What Next - Wheelchair skills

Vital skills that will enable you to make the most of the places you go. Owen Dawes from Permobil explains the benefits of front, mid and rear wheel drive platforms, and shows various seating options and controls. Discover more at the SCIA Independence Expo, 15 & 16 April 2016, the premier expo for people with physical disability in Sydney, Australia. Register to attend here: scia.org.au/expo
NOTE: Some skills shown in this video require arm strength and advanced ability to balance the wheelchair. Do not attempt them alone before practising them with a therapist.
Check out other videos from Spinal Cord Injuries Australia at / spinalcordinjuriesau

[@shitavl]

I love doing the escalators in built up shopping centres despite the no wheelchair sign on it. People freak out. Especially with a big basket of shopping on your lap!

[@georgecurtis6463]

Yea, so easy right ? Nope, some have huge issue such as i do with balancing. Inner ear issues throw me in a tizzy balance wise. Short pop ups of the front wheel are fine but not wheelies down stairs. Usually i just sue for proper access.

[@johnelonghurst3857]

I'm a new wheelchair users, the providers never gave me any.advice on how to use the chair. Your information will greatly help. However, I think my chair is made out of scaffold tubes, and it is impossible to balance on just the back wheels. Thank you for putting the information out there. I'm sure it will help over people as well as me,

[@Beery1962]

Very informative video for the new user - shows what you can do, especially when new users may be feeling like their mobility will be restricted.

[@kewlbns69]

agreed and i've been doing this for nearly 4 decades. a lot of this stuff i can do but a few i wouldn't even attempt lol.

[@urwholefamilydied]

practicing in my bedroom on carpet is a big help. In one day I was already doing wheelies and able to stall my chair in wheelie position. The next few days I was able to do 360's while in stall position. Can't way to get out into the world and navigate some tricky terrain!! It's been fun so far!

[@Berbs]

Wow! Before I can do this I'll need a lot of arm-& wheelchair training...!!!

[@dominic.h.3363]

I've been in a wheelchair for 20 years, a wheelie is second nature for me and has been for at least 14 years, but I would never dare to go down an incline or several steps on my back wheels. Also you left out a pretty good trick for going up wide ramps that are too steep by zigzagging.

[@kewlbns69]

it can be done as long as the steps are long enough to land on. that example was fairly sketchy imo.

[@dominic.h.3363]

"Can be done" is not the issue. Doing it, is. A smooth wheelie down an incline is out of the question with polished aluminium push rims, because the surface traction of the push rim itself wildly varies. Depending on how much dirt or skin oils you got on its surface, it can go from slippery to sticky within 1-2 centimeters, and you can't adjust your grip fast enough to keep your front wheels in the air. If the push rim has a matte finish or a surface coat, it's a whole different story. And as for going down stairs, the more weight you have, the harder you have to fight gravity and inertia, meaning the fatter you are, the higher the chance your wheelchair just won't stop on the next step, no matter how hard you try. The whole attempt is nothing short of suicidal if you aren't as skinny as the guy in the video.

[@scottcheek6119]

For me, the safety of going down a slope in a wheelie is mainly a question of whether or not my pushrims are wet from rain. If not, I think that the wheelie method is safer, more comfortable, and requires less strength. Being forced into leaning forward with the slope screws up my balance.

[@user-ec2kd8sz3t]

@@scottcheek6119 I agree. I go down steep hills in a wheelie all the time for various reasons. It cuts down on caster noise if I'm trying to have a conversation or just don't want the casters rattling about at speed, it prevents the casters from catching on something if the ground isn't perfectly flat, and it puts your body into a more natural position rather than leaning forward you can remain upright or slightly leaned back.

[@zwetz99]

Wow travelators look cool but we don't have any in the US ( that I know of). But now I know how to go up and down one in a wheelchair. You learn something knew every day.

[@patsydawson-shelton5810]

appriciate the info.....living in a very small town, in the country-side in west Texas has made getting any help after rehab almost impossible. I'm new to the internet, youtube and my second-hand lap-top. I'm finding all info very enlightning so.....keep it up!

[@jeffiebear007]

IM 66 YRS OLD TRIED AN ESCULATOR ONCE UP AND DOWN FAILED , HOWEVER WILL TRY IT AGAIN IVE LEARNT WHAT I DIDNT DO CORRECTLY AND ITS ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS DOUBLE ABOVE KNEE AMPUTEE. KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND STAY WITHIN IT BUT WE MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARDS.

[@vickilindberg6336]

Wow. That's amazing! Thank you.

[@jjk1443]

GREAT - my respect and appreciation!!!

[@selenaforever12]

I've had a trouble mastering the escalators going up and even down. in the beginning i needed someone i know to stand behind me or in front of me in case i slip a little. it never happened but i wanted to be careful. now after many many tries i've mastered it quite well!!!!

[@kewlbns69]

i went up once. got off on the wrong side on a subway in boston (elevator was on the other side). instead of waiting for the next train to come so i could pretty much just get to the other side said screw it...i think the trick is to get a real good grip on the rails. :D

[@AngryHatter]

This is great! Thank you.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

Thanks for showing a powerchair. I’d never use a travelator though as I’d be terrified!

[@roland32280]

just a couple of things to keep in mind: Handrails on escalators/travelators sometimes slip. Normally no problem as long as you're aware and move your hands with it as it happens. Another issue comes at the point when something does go wrong and you or somebody else gets injured. Look at the signs when you enter an escalator/travelator (something nobody ever does). It is usually not allowed to use escalators/travelators with wheelchairs (as are many other things that still happen, I know...). Insurance companies, however, love to reject claims in this kind of situations. The ones in this video do not allow wheelchairs if you look closely (I had to pause the video a number of times to get the right shot to see it). I've never been in a situation when there was an escalator/travelator and no elevator, besides a level travelator as seen in airports ofcourse. I do use travelators, but I don't use escalators. If I would encounter a situation where I need to take the escalator (broken down elevator for example) I would ask somebody to stand on the lower side of me just in case.

[@brin57]

Been using escalators for 43 years. Not going to stop now just because of a sign or a freaked out security guard.

[@AE-yt4lx]

I have never ever seen a wheelchair on an escalator.

[@ghislainehalverson8441]

Very good video , cover a lot in under 4 min. Might not be able to do all this stuff but will try within my limits

[@SpinalCordInjuriesAu]

Hi Terry! You should always try new things within the limits of your disability. Safety is the most important thing!

[@ghislainehalverson8441]

SpinalCordInjuriesAu , thanks I see my PT this week and want to focus more on wheelchair skills then walking .

[@scottcheek6119]

I don't want to imagine not being able to do this stuff. I was fortunate enough to have been trained to do all of these things in a safe, medical setting. I hope your PT was able to help!

[@jameswestbroom193]

i know right? i got in trouble on a fieldtrip in school for going down 2 stairs!"what if you fell!?" people act like only wheelchair people get injured, walking people can get hurt just as easy. so why interfere with their indpendence?

[@kewlbns69]

this is everything wrong with the world man. i swear i can't even go buy groceries without somebody thinking i need help. :o

[@6000mikesch]

cool video!

[@sammirobinson-fabhiit3813]

Not all of us have lightweight custom built chairs.

[@azizalobaidy6060]

Very very very good

[@mauimastiff]

Great skills but if you've sever lordosis it's almost impossible to van wheel balance as your body is forward all the time

[@TerrileeYO]

in europe they have esculator for the ahopping caRTS AS MANY ARE two story shopping stores

[@iprefurr]

Keep on rollin'! 😉

[@kewlbns69]

steps are super tricky...they gotta be long enough to land each.

[@ZombieMasterEd25]

I can't do any of that my backs are messed up And I pushed myself real hard with a manual I gotta use a hover round

[@FlipMacz]

I appreciate this video but would not dream of balancing on my back wheels this much. If I fall, I can break a bone pretty easily due to weak bones. Some of these tips are good tho.

[@narcisosantiagojr.5382]

Excelent waooooo tremendo buenísimo Dlb

[@brendaleeser1725]

What is the brand of wheelchair in the video? I've seen these wheelchairs and would like to have one but don't know what brand to look for.

[@SpinalCordInjuriesAu]

Hi Brenda, the manual chair is a Quickie and the power chair is Permobil.

[@kotonohakatsura6930]

My goal is to master all of the skills except 3:00 as my vision is impaired as well but I will work hard either way.

[@joseluiscarranzaruiz3071]

Awesome ideas! but when you have Osteogenesis Imperfecta its hard to try this, because you can fall down and be very injured...

[@WheelchairThailand]

Why not

[@s.n6539]

This guy is the master of wheelz 😅😅 awesome man

[@musicismylife7358]

thanks for this now I can use these skills for when I go out

[@gebshatesfay5408]

Woww it's cool l try it

[@mrbikeman]

Great video. I feel most of these tips will only work for the younger crowd with only waist down issues. good job though...

[@kewlbns69]

good trunk control definitely helps...i think. i'm an L3-L4 para so it's not a big problem for me. :/

[@haydensaunders1040]

WOAH i have never heard of a "travelator" we only have escalators..

[@pilotavery]

They are for ramps that are not steep enough to be stairs but are too long to simply be walkable

[@justanothergirl99]

First time I saw them was in Las Vegas. Loved them! Wish they were all over the world

[@PatriciaJimenez-td6ee]

Unbelievable!

[@jesussanchezdelgado8244]

Y SI TIENES FALTA DE EQUILIBRIO POR NEURINOMA ACÚSTICO? TENGO RUEDAS ANTIBUELCO HACIA ATRÁS, POR LA CRANEOTOMIA DE LA OPERACIÓN.

[@erinmalone2669]

Going up and down an escalator seems reeeeaaaaly dangerous

[@kotonohakatsura6930]

I'll shoe this to my therapist next time. Feels like a training plan😐

[@VulcanOnWheels]

0:45 Wouldn't it be safer and easier to just keep the casters on the travelator, or does it slope down too much for that? 1:23 I would first want to make sure that the angle would not become too much for me. If that happens... 1:58 Neat trick. 2:05 On the other hand, this is riskier than just staying on all four wheels. 3:00 Indeed they are. If you get it wrong, you will be ejected from your wheelchair, and will probably injure yourself. *smh* I'm sorry if I sound too critical, but for me, safety is a top priority. If that means I can't gain access to something, then so be it.

[@scottcheek6119]

If a wheelchair user is trained and confident doing all these things, they make getting around much simpler (and sometimes there aren't other options). I have been doing every one of these things for years. In regards to the question of whether it's safer to keep all four wheels on the ground on a slope, I'd say it's actually safer not to. With some exceptions, for me it is much easier to control the chair when my weight is not thrust forward and my balance screwed up by the downward slope. (If pushrims are wet, making controlled braking difficult on a ramp, there are other, slower, ways to go about it.) It takes more strength to keep the wheelchair from rolling down at all or rolling at an uncontrolled speed than it does to hold a wheelie. It's also important to have some of these skills, if you can, in case of emergencies. I was specifically taught the method of getting down steps backwards while holding a handrail because elevators cannot be used in case of a fire or earthquake. I am more wary of crossing the street at some busy intersections than I am of doing this stuff.

[@TshajLij]

Yes, these are skills for advanced individuals only. I recommend looking for an elevator first.

[@scottcheek6119]

I think that most people, most of the time, look for an elevator first. But, sometimes the elevator is out of service.

[@dougbrown7150]

47 years old and I have never even seen a "rollator" only escalators with stairs

[@wheelchairway]

Ini yang sedang saya coba lakukan, sangat bermanfaat

[@abhimanyukr599]

Can you provide wheelchair in India p

[@wheelchairsrock2691]

Checkout Wheelchairs Rocks a youtube channel hosted by Mad Martini. Fun way to get wheelchair tips.

[@dasang5239]

Wow

[@mariamkinen8036]

I intend to walk again . After the reversal.

[@marig7554]

👍👍👍

[@erinmcdonald4248]

at 1.42 the sign on the escalator states no wheel chairs! I have gone to go down one before but noticed the sign. WDYT/

[@kewlbns69]

screw it...do it anyway. what they gonna do give you a ticket? lol

[@scottcheek6119]

I find it frustrating that people who put these signs up want to police my ability to get around. I am highly skilled for a reason, though I know that my level of competence isn't known or understood by the people in charge of the escalators. I mostly only use escalators if the elevator is out of service, but sometimes I decide the escalator is more convenient for other reasons. I should come up with a polite but clear thing to say to security personnel when they try to stop me.

[@brin57]

Just do what you need to do. Don't let the sign stop you. 43 yrs of using escalators without issue. Not going to stop because of someone else's insecurity about it. I just don't engage with security if they have an issue with it.

[@superwalo27]

very easy.

[@kewlbns69]

yea...not for a newbie tho js.

[@uedayukikatsu496]

エスカレーターが、一部ベルト式だったら、自走式車椅子ライダーなら使いやすいはずですし、停電時にも、スロープになります。 でも、階段式に無理にホイールを合わせたら、腕の力が尽きたら下の人を巻き込む事故を起こします。

[@WalkRollStairs]

Could geared wheelchair users climb 'walk&roll' stairs smoothly?

[@kewlbns69]

geared wheelchair?

[@bbdamur17]

How can my gramma do that? o.o

[@AstroFactice]

90% of Wheelchair users are incapable of doing these tricks

[@AE-yt4lx]

Scary!!

[@ChrisPage68]

Not everyone is able to wheelie.

[@LuddyPuppy]

So? Then don't do the tips and tricks that involve wheelies.

[@willemh3319]

PageMonster what about hemiplegics one arm users🚷♿🤔

[@kewlbns69]

it's a pretty crucial skill for anyone in a wheelchair. if you can't do them, then you're going to need to avoid a lot of these obstacles. :/

[@ChrisPage68]

1) Use ramps, not steps. 2) Use the lift, not an escalator!

[@brin57]

Sure, but it's not always possible or convenient.

[@1974bawa]

Hate wheelchair

[@scottcheek6119]

Maybe you need access to a better wheelchair.