Mastering Wheelchair Maneuvers: A Guide to Pushing Empty Wheelchairs

A patient can be readily ferried from one location to another in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are designed for ease of use and can be handled with as little effort as a shopping cart or wheelbarrow, even with adults in them. An empty wheelchair is easy to push, and you even have an extra option about how to navigate short distances, saving strain on your back. Pushing an empty wheelchair is also a safe way to familiarize yourself with the wheelchair so that when you have a patient on board, you can provide a smoother ride.

Instructions

• 1

  Release the wheel locks, which on most models can be found near the arm rest. For distances of just a few feet or yards, leave the wheel locks in place and simply lift the wheelchair by its handles so that the back wheels are off the ground. This will save you from having to bend over, lock and then unlock the wheels, which causes strain to the back. This is called the wheelbarrow method.

• 2

  Grasp the wheelchair by its handles and push it. As with a car, the front wheels swivel and provide direction. If you're lifting the wheelchair in the wheelbarrow method, ensure that the front wheels are in contact with the ground and use them to guide the chair forward.

• 3

  Stop the wheelchair in its new location. Reapply the wheel locks if you released them. This will prevent the wheelchair from rolling away on slight inclines. It also makes getting into the chair easier for patients, as the chair will remain firmly in place.