To choose the correct seat width for a manual wheelchair, you should follow the procedure below:
- The person who will be using the wheelchair must remain seated during the measurement.
- Locate the widest part of the hips and place 2 books, one on each side of the person's body, perpendicular to the seat.
- Then measure the internal distance between the inner sides of the two books. This will allow you to determine the required width. You should add at least 3 centimetres to this measurement, or 5 centimetres in winter if the person will be wearing thicker clothing or a coat.
The measurement across the hips, plus the necessary allowance for clothing, particularly in winter, will give you the required seat width.
For powered wheelchairs, the measurement is carried out in the same way. However, it is worth noting that most powered wheelchairs allow the distance between the armrests to be increased, making it possible to accommodate different seat widths.
