Manual Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs - wheelchair athletics
As sports have become more inclusive to disabled people, standard manual wheelchairs are no longer enough to use for competition. Competitors now look for specially designed lightweight sports wheelchairs to meet the particular needs of their sport.
If you watch the Paralympics, you'll see the wide variation in manual wheelchair designs now available. These chairs are lightweight and have been designed specifically for one sport, taking feedback from disabled athletes in how the chair can be improved for a specific sport.
The sports wheelchairs use the latest technology and lightest materials such as carbon fiber and titanium to ensure maximum maneuverability and speed.
If you are competing in a sport, it is very important you get the right wheelchair for the sport you are taking part in. Not only so you can be competitive, but because of safety issues such as the stability and strength of the chair.
The most popular wheelchair sports to use specially designed manual wheelchairs are basketball, dance sport , fencing, rugby, tennis, curling and skiing.
The prices of sports wheelchairs vary widely depending on the sport, but can range anywhere from $3000 to $11,000. One way many athletes fund their sports is through sponsorship. Many companies are willing to help fund the costs in return for a little publicity.
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