How to Choose a Transport Chair
If you are looking for a wheelchair to use to take your client or loved one out to appointments, leisure activities, or something to use for occasional use, then a transport chair may be exactly what you are looking for. There are a few different options to consider when choosing a transport chair, and this article will talk you through them all.
What is a Transport Chair?
A transport chair is a specific type of super-lightweight wheelchair that is designed to be light and easy for a caregiver to push a client or loved one around in. Transport chairs are designed for short-term, short-duration use. This means that it’s ok to use a transport chair to take someone to an activity, doctor’s appointment, religious service, or out for a stroll in the park, but they are not designed for someone to sit in all day, oro use as their primary means of mobility. Transport chairs are designed to offer an option that is lightweight and easy to transport for the caregiver to manage, not necessarily for the comfort of the client who is sitting in the chair. Transport chair typically weight between 17-24 pounds. Some people will choose to purchase a spare wheelchair to use for transportation to appointments, however wheelchairs are quite heavy (closer to 35-45 pounds) and be cumbersome for a caregiver to lug in and out of a car. Most of my clients who are wheelchair users have a wheelchair that stays in their home, and a separate transport chair that stays in the car to use for community outings. To learn more about the differences between a wheelchair and a transport chair, check out this blog post! Now, let’s talk about options when choosing a transport chair.
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How Do I Choose a Transport Chair?
I wish that I could say that there were tons of options to consider when choosing a transport chair, but in all honesty, the design and features of most models are very similar. Transport chairs come in a one-size-fits-most variety with very little customization. Here are some things to look for:
Size: There are only a few sizes to choose from. Most transport chairs come in a “standard” 17-inch seat width and 16-inch seat depth. Some may also carry a “wide” model that will be 22-inches wide and 18-inches deep. That’s it. You will be hard pressed to find any other size on the market. Most come at a standard seat height of 19 inches. If you tall, my apologies, they do not make transport chairs for tall people. I spent several hours searching online and calling local vendors to find one for a client last month with no luck.
TIP! If you are tall, this can sometimes be ameliorated by adding a cushion like this one to your seat to raise the seat height (this is the solution we ended up using).
Wheels: There is some variety in the wheels of the transport chair. Most models like this one, will have 9 inch wheels in the front and back. This standard model will work well for transporting someone on indoor, level surfaces, but it can be quite difficult for a caregiver to push someone along on outdoor, uneven terrain. There are newer models like this one, that have larger 12-inch wheels, that make them much easier to maneuver. Transport chairs do not have large side-wheels, as they are designed for a caregiver to push a client. They are not designed for a person to be able to wheel themselves.
Brakes: The brakes of a transport chair will be located in one of two places, however both locations are in the back of the chair. The person sitting in the chair will not be able to reach the brakes to lock them on their own. A caregiver will have to perform this task:
Down below on the back wheels: This may be difficult for the caregiver to access if the caregiver has trouble bending down and reaching due to back, hip, or knee pain.
Up top underneath the push handles: These brakes are easier to engage and disengage as they are within easy reach of the caregiver.
Armrests: Ninety percent of transport chairs have rigid armrests that most clients find to be too high. Armrests on a transport chair are not adjustable, and in most cases, cannot be flipped away or removed. There are a few exceptions, listed below.
Comfort: I’m sorry to say that transport wheelchairs are not designed for comfort. The seat and back are typically made of a canvas sling with very little cushioning. If you are in need of additional padding or comfort, you can always add a cushion for additional support.
Why Don’t Transport Chairs Have More Options?
That’s a great question! This is because transport chairs are designed to be an affordable, lightweight, and easily accessible option to help friends and loved ones get out and about in the community. The more features that get added onto the chair, the heavier it gets, defeating the purpose of it being super-lightweight. Let me walk you though my most commonly used models:
Which Transport Chair Should I Get?
While I can’t’ provide you with specific advice for yourself or your loved one, I can tell you which types of chairs I prefer for specific groups of clients. The models listed below are all models that I have used with clients and have had good overall good experiences with.
1) My Basic Go-To Model
Drive Medical Lightweight Expedition Folding Transport Wheelchair
There is nothing fancy about this transport chair, but it covers the basics at a low cost of approximately $200. It has larger 12-inch back wheels and hand brakes underneath the push-handles for easier handling on behalf of the caregiver.
If you need the heavy-duty or wide model, here is the equivalent.
2) The Model for Clients Who Need Flip Away Armrests
Nova Medical Products Lightweight Transport Chair with Flip Up Arms
If your client or family member is unable to stand safely, you may require a model that has flip-away or removable armrests. This feature allows a client to scoot or slide to move from one chair to another. This feature is uncommon in transport chairs, but it does exist. This model is a little more expensive at around $400, but it also comes with larger back wheels and caregiver brakes up on the handles, and is a well-made and durable chair.
3) The Model For Clients Who Want to Be Able to Wheel Themselves
As mentioned before, transport chairs are designed for someone to be pushed around in, not for self-propulsion, but there are a few models that do allow for this function if a client is really motivated to wheel themselves. I have two chairs in this category:
Medline Hybrid 2 Transport Wheelchair
This is a transport chair and a standard wheelchair in one. It has four small 9-inch wheels to function as a transport chair, but it also has 2 large side wheels that can be easily removed and inserted with an easy push of a button. The wheels are typically removed when you store it in the car (this just makes the chair lighter to pick up), but then you can snap the large wheels back on when you get to where you are going so the client can wheel themselves. If you keep the large wheels off, it will function like a standard transport chair, using the 4 small wheels. (Disclaimer, if you click this link, you will need to scroll down to the description to see better pictures). This chair comes at a price of around $780.
This chair is not actually a transport chair. It is a super lightweight wheelchair (24.8 pounds) that is a light as a transport chair. My clients like it because it looks modern and stylish, and allows them to wheel themselves. The seat and back are also ergonomically designed and are very comfortable. The wheels can easily be removed to make it lighter to lift in and out of the car. This chair weighs a mere 24.8 pounds. Because of its advanced design, this chair comes with a higher price tag, but my clients have always been happy with the comfort and versatility of this chair. This chair rings in at closer to $900.
If you like the design of the strongback chair, but don’t need the function of the large wheels, they also have a transport chair version, listed here.
4) If You Need a Little Extra Support
As I mentioned before, transport chairs are not designed to be cozy. If you are needing a little more squishy for your tooshie, you can always add a cushion. A cushion can also add extra height if the transport chair is too short for my long-legged friends. You can get cushions in varying heights between 2-4 inches, depending on how much padding and support you need (typically 2-3 inches is sufficient).
3 Inch Cushion: Vive Waterproof Wheelchair Cushion
4 Inch Cushion: Essential Medical Rehab Cushion
This is by no means an extensive list, but these are the chairs and accesories that I have the most experience with. If you want to learn more, please check out our other blogs, “What is the Difference Between a Wheelchair and a Transport Chair,” and “Does Medicare Pay for Transport Chairs?” If you are looking for more information on practical tips for providing care for a client or loved one at home, also check out our book, “A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving” for detailed, step-by-step training. Or, you can view our video course for comprehensive video training. If you have questions that are specific to yourself or your loved one, you can also ask for a referral to a physical therapist or occupational therapist for an evaluation to see which devices will best meet your needs.
A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving
The book includes 170 pages of full-color, step-by step instructions, to provide you with all the skills you need to provide safe, thorough, and compassionate care at home.
This is your comprehensive guide to giving you with the skills you need to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to family members, friends or clients in the home. This course includes 6 hours of instructional video covering client basic adaptive equipment, functional mobility, lifting techniques, transfers, self-care skills, bed level care, use of client lifts and transfer devices, and managing falls. Click "Preview Caregiver Course" below to preview the lessons and descriptions.
