Wheelchair handle extensions?

[Theta]

I am still trying to find the best way to help my brother (6 feet 3) brother push his son in his wheelchair. We both fatigue quickly when pushing him in his wheelchair. I am wondering if something like this might work? Any suggestions?



http://www.amazon.com/The-Wright-Stuff-Wheelchair-Extensions/dp/B00A4PL8U2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_3

 

[retired and happy]

We also bring 2-3 wheelchairs to WDW. My wife pushes the one with the lower handle, and I get the one(s) with the higher handle(s). Our daughter has a tiltable chair with a stroller type handle so it is adjustable as needed. Our son has the more familiar double handle.

I once built a stroller type handle out of PVC with some pipe insulation on the crossbar. This contraption fit onto his regular handles when the grips were removed. I fastened it with bolts through existing holes in the handles. The advantage was that I could cut the PVC to any length I needed to set the right height for me to easily push. The crossbar also gave more positive control when maueuvering through crowds, pushing two chairs.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am still trying to find the best way to help my brother (6 feet 3) brother push his son in his wheelchair. We both fatigue quickly when pushing him in his wheelchair. I am wondering if something like this might work? Any suggestions?



http://www.amazon.com/The-Wright-Stuff-Wheelchair-Extensions/dp/B00A4PL8U2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_3

I know people have used those.
One issue I can see would be possible damage to the push handles on the wheelchair if the push handles on the wheelchair are foam covered.

Another possible issue would be not attaching securely if the push handles are not firm.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I'd show them to your brother and see if he thinks they would work. From looking at the pictures it looks like they're meant to actually screw or bolt into the frame through the backrest. That's definitely not going to work with all wheelchairs. It will work with the styles commonly used in hospitals and rental companies (which is what it's shown on), but not for many custom manual wheelchairs with the varying types of backrests. My backrest isn't even specialized, but if there are screws or bolts holding the backrest in that area, they're covered by padded fabric so to access the correct spot the fabric on the backrest would actually have to be cut.

I have removable push handles on my chair (when I initially bought it, I didn't need help pushing and didn't want to give strangers the opportunity to come up behind and push me) which makes such an add-on even less likely to work. It's unfortunate, however, that they can't just make the push handles adjustable or have an option for taller ones when it comes to the removeable.

 

[KPeveler]

I bought my wheelchair handle extensions from travel wheelchair.net. They will clamp on to any metal post, and I use them on my everyday manual wheelchair. They require no tools to attach, so I usually don't have them on.

 

[Theta]

We also bring 2-3 wheelchairs to WDW. My wife pushes the one with the lower handle, and I get the one(s) with the higher handle(s). Our daughter has a tiltable chair with a stroller type handle so it is adjustable as needed. Our son has the more familiar double handle.

I once built a stroller type handle out of PVC with some pipe insulation on the crossbar. This contraption fit onto his regular handles when the grips were removed. I fastened it with bolts through existing holes in the handles. The advantage was that I could cut the PVC to any length I needed to set the right height for me to easily push. The crossbar also gave more positive control when maueuvering through crowds, pushing two chairs.

Thanks for the suggestions. My son thinks he can work with PVC and make something.