Mobility Info - UK
Sports & Lightweight Wheelchairs
Sports wheelchairs are very light self-propelled wheelchairs designed for individual sports. Strong yet lightweight aluminium, titanium or carbon fibre frames allow them to combine rigidity and durability with speed and manoeuvrability.
Chairs used specifically for sports have special features. They almost always have a rigid frame - so there is no risk of buckling or folding during impact sports - and the camber of the wheels can exceed the usual 5 degrees maximum found on other chairs. This wide camber makes the chairs very quick and easy to turn. Wheels are often of a composite type, with around six large spokes that are simple to clean and give a sporty appearance. Sports tyres have hardly any tread so that they meet with less resistance. However, this also means they can wear out quickly. The front castors tend to be small and solid but are not suitable for outside use. Lap belts, if used, prevent the occupant from falling out.
The backrests on sports wheelchairs are typically a lot lower than those on other chairs. This is mainly due to the fact that in most sports the upper body should be as free as possible from restrictions to movement. Most sports wheelchairs should be seen as an addition to a regular wheelchair, since most will have components that make them unsuitable for general use outside the specific sport for which they have been designed.
More general-purpose lightweight wheelchairs for daily use employ much of the same technology and features that define sports wheelchairs, without being tailored to a specific sport. The term ‘active-user’ chair is often applied to a lightweight self-propelled wheelchair. Often made from aluminium, they are easy to push and easy to transfer into a vehicle. More versatile than standard self-propelled chairs, they have flexible and adjustable components that can be tailored to the user’s specific needs. For people who spend most of their day in a wheelchair, a light active user chair maximizes mobility and offers more independence. Though more expensive than a regular wheelchair, the extra cost is usually worth it for anyone with a long-term disability or impairment. While they are ideal for the young and sporty, older users can derive just as much benefit from them.
Lightweight chairs usually make good attendant-propelled chairs, because the same features that make them easy for the occupant to operate also make them easy for a helper to push.
Sports and lightweight wheelchairs typically weigh from 8 to 15kg. Some have titanium or carbon fibre frames, which are strong and light and will not rust. The rear wheels can sometimes be brought forwards to alter the weight distribution, making the chair easier to propel and manoeuvre. A multi-adjustable axle plate, found on many of these chairs, enables the wheels to be set at different positions – higher, lower, further forward or back. In addition, many chairs incorporate quick-release wheels.
The size and positioning of the wheels are important considerations, since these factors affect the weight distribution and the chair’s rolling resistance, having a significant bearing on the manoeuvrability and the effort needed to propel the chair. Indeed, the ability of the user to tip the chair backwards - an important attribute in many wheelchair sports - is governed primarily by the position of the wheels. The further forward they are set, the greater is the percentage of weight placed over them and the easier it is for the occupant to carry out this manoeuvre. Furthermore, the most energy-efficient means of propulsion is achieved when the rear wheel axles are set directly below the user’s shoulders.
Most sports wheelchairs feature large rear wheels, with some measuring as much as 26 inches in diameter. Larger wheels mean reduced rolling resistance, making the chair easier to propel. A shorter wheelbase decreases the turning circle, so less energy is expended in turning.
Another factor that makes tight manoeuvres easier and reduces the effort needed to propel the chair is the camber of the wheels. This is when the rear wheels are not perpendicular to the ground but lean in at an angle. This feature is particularly prevalent on chairs used for sports, where the camber can often exceed 5 degrees. The only possible drawback to a chair with a wide camber on the wheels is that the increased width makes it less likely to fit through narrow doorways; however, as the chair will in all likelihood be used exclusively in a sporting arena, this becomes less of a problem.
While many people will be familiar with wheelchair basketball and tennis, and may have seen wheelchair racing in the Paralympics, fewer are aware of the large number of other sports for which wheelchairs have been specifically designed.
RDK Sports Wheelchairs is one company that specialises in hand-built, individually designed wheelchairs at competitive prices for a range of sports. They offer three types of chair for wheelchair basketball, depending on the player’s role in the team – forward, centre or guard. The chairs consist of aluminium frames, with cambered wheels and pneumatic tyres, and weigh in at a mere 13kg. Tennis chairs weigh 15kg and also have cambered wheels; instead of the basketball chairs’ semi-circular front tubing, they employ a single centrally located front castor. RDK’s table tennis chair features slightly smaller wheels along with two front castors, and weighs 13kg. Their badminton chair has castors positioned slightly further forward, making the chair longer from back to front but still extremely manoeuvrable.
Wheelchairs designed for racing resemble elongated tricycles, with a third wheel at the front – smaller than the rear wheels but much bigger than a castor. RDK’s racing wheelchair features pneumatic tyres and a low weight of just 12kg; it is suitable for an occupant weighing up to 90kg.
There are several sports that do not demand turning manoeuvres, so the wheelchairs used do not have the cambered rear wheels found on most sports chairs. These sports include archery, fencing and shooting, and there are wheelchairs designed especially for these activities. Wheelchair fencers compete from chairs fastened to the floor, allowing only upper body movement. Such chairs have an armrest on one side only. A wheelchair for archery is similar in appearance, weighing only 13kg but providing a stable and comfortable base. RDK’s wheelchair for shooting is slightly longer and incorporates an adjustable rest table on which to steady the pistol or rifle.
The company also produces wheelchairs for dancing, as well as the Sportie, a more general-purpose leisure wheelchair that combines some of the best attributes of the other sports wheelchairs. The latter is obviously a good choice for anyone who takes part in a number of wheelchair sports. RDK’s wheelchairs start from £495 (www.rdksportswheelchairs.co.uk).
DaVinci Mobility (www.davincimobility.co.uk) is a specialist in the manufacture of bespoke lightweight and sports wheelchairs. Their new Ti XL lightweight wheelchair boasts a titanium frame, in a range of colours, and weighs just 14lb including wheels. It can be accessorized with Spinergy sports wheels, Frog Legs brand castors and leather upholstery. The firm’s Leggera range features three designs of aluminium-framed lightweight chair for everyday use. The Leggera XL has quick-release rear wheels and fully adjustable upholstery, while the Leggera XT is extra strong to accommodate users over 14 stones in weight. Both have the option of a folding backrest, a choice of brakes, tyres and castor sizes, and leather upholstery. The Leggera Compact can be speedily reduced to a compact size to fit in a car boot or even an aircraft locker. The axle, seat and backrest height can all be adjusted and the aluminium frame comes in a variety of colours.
DaVinci’s sports wheelchairs include tennis and basketball versions. The Agile Court Tennis chair sports a strong yet light aluminium frame with the option of one or two front castors. It features a fixed oversize axle with 26” cambered wheels, the nylon upholstery being fully adjustable and washable. The Agile Court Basketball chair includes an anti-tip rear castor and front bumper as standard, with adjustable footrests and backrest. Side guards and titanium push rims are optional extras. The Allsport fully adjustable wheelchair is an ideal compromise for multiple sports or indeed for multiple users.
Staffordshire-based RGK (www.rgk-wheelchairs.co.uk) sells bespoke lightweight and sports wheelchairs alongside ex-demonstration models. Their Hi-Lite wheelchair features a single tube frame design, making it light and transportable, with many adjustable elements as standard or as optional extras. The Maxima incorporates a chrome or titanium frame. The super light titanium frame of the Max Lite confers the ultimate in lightness, whereas the Octane features a height-adjustable titanium footrest as standard.
RGK’s sports wheelchairs comprise several different models for tennis, basketball and other activities. These include the Performance, the Grand Slam, the Interceptor and the Quattro. All come in a range of wheel sizes up to 26 inches and all can be adjusted and accessorized to suit.
Aidmobility of Watford (www.aidmobility.co.uk) sells a number of lightweight self-propelled wheelchairs. The Karma range of lightweight wheelchairs includes the Sparrow, the Dove and the Ergo. The Sparrow weighs just over 13kg and features a folding back and frame, while the aluminium alloy frame of the Dove makes it even lighter. The Ergo is streamlined and incredibly light but durable; it is equipped with a unique shaped seating system for optimum support and pressure relief.
The Medicare Enigma Lightweight chair is an entry-level aluminium-framed chair ideal for occasional use. Practical, comfortable and reliable, it has full-length padded armrests and weighs less than 15kg. The Enigma Spirit Ultralight wheelchair employs the latest in wheelchair design for its sculptured frame; it is suitable for use both indoors and outdoors.
Aerospace and Formula One technology and expertise are combined in the Future chair, distributed by Cyclone Mobility. Weighing under 6kg thanks to its carbon fibre frame, the Future is just about the lightest wheelchair available, although no compromise is made in strength, durability, comfort and shock absorption. Each chair is built to the exact requirements of the user and comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Other lightweight chairs from Cyclone include the titanium-frame Chameleon and the aluminium-frame Activator, both of which are fully adjustable with superb balance. The Cyclone Air features shock-absorbent suspension while the Compressor is a lightweight titanium folding chair with none of the compromises such as loss of rigidity or extra weight. The Cyclone Ti Mirage is comfortable, strong and manoeuvrable and weighs barely more than the Cyclone Future. Mountain bike technology makes the Cyclone XLR-8 one of the most rugged yet compact wheelchairs on the market.
Cyclone also offers two models of chair for basketball and two for tennis. The Enigma and Enigma Elite basketball chairs are available with attack or defence frame styling and aluminium alloy or titanium frames. The Ti Breaker tennis chair is highly adjustable while the Cyclone 4 Tennis Elite is extremely fast, light and manoeuvrable with its two front castors and unlimited camber angles. See www.cyclonemobility.com for the full range.
