Top tips for wheelchair users

Pete Donnelly has been a wheelchair user since the age of 19, when he broke his back in a motorcycle accident.
Two years ago he travelled overland from Bangladesh back to the UK to raise money for charity.
He now works as a wheelchair skills adviser for the charity Back Up, which aims to help those who have suffered spinal cord injuries.
Here he demonstrates how to make the most of your wheelchair.
I filmed and edited this piece, the copyright belongs to the BBC.
UPDATE - DEC 2015 I'm so glad that, judging from the comments, this video has been useful to people. I filmed the piece but would direct people to The Back Up website for more information. They also offer wheelchair skills training in London - www.backuptrust.org.uk/home
A captioned version is available here - www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-...

[@markveloso7748]

Thanks for the video! My friends a C8 incomplete and he was worried about messing up his shoulders. This video helped him out with proper technique. Thanks

[@petedonnelly_]

Check out www.backuptrust.org.uk to see what wheelchair skills sessions they have :)

[@ConnyNordlicht]

Me, too. In 2019,at the end, l got my wheelz. It helps me from today on, in Jan.2021!

[@shadcrow522]

Tom thanks for this, not only is your instruction good but the presentation has made me feel good about myself.

[@SitDownPerspective]

interesting how you are going down multiple steps, they seem wide enough to maintain your balance each time you land on one before attempting the next! l am a T12 spinal injury of 30 years now and my passion is to travel and encourage others and like you, l share my experiences here on youtube. Hope to see more of you, keep up the passion! it has kept me going a long time!

[@MorganMagpie]

My wheelchair arrived today... I've made the... Incredible difficult transition from enough pain to get a cane age 22, to crutches which hurt at 26 to gutter crutches not long after. Now I can hardly get to appointments I've had to get a chair. Whilst looking at the freedom the thing offers I'm still struggling with the idea of it. I can still walk for one. Not far and it hurts and I need days of rest.. But I feel like I'm faking it by using a chair and people will say I'm just trying to get sympathy / special attention... Trying to normalise myself to the idea, hoping my brain will accept this as a good thing...

[@jasperordrup]

+Philly Sidhe How did it all went? Are you enjoying your wheelchair?

[@MorganMagpie]

+jasperordrup surprisingly well! I didn't adjust to any of my other walking aids very well, but it might have to do with the fact I've been stuck in the house for so long and movement has hurt for so long that this is just amazing. I went out for a little bit today for the doctors and went to a few shops after. Im gushing a bit but it's awesome :)

[@MorganMagpie]

+jasperordrup instagram.com/p/BCayAWxHYZb/ the chair :)

[@jasperordrup]

+Philly Sidhe Thanks for your respond! I'm glad it all went well. It's a huge mistake to assume that people using a wheelchair can't walk.

[@michellespink8802]

im about to go threw the same thing. rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. mostly in my left leg ( been using a brace and cane for over 3 years and and always in pain )

[@gordonneate1297]

Just discovered your channel. Just got home from rehab 4 months ago. I spent 5.5 months in hospital. In 2010 I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer that eventually metastasized to one of my vertebrae. It grew and wound up crushing my spinal cord. I had no pain and had no idea what was going on in my body. In 4 days I went from walking to having a T7 total spinal break. I just got my chair two weeks ago. We are still tweaking it. I also got a Batec electric wheel that attaches to my chair to give me a power option. I have so much to learn and so many skills to develop. I’m looking forward to viewing all your videos.

[@andrewtaylor3330]

Many thanks for sharing your tips. I will try to put them into practice in the coming weeks and months.

[@mjwheelz1406]

t6 and I got the floor transfer from the floor to the chair in my first try at therapy. of course I had already healed for about 8 months bit first time trying i did it. therapist was very impressed. learned ramps and up hills by myself. I learned how to wheeli and balance it with no antitipper alone also. now I'm working and rolling forward while wheeling. hopefully one day I can do stairs and go down ramps wheeling.

[@Leehensman]

Darn spasms feels strangely good im not the only one, great vid for new wheelchair users, hats of to you mate..lee

[@Not_a_snake]

Your video helped me perfect carrying a drink.

[@cazl1299]

Such an awesome video and very inspiring for new wheelchair users.

[@ballkeeper6662]

more of this videos are needed

[@fweeler]

Nice vid Pete ....nice and clear no showing off ...thanks

[@reeselevasseur289]

nice how too. glad to hear about traveling. Keep rolling forward. i think its funny about past comments. stairs being one of them. don't forget that the with of the stairs might reply on needing one that covers the rear wheel touching step with enough room to stop any way keep it up Reese #PantsUpEasy

[@davidfinney2052]

Tom. I hope that you are on the road to recovery now. I have spine injury due to a car accident in 2012

[@Zippy15]

The drink tip is gonna really help me. I hadn't figured that one out yet.

[@ConnyNordlicht]

I use the seat, between my legs, right up so they can „hold“ it, or if not too mduch in, I use my cup holder and my own cup so l'm sure l can do that. That helps, too.

[@macsterling1954]

I just guzzle the whole thing at the bar! Take a few sips so the "top" of the liquid is down from the top of the glass, put it between you legs and drive VERY SLOWLY to your table.

[@erinsaarimyquadriplegicadv361]

I am c4 incomplete and one hand works better than the other so a lot of this is impossible (at the Moment) for me to do but in time. Thank you

[@zeeek1]

Thumbs up mate. I'm a T4 for 25 years. High level of spasticity from chest down. Trying to do some of your moves would be very dangerous for me. I see you have a few spasms in your feet that I saw in the video.

[@oppaloopa3698]

This video is very helpful. However, my chair has a full back and the handle bars for people to push me. I have vertigo so I have to have the more bulky kind. Does anyone have any tips or links that could help me out?

[@stownsin]

You’ve inspired me! Skills to learn and muscles to build….

[@elexs8754]

Wow, I'm on a wheelchair video watching spree, so cool to see, it's like an alternate reality that I and many others really ought to be more aware of, cuz, you know, you are in the exact same reality as everybody else.

[@KhalilAttiba]

Wow I dont i could ever do some of the things that you do in this Video!! Right on Bro!!

[@overfoxy]

so helpful! 👍

[@russelllash8044]

thank you for this

[@donteervin5884]

I'm a wheelchair user the videos are great

[@ilovebrean]

Do you have any tips for self propelling in a area which has millions of sloping curbs I just can not get across a dropped curb without vering into the roaf

[@JJamesNewcomb]

I'm not permantley disabled but this helped thank you and I am really sorry about the life your are all having but keep going and a brilliant day

[@sn-sx2wd]

just because someone is in wheelchair doesn't affect their life lmao

[@anneharrison1849]

I've been trying the one handed with a drink pushing for a while now and I really can't make it work, I end up turning the wheelchair too far and pretty much staying in the same spot.

[@andrewnorgrove6487]

I see we share a common problem? Spasm !! i'm incomplete C5 when I'm doing a long trip I get a botox shot into the trigger point/muscle and it stops completely for up to a year then slowly returns over a few months, go easy on the shots though as there not good over extended periods .

[@josetuba4920]

i like your wheelchair man. nice video

[@FlipMacz]

Thanks 🌿🌼

[@eduardozapatera5510]

Me alegra ver su videos

[@manumundra]

I fell back while going up on a steep slope, cud u suggest how this can b accomplished

[@zznott]

Hi, do you have any videos of your travel experiences in the wheelchair, especially Asia. I used to travel alot, independantly and 'the local way' rather than well trodden tourist routes or packages. Now T9 complete sci and concerned about the fun and spontanaity of travelling and independence especially in developing countries. I would love to see any videos of your travels or tails... :-)

[@BackUp10]

Hi, check out www.petedonnelly.com to see a blog of his travels around South East Aisa in December

[@trinity00matrix00]

any advice to someone who will be in a wheelchair fairly soon? jobs? housing? etc ? I broke both my legs as a kid and imgetting to the point that walking isn't easy anymore. I need to plan for a chair life so I'm trying to figue out what to do to set myself up so when i h ave to transition it wont be hard. a low riding car with a wheelchair holder thingie may work for a while hm

[@emilyc8958]

I'm really struggling to get the back wheel balance- are there any tips on how to do it?

[@clairecheskin4213]

+Emily C OK. Starting with your hands about 3 inches behind the top of the wheel, push forward 6 inches very rapidly then back 6 inches. As you pull back the front wheels will rise. Make small forward and backwards movements to balance. When practicing this make sure there is something soft behind you until you have perfected it, and make sure you don't have anti-tip wheels on.

[@ReyOfLight]

+Emily C Just keep trying and trying :) Have someone spot for you to prevent falls if you don't have anti-tip bars or want to practice without them. If it still doesn't work the way you like it, have someone look at the balancing of your wheelchair, you may need to have the center of gravity adjusted on your chair if the wheels are too far back. With the wheels too far back, it gets more front heavy and difficult to keep in a wheelie position, though it does make it less likely to tip backwards. Having the wheels more forward will make the chair more tippy but also more maneuverable. The trick is to find your own personal "golden zone" where you sit well, but can easily do and keep a wheelie. I pretty much live on my back wheels these days, but it's taken a lot of practice. I can even sneeze and stay in wheelies lol Stairs and escalators remain unexplored though, but that's my next goal :)

[@sweetnsour5661]

This has helped me a lot cause I don't want to mess up my shoulder's. Thanks

[@T11paraplegic]

Keep up the good work bro

[@izawolf8197]

Thank you, the stairs are scary but I’ll give it a go.

[@JonathanCrane82]

I live in a chair too. The only thing i can add is get a good pair of fingerless gloves. I use a biker gel padded pair for Harley riders. Great for hitting the brakes or handling inclines.

[@petedonnelly_]

It's been a long time since featuring in this video but the message about wheelchair skills is still the same. Check out my new TEDx talk "Finding freedom in using a wheelchair" here kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4aVi5Z_f8ykpJI

[@Redrum69666]

Anyone know the song at the start of the video???

[@jimsperlakis5634]

What is the chair you're using? I need a 18" light and sturdy chair that can get in the car trunk and has wider tires. I'm tired of busting my elbows on the sides and not having a place for my feet that's straight down but not in the wheels.

[@petedonnelly_]

TiLite ZR

[@nancyhurr2738]

Im inspired thank you

[@mickeywinstead8223]

i wanna see this in person

[@darkangelw8472]

Thank you. I managed to get myself a tibia plataeu fracture and osteoperosis after being cleared of ovarian cancer, so I'll be using a wheelchair for some time. Please, how do you go up and down hills please? You going down stairs looked scary

[@joanmcgilton5075]

Annika Wheble I have osteoporosis and had femur fractures. I never even fell I been in a wheelchair for 4 years I also have scoliosis pretty bad.

[@Jigglyem]

Hi, I'm a brand new wheelchair user and have had no training, just given a chair and enter on my way. I don't know how to deal with kerbs alone, should I go down forwards or backwards? I have anti-tip wheels at the back as I'm still new. Are there any tips you can give? Even a video to introduce things that you probably do automatically now. I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks

[@roberteaton5491]

I'm new to wheelchair too brother, same deal,here's your chair now go. I wrecked pretty bad the first day going down a hill outside the hospital I was just released from, the day I was given my new chair. Lost control, hit curb, over sideways. Right back to emergency room. So any tips you come up with share with me.

[@kotonohakatsura6930]

If you have anti tips on your chair you always have to do sidewalks backwards. Leane your body towards your knees and there you go.

[@KeithandLisasgreatadventure]

Love!

[@JagagiMind]

Rock on fella, made one of these videos meself too! ✌️🤓

[@YesYouKnowYourStuff]

0:27 ... Marlborough Road SW1

[@naithom]

Great video. Have you considered adding closed captioning?

[@tomjbeal]

+Tom J Beal There was a BBC captioned version done when the video was first used, available at the top of this webpage - www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-22719349

[@benjamingritter588]

naithom have you considered listening closely?

[@birb6095]

Benjamin Gritter Are you kidding me?

[@benjamingritter588]

@@birb6095 no I'm not kidding you. I understood him just fine

[@birb6095]

Benjamin Gritter You act as if deaf and hard of hearing people don't exist, not to mention lots of cognitive disabilities that can affect hearing interpretation. Closed captioning isn't for you. Get over yourself.

[@kevp9601]

AWESOME!!! :-))

[@VulcanOnWheels]

2:28 I guess I have the wrong wheelchair for something like this. 4:01 You go down that many steps??? One wrong move and you risk a head injury!! At least!!!

[@geraldsmerea8888]

i have a wheechair for 3 years now sits oztside in rain snow never sit on it and usedonly in main roads no stairs or sht like that and its going

[@geraldsmerea8888]

i have now 1083 km on it i only push it

[@mathys660606]

would you like to come and do adventures in south africa? Ill send you links to watch. Ive been in a wheelchair for 5 years now.

[@anniepienaar4399]

BAIE dankie vir hierdie positiewe stukkie rolstoel video!! Ons dink al klaar om vir Anle (14) n rolstoel te Koop dat sy ook meer skills kan toe pas, dis ook fantastiese oefeninge vir persoon in rolstoel!!! Matthys ek wonder hoeveel trappe kan hy al klim met jou stoel????? Lekker week verder en geniet die lang naweek!

[@olexiiuachanell8866]

I want subtitle/ Thanks Bro

[@berastis4431]

Legend

[@sleazynicks6759]

I HAVE BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR MY ENTIRE LIFE. HOW DO I GET THIS JOB?

[@jasongooden917]

I didn't think I could use a wheelchair at all. I'm left side Hemiplegic (paralysed on the left side, arm and leg) So in the hospital I would just sit in the room or lay in the bed all day. Then the physio therapist told me how if I remove the right foot rest I can use my right foot to steer as I push with my right arm.

[@jimsperlakis5634]

You obviously are not a quitter. I have Ms and massive neck fusion, C2-T3, and can't walk without falling(I fell often and hard) My buddy lost his right hand then arm to the elbow after a nasty machine accident and got mrsa from +22 surgery's to try to re-attach it, failure. Mrsa took off his replacement knee next and can't walk. He needs a small chair that has a pump hand control and a brake. He lives alone and in a chair now but can't get in and out by himself. We're both 70 but Not Quitters! What could I do for Him? We rode together for years.

[@MVMackenzie]

How do you balance like that? I can’t go down a curb without falling off my wheelchair face-first!

[@chrizk.9343]

I’m having some health issues with my joints, but we had a family trip planned for New York City. This kzbin.infoUgkxuxJwamLFanm476LC5WPeTouyyU1GXomC was perfect! It’s lightweight enough that my friend could carry it up or down stairs when we needed to. (I can walk very short distances) It was comfortable for me to sit in, I would say if you’re super tall it might be a little cramped. I’m 5’1” and the foot rests were the perfect height. This may not be the best one for long term use, you get what you pay for, but for something that fits our budget that gives me accessibility while we deal with my health this was amazing.

[@mathys660606]

Im still editing my last videos of going down a gravel mountain pass just for fun. Just check under my name the videos Ive posted. Thanks for your tips. Well worth showing to new guys to learn right technique. Great work!

[@espedidosgs]

new subscriber here

[@marylynn6928]

It will not be like this in another 35 years.

[@banegool]

Nope, I'm 37 years as a T5 complete and I'm still doing everything he's doing in this video.

[@georgecurtis6463]

Sadly, im unable to tilt my wheelchair backwards. Have an inner ear issue. So when i tilt back, i loose all sense of ballance. Though i do see you do it differantly than others. I will try the way you move your body forward. Good video. One thing i noticed a few years back. Was at a job fair manning a table for my group. I saw a guy with one arm going around propelling his manual wheelchair as well as i could with both arms. Wanted to talk to him about this but couldnt track him down. Sure would like to have learned his method. Certainly would be handy as i do the same thing as you, switching hands constantly.

[@veritas1007]

i feel for you people in those chairs god bless

[@ramon.vilcheslobos6430]

bueno tu vídeo, pero aquí en Chile tener una silla de ruedas como esa es un lujo, nosotros los que no podemos caminar y somos de bajos recursos económicos tenemos que conformarnos con sillas de ruedas que dan en el sistema de salud publico que son pasivas y no sirven par ir a la calle por que son pesadas ruedas traseras grandes son con ruedas duras que no absorben lo sinuoso que tiene un terreno en la calle, como si lo haría una silla de ruedas con ruedas naumaticas, por eso nuestro mayor parte del tiempo lo pasamos en casa.

[@Yoalfi]

Very nice,thank you, but wheelies for me?🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣 Txs again, God bless you.

[@morgansmitley5740]

t4 drive a car and live by myself and everything and still can't get that damn floor transfer haha

[@raypay3438]

Hey sexy

[@I_Stack_Metal]

Morgan you get that floor transfer down yet? I'm a t6 para for 25 years. Anything ya wanna know just ask.

[@moganfexofficial3941]

Impressive how you go down the steps. A pity the sound of the vid is not well balanced. On headphone, it is not pleasant :(

[@quickplaya]

BEST POP MUSIC VIDEOS A pity that no one really cares about the sound. You need to take the good and the bad and move on kiddo.

[@ConnyNordlicht]

Who said: use your earphones/headphones? At smartphonespeakers it's full ok! :)

[@17lidianotrilidia39]

😱

[@JustaKarenDiscoveredTheIntrnet]

what type of wheelchair is that...doesnt look like ur typical ones from hospital

[@TheRockMorton]

Thank you, Tom, for teaching us a bunch of useful wheelchair skills in 5 minutes. As you indicated, always check the rear view before rolling backwards. One time I didn't, and backed off a curb falling sideways into the street. Got a black eye, thankfully nothing worse.

[@Fnoalle]

How the bleep can you not use gloves? When you brake downhill you must surely burn your hands?

[@saintcaine1fan]

I can’t do that

[@iAmBrothaDee]

My hat is off to you for getting off tge ground and in chair

[@hosamahmed1980]

I'm from iraq ..iwant like this what can i do

[@Hesam0000]

But when one is 170 pounds with heavy lower parts and belly and paralyzed fingers all rules change.

[@TrashyQuery]

Agreed . I am walking paralysed with TM and EDS, this would not work for anyone with low back issues or shoulder issues. I would never dream of going up and down stairs, way too much risk and strain on every joint.

[@soniaverma7181]

hey I m from india

[@LifeOfATwitch]

I have tourettes, and fall down in tic attacks, sometimes in roads, so tomorrow my first wheelchair is coming for when im out and about

[@menacingwolf_2006]

That is not a reason to use a wheelchair 🤣🤣🤣

[@LifeOfATwitch]

@@menacingwolf_2006 It was, actually. Would you rather I be hit by a car?

[@menacingwolf_2006]

@@LifeOfATwitch being hit by a car is a valid reason. Tourettes is not 🤣

[@LifeOfATwitch]

@@menacingwolf_2006 in your opinion.

[@menacingwolf_2006]

@@LifeOfATwitch not really. It's fact

[@yeshuaishi]

Alexandrah Dymallyy say HAI to Marty Mr Jesusbaby, lol.....

[@MikuW_]

I am 1 2

[@cpchick81]

Hi, I am in a powerchair because of the spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy I was born with. I cannot push a manual chair or transfer independently. I write books about characters who use manual chairs as well as other mobility equipment so this is good reference. People sometimes push me in a manual chair if my powerchair needs fixing and I can identify with the chair accidentally hitting things and caster size being a problem on some surfaces.

[@donnieraveling188]

I have hereditary spastic paraplegia which is close to cerebral palsy. I just went to a power chair and need to prepare for the day I need to use a manual. my hands get very fatigued. what steps do you take to use a manual?

[@cpchick81]

+Donnie Raveling I cannot use a manual at all and have to be pushed in one by someone else, I can use a powerchair with someome else's help and special controls

[@nelsonmike214]

Quads are more badass! paras have it way to EASY

[@Numian]

+Mike Nelson Yeah! Paras are AB peoples if you ask me!

[@nelsonmike214]

Right lol

[@kennycampbelljr5896]

+Mike Nelson But us para's can beat up quads very easily....lol

[@youcan2365]

its not a competition. we are both in the same situation......we still can not walk!!!!

[@khansabbir2927]

hi hi hi I am from Bangladesh I am sci

[@wheelchair4x368]

If you would reply.. please go to my FB account or messenger or Instagram. Get my email. I am Paraplegia L5 S1. Now one year. Gone most this time without any help such as PT, OT and rehab. Had insurance company that kept rejecting about everything my neurologist and doctor request. Even MRI and EKG. First wheelchair had for nearly 8 months was folding Karman. Now Quickie QRi. Been trying learn wheelies on my own, since can't find anyone teach me to it right . Can get into the wheelie, but can't hold it. Able hop up curve, but trouble going down. Lot time miss judge the wheelie going down, end up hitting my coaster Wheels flip forward . Still hesitate stairs. Remember had learn everything on my own. From getting dress and transfer to how to use my catheter ( even in the beginning, all they did, give my equipment, that was it). What I do now, and learn about wheelchair also on my own . Can we talk?

[@rwdproducties]

Cool!!! What do you think about this?: Wheelchair user (re)builds his quad in a great way! Can-am Quad wheelchair vehicle with lift.

[@jasonfariland1387]

Difros wheelchairs.

[@user-wd6ic1yy6c]

Womp womp stand up for your self

[@TheFuriousB]

sorry but a para don't need videos like this. you learn all of this in the rehabilitation.

[@mmedeuxchevaux]

+TheFuriousB it's very helpful for me.

[@rach_laze]

TheFuriousB other wheelchair users who aren't paralysed do need vids like this though I'm not paralysed but need a chair, my ot helped me choose the right one and have proper pushing technique but fuck all else