Can you get backless wheelchairs?

[Gary Anderson]

Can anyone out there in forum land - within the UK - tell me whether or not you can get a backless wheelchair.

As part of a training course I attended recently, I have to do a 6 month stint in spinal rehab - and I am not sure if the patients are taking the P*** out of me or not but one of them told me that because he had such great upper body strength and good abdominal control (his lesion is L3 incomplete) he did not really need a back on his chair so was looking for a backless model.

Now, after 20 odd years in the profession, I have NEVER seen such a thing so, is he taking the mick, or has someone actually invented such a thing.

[Andy]

I've never seen one with no back but have seen them with just a 2-3" kick up at the back I assume to prevent you sliding off completely.  The seats on this sort of chair are usually almost bucket shaped in style.

A really low back on a wheelchair allows increased mobility in the spine i.e., rotation of the upper spine paired with good support in the lumbar region. This kind of back offers less stability (easier rearward tipping) and less support for the upper spine. Most active wheelchair users would not trade their increased mobility for increased stability

[Scipilot]

Most active wheelchair users would not trade their increased mobility for increased stability

Fully agree, as a C4/5 i find the lower back makes pushing the chair a lot easier due to being able to lean back/forth without restrictions.

Back ache is however the down point