Written by Mike Price, OT
For wheelchair users, the right accessories can totally transform the fit and function of their chair.
Each accessory is designed for the same purpose: to make sure you get exactly what you need from your wheelchair.
So how exactly do wheelchair accessories do this?
That ultimately depends on what the component is designed to do.
Many unique products are available to improve the fit of a wheelchair, promote better posture, and ensure comfortable support at all times, while others are more geared toward providing additional functions or convenience. Things like an IV pole, wheelchair bag, or power steering would be examples of accessories that serve this purpose.
Due to the wide variety of accessories on the market that can modify and complement a wheelchair, many people remain unaware of some of the latest and most innovative tools out there.
Therefore, we’ve decided to highlight some of the best new wheelchair accessories in our catalog that go beyond simply improving the safety or comfort of the chair, and offer innovative solutions to common wheelchair user problems.
The Smart Drive MX2+ is designed to bring the convenience of electric power propulsion to the lightweight, ergonomic design of a manual wheelchair frame.
Combining the best of both worlds, this innovative tool attaches easily to the back of most manual wheelchairs and provides the freedom to easily traverse terrains that may have been previously too difficult to travel over.
Whether you’re traveling up steep ramps or through thick, plush carpet, the Smart Drive is a great solution for everyday use, whether the user wants to use it all the time or just for when they get tired or want to move through more difficult terrain.
Bodypoint’s newly released MD Series Harnesses include three different options to accommodate the needs of nearly any wheelchair user who requires four-point upper body support: the Stayflex, the PivotFit, and the Trimline.
Bodypoint received the 2019 Product Award from Mobility Management Magazine for the MD Series Harnesses honoring “outstanding product and technology development by complex rehab and mobility manufacturers and service providers” in the Positioning category.
This achievement highlights the exceptional functionality and innovative design of these harnesses and how each is more than ‘just a chest harness.’
These harnesses include a multi-directional strap configuration, which allows the pull straps to be installed as either front or rear pulls. This makes it possible for the straps to be arranged in accordance with the wheelchair user’s level of independence and the design of the wheelchair, adding easier access wherever is more convenient.
The Stayflex Harness implements Bodypoint’s patented dual-stretch zone technology, which provides more freedom of motion for the user, while the harness stays in place without riding up.
The Stayflex is offered in both a standard and a narrow style. Both provide firm chest support, but the narrow design allows slightly more maneuverability in the arms and shoulders, and may be more comfortable for women than a traditional style. Each design is offered in a range of sizes to accommodate most users.
Finally, the Stayflex can be selected in either zippered or non-zippered designs depending on the user’s needs.
The PivotFit Shoulder Harness is uniquely designed to fit the shape and size of the wheelchair user, featuring ergonomically curved, laminar pads. The pads are connected by a swivel buckle that allows them to comfortably pivot, equalizing tension. The anatomical design ensures that the harness is both comfortable and fully supportive of every user’s movements.
The H-style design serves the important role of controlling the shoulders and promoting healthy, comfortable posture for the wheelchair user. Forming the bridge section of the H-shape is the harness’ sternum straps, which are designed to be easily adjustable—making loosening the harness a much easier process.
The PivotFit is available in two models: standard or dynamic. The standard harness is designed to provide more broad support, while the dynamic layout offers a slightly wider range of movement to the person wearing it. Both styles are offered in a range of sizes that easily fit most users from children to adults.
The Trimline Shoulder Harness fills the same role as the PivotFit, but it does so by implementing a different approach.
Rather than crossing the front of the torso to hold the wheelchair user in place, the Trimline uses two independently adjustable shoulder straps to keep the torso in a safe but comfortable position.
This design provides focused shoulder retraction, while leaving the chest area clear for a bit more freedom of movement. However, the entire torso is still safely positioned and supported through controlling the position of the shoulders.
Additionally, each shoulder strap can be adjusted or used independently, offering asymmetrical support if needed, which is great for users with unique positioning needs.
Bodypoint’s Strap Guides are an inexpensive solution to the issue of ensuring a wheelchair harness’ straps are kept in a comfortable, safe position.
They promote ideal posture and strap positioning by mounting on the back of the wheelchair, and then guiding the harness straps to the optimal height, angle, and position for the user without sliding, digging in, or rubbing.
Understanding that wheelchairs come in all shapes and sizes, the Shoulder Harness Strap Guides are designed with the ability to mount to all types of backrests, either directly or with optional mounting adaptors. Strap Guides are safe to be used with curved, contoured, and even low-sitting backrests.
Additionally, the strap guides are available in two lengths to ensure that they can be used with any backrest height, offering versatility for easy compatibility with any wheelchair model.
The Evoflex Belt is designed to stabilize the pelvic area and promote proper posture from the base of the spine. Stable positioning in this core area is key to optimizing strength and functionality in the rest of the body.
The unique design of this belt features a pivot capability that allows both sides of the belt to quickly and easily swing up out of the way when not needed. The sides stay in place where they are positioned and won't fall down and interfere with wheel functionality.
The Evoflex straps are constructed with a durable thermoplastic resin to ensure a long, reliable lifespan, while the tapered pads ensure comfort and a close fit. Low-profile ends mount with grommets to even the tightest of spaces for compatibility with most standard wheelchairs.
Several different buckle styles and a range of sizes are available to meet different user needs.
For the very base of the body, Bodypoint’s Ankle Huggers are a pair of laminar padded ankle supports that are used to stabilize the feet and prevent them from sliding off of the footrests. Supporting the feet and lower legs is important because they have a big effect on the position of the pelvis, and therefore the rest of the body.
Bodypoint's Ankle Huggers are a unique alternative to other foot and ankle straps, as they are designed to provide support without immobilizing the feet or risking skin damage from friction. They can even help reduce spasms in the feet when properly fitted.
The innovative design of these straps allows them to easily attach to the footrests of the wheelchair and loop upwards to support the ankles while holding them in place comfortably. They also feature an Achilles flex zone that offers more give at the back of the ankle to help promote comfort.
Without question one of the more unique items on this list is the Extended Neck Water Bottle from Giraffe Bottle. This water bottle features a flexible, extended neck that can be curved to any shape to help a wheelchair’s user get a drink without needing to use his/her hands.
The bottle’s neck comes in a wide selection of lengths, ranging from 9 inches to 36 inches—ensuring that it can be used across lengthy distances if necessary. The neck is specially designed with an anti-flow-back valve as well as a weighted bottle end region of the straw that ensures the straw remains in the liquid even when the bottle nears emptiness.
The bottle itself is capable of holding as much as 750 milliliters and comes equipped with a cleaning brush that makes cleaning the bottle and straw easy. Joining this, a rotating bottle holder clamp is also included with the bottle, which can clamp to most wheelchair surfaces to serve as the bottle’s holder.
Accessories can really transform a wheelchair from just an assistive product to a comforting and functional part of your daily life.
With a range of options for fit, posture, positioning, and functionality, we've laid out some of the most innovative options for wheelchair accessories.
To learn more about cutting-edge tools, innovative solutions, and helpful tips for living and caregiving, check out our full library of articles on Caregiver University.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
