Customer Reviews

Choosing a Wheelchair: A Guide for Optimal Independence

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I found this book from Spinlife.com where they publish excerpts as an online aid to selecting wheelchair components.

The author is a long term wheelchair user and athelete who had a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). He knows more about wheelchairs than anyone writing for the public. As such he is an effective advocate for wheelchair use.

The book is logically laid out from wheelchair history to the selection process to wheelchair maintenance. The style is informative without being too technical. However, the wheelchair is a machine so expect a little tech talk. The chapter on maintance is wisely a primer and checklist - most people who use a wheelchair are not advised to tinker with them.

I recommend the book, even to someone who is already using a chair with two provisos.

1. For someone with neuromuscular disabilty, the advice to use a manual chair is ill advised. All the PT's and OT's I have seen in the past few years recommend power chairs to save your arms and avoid turning a parapalegic into a quadrapalegic. As Dr. Silver puts it "Save your arms. They are your independance." and "When do I recommend a manual chair? Almost never..." (Post Polio Syndrome: A Guide for Polio Survivors and their Families)

2. Don't try chasing down his references on wheelchair reviews or evaluations. They are non-existent from any official sources and this reflects the age of the book (1998). If you want reviews and opinions on chairs, try wheelchairjunkie.com.

I bought this book a couple years ago, after I had to start using a manual wheelchair. I liked the first chapter that talks about the history of the wheelchair and 2 companies that made it to the top ranks in wheelchair invention and sales (Everest & Jennings and Quickie). Though it is packed with a lot of very good information on how to select accessories for your chair and the difference between power chairs (rear, front, or mid wheel drive), most of the manufacturer information is outdated. In fact, some of the companies the author provides are out of business or have been bought out by other mobility companies.
The only part that isn't realy outdated is the section on wheelchair cushions, since most of the cushions the author mentions are still on the market. Other than the book needing a makeover, its still a good basic wheelchair reference guide.

This book is aptly titled. Mr. Karp's book does not just detail a number of factors which affect the choice and use of a wheelchair. The topic of how a wheelchair can enhance or interfere with one's independence, empowerment,and self-esteem is reiterated frequently throughout each chapter. I read this book while I was attending an Occupational Therapy program and I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in pursuing a health care career. Mr. Karp's style of writing is quite straightforward and effortless; pretension is completely lacking. The entire book could be read in 1 or 2 days easily.