wheelchair
Sign in to savethumb|A disabled man sitting in a wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditions. Wheelchairs provide mobility, postural support, and freedom to those who cannot walk or have difficulty walking, enabling them to move around, participate in everyday activities, and live life on their own terms.
AI overview
A wheelchair is a wheeled chair with footrests and armrests designed for people who have difficulty walking or cannot walk due to illness, injury, disability, or age. It enables people with mobility challenges to move around independently, participate in daily activities, and maintain greater control over their own lives.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Research
11,516 papers- Mini-review: Robotic wheelchair taxonomy and readiness.Neuroscience letters · 2022
- Wheelchair racing sports science: a review.Journal of rehabilitation research and development · 1990
- Wheelchair propulsion biomechanics and wheelers' quality of life: an exploratory review.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology · 2011
- Customization of manual wheelchair components: a state-of-the-art review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2025
- Advances in wheelchair technology: Integrating biosensors and drone systems.Rehabilitacion · 2025
via PubMed
Article
28 sectionsContents
- History
- Modern wheelchairs
- Types
- Manual self-propelled wheelchairs
- Manual attendant-propelled wheelchairs
- Powered wheelchairs
- Mobility scooters
- Single-arm drive wheelchairs
- Reclining and tilting wheelchairs
- Standing wheelchairs
- Sports wheelchairs
- Motorized wheelchair sports
- Wheelchair stretchers
- All-terrain wheelchairs
- Smart wheelchairs
- Technological developments
- Other variants
- Mobility and access
- Buildings
- Vehicles
- Public realm
- Distribution organizations
- Seating systems
- Accessories
- Notable wheelchair manufacturers
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|A disabled man sitting in a wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditions. Wheelchairs provide mobility, postural support, and freedom to those who cannot walk or have difficulty walking, enabling them to move around, participate in everyday activities, and live life on their own terms.
Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of formats to meet the specific needs of their users. They may include specialized seating adaptions, and individualized controls, and may be specific to particular activities, as with sports wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs. The most widely recognized distinction is between motorized wheelchairs, where propulsion is provided by batteries and electric motors, and manual wheelchairs, where the propulsive force is provided either by the wheelchair user or occupant pushing the wheelchair by hand (self-propelled), by someone else pushing from the rear using the handle(s), or pushing from the side using a handle attachment.