Wheelchair Handle Grips Make Pushing Them Easier

A new ergonomic grip that slips over traditional horizontal wheelchair handles gives the pusher a more comfortable experience.

The Wheelchairhandles are designed to position the arms and back of the person handling the wheelchair in an ergonomically improved fashion, dramatically increasing the effectiveness of wheelchair control and operation for anyone, regardless of age, size, or strength. Using the curvilinear, palm-supporting handles, pushing a wheelchair up a steep hill becomes easier, as does navigating bumpy sidewalks. A wheelchair can be pushed in a number of ways, including a pistol grip for tilting, an overhand grip for pushing, and even an underhand grip for holding the chair back, for example when going downhill or down a stairway.

Wheelchairhandles are designed to work with 99% of standard wheelchairs with a conventional handle grip that measures smaller 1.27 cm in diameter, and are attached via three points. They are not compatible, however, with wheelchairs that feature handle brakes. The grips, which are made of a unique, latex-free polymer, can take over 363 kg of pressure and feature an antibacterial coating. They can also be easily cleaned with any common household cleaner. The grips are secured via three attachment points. Wheelchairhandles are a product of New Avenue Solutions (NAS, San Diego, CA, USA).

“The original concept for the wheelchairhandles design evolved over an incident involving two friends, one who was wheelchair-bound and living on a steep hill overlooking the ocean,” said Jonathan Chesner, founder and chief operating officer of NAS. “Although it was a five minute walk by foot to the beach, taking the wheelchair down and then back up the hill became a massive ordeal, requiring incredible strength, endurance, and agility. After being exhausted by the process, one of the individuals decided that he would invent a better, more comfortable way to push a wheelchair.”

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