If you just started using a wheelchair or have someone in the family or your friend circle who has begun to use one, it may be good to get educated on some of the wheelchair facts. To enhance your knowledge about wheelchairs, we have compiled a list of five facts about wheelchairs that you may not have been aware of.
Key Takeaway
- First ever wheelchair dates back to the fifth century BC
- Kamala Kanta Nayak holds the world record for the most distance traveled with a wheelchair in 24 hours
- Featherweight 13.5 lbs. wheelchair is the lightest wheelchair in the world
- Stoke Mandeville Games was the first ever Paralympic game
- The modern electric wheelchairs are no less than a state-of-art-technology
5 Wheelchair Facts You Didn’t Know
Here are five interesting facts about wheelchairs to increase your knowledge about these remarkable mobility devices.
The Invention of the Wheelchair
The oldest mention of a wheelchair-like contraption is from China. Early designs resembled wheeled furniture concepts. Historians believe that the Chinese transported the disabled with wheelbarrows during the fifth century BCE.
In 1655, Stephan Farfler, a paraplegic watchmaker from Germany, created the first self-propelled wheelchair at just twenty-two years old after suffering a childhood back injury. Since then, people have started to experiment with wheelchair design, and the design has slowly changed.
Thanks to the evolution of wheelchairs, we get to see some unique categories and types of wheelchairs, such as lightweight wheelchairs or heavy-duty power wheelchairs.
Wheelchair Record
There have been many wheelchair world records for the most distance traveled in a day. However, Kamala Kanta Nayak from Odisha has set a world record for the most distance traveled using a wheelchair.
Nayak completed his expedition after traveling 215.4 kilometers within 24hrs. The Portuguese athlete Mario Trinidad, who had traveled 182.4 kilometers, was surpassed by the Indian para-athlete.
Lightest Wheelchair in the World
Did you know that the lightest wheelchair in the world is called the Featherweight 13.5 lbs. Wheelchair, as suggested by the name, only weighs around 13.5 lbs. Almost anyone can easily lift this wheelchair, and the best part is that you can also fold it down to reduce it to a compact size enabling convenient storage.
Moreover, do not question the wheelchair’s credibility to accommodate an adult’s weight since it can easily accommodate individuals weighing up to 250lbs.
First Paralympic Game
Dr. Guttmann organized the inaugural wheelchair event titled the Stoke Mandeville Games. The first ever opening Olympic Games event occurred in London in July of the mid of 1900s. This event marked a turning point in Paralympic heritage.
Countless Benefits of Modern Electric Wheelchairs
The modern electric wheelchairs are no less than state-of-the-art mobility devices. The wheelchairs can move through rough terrain without getting a flat tire or the fear of tripping. These wheelchairs have entirely changed how disabled individuals view mobility and given people worldwide a new chance at a life filled with freedom and independence.
These modern wheelchairs have remarkable features such as leg, back, and arm support to ensure optimal comfort for the users.