5 Proven Ways Wheelchair Armrests Impact Your Daily Life

Nearly all wheelchairs have armrests, which benefit the body physically and healthwise. However, the armrest’s impact on the user is well felt when it’s well-padded, has the right accessories fixed and positioned at the correct height. 

On average, a wheelchair user spends 11 hours in a wheelchair. Without armrests or the support of a pelvic belt, the wheelchair user slouches into a slouching position. Prolonged seating in a slouching position increases abdominal pressure. This puts the bladder at health risks, such as urge incontinence and painful urination. 

What determines Wheelchair Armrest’s Function?

Would you buy a wheelchair with adjustable or fixed armrests? It’s this feature, and many others, that determine the usefulness of wheelchair armrests. 

The wheelchair armrests' usefulness is determined by the following factors.

a) Armrest Height

The usefulness of your wheelchairs' armrests is best felt when you can adjust their height to match your height. Too low or too high armrests not only cause tiredness and discomfort, but also shoulder pain. According to the Nursing Centre, proper armrest height provides adequate under-forearm support and an upright sitting posture.

b) Fixed or adjustable armrest

While some wheelchairs have fixed armrests, others have armrests that can be removed, flipped back, or swung away. Having a wheelchair with removable, swing-away, or flip-back armrests allows transfers onto the bed and other surfaces. This promotes user independence. A wheelchair is more useful if the armrests aren’t fixed.

Emphasize Flip-back/Swing-away features for bed transfers—this is a top priority for independence.

c) The armrest material 

The material on your wheelchair armrest influences your surface feel, mood, and comfort. Using a wheelchair with sturdy armrest material assures longevity and the capability to withstand rough surfaces and bumps without breaking.

How Armrests of a Wheelchair Impact Your Daily Life

Wheelchairs with unfit armrests and those without do have negative daily life effects. The armrests act as a support point for the arms, an anchoring point when shifting the body in a wheelchair, and a means of maintaining an upright sitting posture. 

a) Wheelchair armrests prevent the body from tipping sideways

You’ll use armrests to support the body and prevent it from excessively moving sideways. When using a wheelchair on an uneven surface, it’s the armrests that will prevent your body from tipping sideways. With your forearms firmly on the armrests, your body will be stable, and the risk of developing musculoskeletal problems will be prevented. Partly because constant sideways tipping will be prevented.

b) Armrests support the body when realigning it 

Armrests are a support function when you want to realign your body segments so as to sit in a proper posture. By supporting yourself on the armrests, you can realign the spinal to be in a natural position. Sitting with the body aligned correctly prevents the spinal natural ability to absorb shock, neck pain, and pressure on the posterior muscles.

c) Wheelchair armrests help to shift body weight 

Weight shifting when in a wheelchair after every 30-60 minutes is beneficial for your long-term health. By holding on to the armrests, you can side-lean and bend forward. This shift in body weight shifts the weight to one side, thus relieving pressure over the sitting areas and keeping the area’s skin healthy. 

d) Armrests of a wheelchair provide a resting place for the arm

Where will your arms rest if the wheelchair has no armrests? Without somewhere to rest your arms, the shoulders and neck may keep experiencing pain. Again, fatigue will be common in your daily life since the arm weight keeps straining the shoulders.  

Wheelchair Armrest Attachments and Their Benefits

A wheelchair with attachments on its armrests improves the user’s experience by reinforcing the upper body trunk, comfortably supporting arms with weak muscles, and supporting the body in a natural posture. The common armrest attachments that will enhance the wheelchair’s usefulness include:

a) Wheelchair armrest pads  

Armrest pads are manufactured in different designs using different materials. While some are fully padded with soft materials, others are molded using polyurethane. Commonly, arm pads are available in two sizes: full-length, which is 14-16 inches, and desk-length, which is 10-12 inches. 

Since upholstery, plastic, and gel armrest pads are soft, they cushion the forearms and elbows from the arm's weight force releiving the pressure that would cause fatigue.

b) Wheelchair bags for the armrest

To carry personal items such as keys, medications, and protective gloves when in a wheelchair, you need a wheelchair armrest bag. Armrest bags are fixed to the armrest to provide safe and convenient storage for items that impact your daily life, whether by boosting your confidence, safety, or self-esteem. 

The XSTO Armrest Sidebag is designed to cater to your storage needs. This spacious and strong Sidebag has one large zipped pocket and three side pockets to carry your personal belongings safely.

c) Wheelchair armrest cover

Cover your wheelchair armrests with good armrest covers, and your experience will be different. The pain in your elbows from the direct pressure of the armrest’s hard surface will fade away. 

Other armrest cover benefits include covering worn-out armrest pads and enhancing comfort. They also help prevent long-term health problems such as nerve compression and forearm inflammation. 

Note: If your fingers feel numb,  your wheelchair armrests might be at the wrong height. 

d) Wheelchair armrest phone holder

Phone mounts for wheelchairs improve accessibility and convenience during your everyday life. Wheelchair armrest phone holders securely hold the phone within reach. This allows wheelchair users to make calls, enjoy uninterrupted entertainment, and navigate other phone features without holding the phone.  

XSTO Mobility enhances daily life experiences for mobility-challenged persons by providing electric wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories. To enable you to use your smartphone without holding it, the XSTO wheelchair phone holder firmly clamps phones into your most convenient position on the XSTO M4  Power chair.  

Conclusion

Every wheelchair part benefits the user in multiple ways. However, certain parts, such as the armrests, impact wheelchair users more than others. While some wheelchair armrests are adjustable, others are fixed. Whichever kind of armrest is on your wheelchair, adding armrest accessories like the pads, covers, and phone holder will impact your life more.