For people with mobility challenges, a wheelchair is one of the most important assets, for it enables them to move around independently and maintain an active lifestyle, which improves their quality of life. So, it makes sense why so many wheelchair users emphasize routine wheelchair maintenance and care to keep it in tip-top condition round the year.

However, there are times when routine maintenance does not suffice. Sometimes, you need to repair or replace some parts of your wheelchair to keep it running smoothly and extend its lifespan.

But how do you know it’s time to repair or replace parts of your wheelchair?

Here are a few signs that tell your wheelchair needs repair or parts replacement:

You are struggling to move the wheelchair

When a wheelchair is new and maintained, it moves smoothly without much effort from the user. This goes for wheelchairs of all types, from manual to power wheelchairs.

However, after a few months or a year, it may not run as freely as it used to. If you have a manual chair, you may notice that your hands are getting overly tired when using it. Similarly, a power chair may not feel smooth to ride, and you can feel some type of interruption. When this happens, it’s a sign that there is something wrong with the gear or wheelchair tires, or both. The gear may need to be adjusted or greased, and the tires may have worn out and need to be replaced.

If you start to feel difficulty moving your chair, you should immediately seek professional help for inspection and get the necessary repair.

You are Struggling to Stop the wheelchair

Every wheelchair comes with a braking system to slow down or stop the wheelchair. This feature is a crucial part of the wheelchair, adding to the safety of the user. That said, sometimes, you may struggle to stop it as efficiently as you could when it was new. This is a clear sign that the wheelchair brakes are not working effectively and about to fail.

If you notice that you are having a hard time slowing down or stopping your wheelchair, don’t ignore this sign and get the wheelchair brakes replaced, or else you may run into safety issues.

You don’t find your wheelchair comfortable

A wheelchair comes with a padded seat, neck rest, and cushioned armrests to make sitting for longer durations comfortable for the users. However, with regular use, cushions and upholstery become threadbare and reduce the comfort of the user.

If you don’t find sitting in your wheelchair comfortable at all, you may need to upgrade its seat and armrests by seeking professional help.

Final note

While following the manufacturer’s routine maintenance and care instructions is vital to keep the wheelchair in pristine condition, repairing and replacing its parts when they show signs of deterioration is all the more important to extend its lifespan.

If you are looking for wheelchair brakes, accessories, or wheelchair tires, please check out our store today and order the one you need at unbeatable prices.