchair with recline | Variable positioning manual wheelchair with a mechanism that allows the back support to pivot posteriorly, increasing the seat to back support angle. | |
Manual wheelchair with tilt | Variable positioning manual wheelchair with a mechanism that allows the seat to tilt posteriorly without changing the seat to back support angle. | |
Manual wheelchair with tilt and recline (AKA Tilt and Recline Wheelchairs) | Variable positioning manual wheelchair with a mechanism that allows the back support to pivot (increasing the seat to back support angle) and/or the seat to pivot (without a change in seat to back support angle). | Blog Related Post |
Manual standing wheelchair |
Variable positioning manual wheelchair capable of transporting an occupant in a seated position that also has the capability of lift function to raise and maintain the occupant in a standing position. Allows the user to be independent plus have conversations at eye level. | |
Paediatric, Bariatric, and other manual wheelchair types | Recommended reading: Wheelchair Type - What doe that mean? | |
Occupant (AKA User) | Person sitting in the wheelchair. | |
Assistant (AKA Attendant) | Person, other than the occupant, who maneuvers the wheelchair. | |
Three point belt | Occupant-restraint assembly comprised of both a pelvic belt and a shoulder belt that connect together near the hip of the occupant. | |
Shoulder belt | Portion of the occupant restraint intended to limit movement of the chest and head by application of restraint forces to the shoulders and chest. | |
Lap belt | Belt restraint assembly intended to limit movement of the pelvis. | |
Head Restraint | Device intended to limit rearward displacement of the wheelchair occupant’s head. | |
Wheelchair Frame | Tubular frame construction, including the seat rail, back posts, arm support assembly, foot support assembly and wheels. | |
Attendant Propelled Manual Wheelchair Frame | Wheelchair frame designed for attendant propulsion, with 4 small caster wheels and no large propulsion wheels. | Related Blog Post |
Folding Frame | Frame with components under the seat which can be collapsed | Related Blog Post |
Rigid Frame | Frame with components under the seat that are fixed and non-foldable. Note: Some rigid frame wheelchairs have fold-down back posts. |
Related Blog Post |
Push Handle | Component designed to be grasped by the hand of an assistant to propel or tip the wheelchair. | |
Anti-Tipper | Anti-tipper, aka anti-tip device or an anti-tip bar, is a device that prevents the wheelchair from falling (tipping) backwards. | |
Swing-away |
Intended to be rotated inward and outward, moving into and out of position without the use of tools while remaining attached to the wheelchair or seating support system. |