Breast Cancer Treatment Preparation: The Supply Lowdown

Wheelchair ramps have helped make life easier for many people who face mobility challenges. These ramps make it possible for people in wheelchairs to access vehicles and move between upper and lower levels of buildings and exterior property spaces with less difficulty. People may also need ramps to navigate smoothly across door thresholds and other bumpy surfaces. When shopping for a wheelchair ramp, it's important to keep some key points in mind so that the most suitable choice can be selected.

1. Permanent vs. Portable

Some wheelchair ramps are designed to remain fixed in place and not be moved while others can be repositioned as needed. A permanent wheelchair ramp is made to stay in place once it has been installed and is usually held in its position with concrete anchors. Portable wheelchair ramps, which are sometimes referred to as semi-permanent ramps, can be moved and repositioned in different areas. Each type of ramp may be more ideal for different people, so it's important to review the details of each ramp that's available to make sure that the desired option is chosen.

2. Slip Resistance

A slippery wheelchair ramp can be dangerous, and a ramp with a surface that's resistant to moisture should be chosen to keep the wheelchair from slipping when moisture from rainfall gets onto it. The best wheelchair ramps feature slip-resistant treads that give the wheels of the wheelchair more traction to decrease slippage.

3. The Amount of Weight It Can Hold

The ramp should have a high enough weight capacity to sustain the weight of both the person and their wheelchair when it's being used. Exceeding the weight capacity could cause the ramp to crack, buckle, or slip out of place, and this can be highly dangerous for the person who uses the ramp. Anyone who plans to use the wheelchair ramp should try to obtain weight measurements of their body and chair weight so that a ramp with the right weight capacity is chosen.

4. Space Requirements

Getting a ramp that's too long or wide for a particular space can create additional mobility challenges for the person who needs it. The ramp should allow enough space for the person to access the ramp without any obstructions. There should also be enough room near the ramp for the person to turn and reverse in their wheelchair comfortably. 

Almost anyone who uses a wheelchair regularly will have more freedom to navigate with the right wheelchair ramp. Reputable distributors of wheelchair ramps have plenty of great options that can suit people who have different needs.