Why is wheelchair maintenance important?

Author: Sharon Jang | Reviewer: Ian Denison | Published: 3 January 2025 | Updated: ~

Regularly maintaining your wheelchair can help you save money from repairs, extend the life of your wheelchair, and prevent injuries. Some weak evidence research has found that individuals who did not regularly maintain their wheelchairs are over 10 times more likely to have a wheelchair-related accident. Knowing what to do when your wheelchair malfunctions may provide you with more independence and reassurance when travelling. Although more complicated and technical maintenance should be left to a wheelchair maintenance expert, there are many things you can do at home yourself.

Maintenance scheduling

The numerous maintenance tasks listed in this article may seem overwhelming. This article goes over many aspects of your wheelchair to inspect and covers multiple maintenance tasks to be completed. Completing all of these tasks in one go may require a lot of time and energy. If this is not feasible for you, try breaking up the monthly maintenance items into different weeks. For example:

  • Week 1: Check tires– inspect tires/casters, check wheel lock.
  • Week 2: Frame maintenance – inspect frame, check nuts and bolts, wipe down frame.
  • Week 3: Wheel Maintenance – clean axles, lubricate if needed, inspect wheel bearing, check spokes.
  • Week 4: Supports – check back rest, foot support, clean upholstery.