Going up and down ramps and slopes in your wheelchair

Moving up and down ramps and slopes safely is an important skill. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll increase the range of places you can go. 

This guide covers how to deal with ramps and slopes in both manual wheelchairs and powerchairs. You’ll learn how to approach, travel up, and come down ramps safely. 

What you’ll learn:

• How to approach a ramp or slope safely
• Travelling up a ramp 
• Descending safely without losing balance or speed
• Using the environment to help you

What you need to know about tackling ramps and slopes in your wheelchair

You’ll find ramps and slopes everywhere, from doorways and shops, to car parks and pavements. Learning how to use ramps and slopes safely can help increase the places you can go. It can also help reduce the risk of tipping, slips and crashes.

As with all new skills, confidence comes with practice. We recommend you start on gentle slopes and move on to steeper ones as your skills grow. 

Travelling up and down ramps in a manual wheelchair

Manual wheelchair users may find that travelling up and down slopes can be physically tough.

It’s a good idea to start with gentle slopes and build strength and confidence up before using steeper slopes. Some conditions and injuries prevent people from having the physical strength required to use steeper slopes. If that’s the case, it may be useful to use a powered add-on.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you travel up and down ramps and slopes in a manual wheelchair.

Going up a ramp

1. Check the slope is clear and not too steep
2. Position your chair straight, with both front castors pointing forward
3. Grip the push-rims firmly and lean slightly forward to maintain balance
4. Use smooth and even pushes on both wheels to move up the ramp
5. Don’t worry if you stop midway. Hold the push-rims tightly and apply brakes if needed
6. At the top, stop and apply the brakes before adjusting your position to avoid sliding backward

If you find longer ramps tiring, don’t worry about taking a quick break. Start again when you feel strong enough and it’s safe enough to do so.

Going down a ramp

1. Check the slope and surface before pushing off
2. Lean slightly backwards to keep your weight behind the axle
3. Control your speed by letting the push-rims slide slowly through your hands
4. Aim for a controlled moment and don’t grip the wheels too tightly
5. Try to keep the chair straight and steady as you descend
6. Once you’re at the bottom, stop and check your surroundings

Descending is all about staying in control of your speed and momentum. Never let go of the push-rims or try to ‘free roll’ down a slope, no matter how much fun it might be at the time!

Travelling up and down ramps in a powered wheelchair

It’s simpler to travel up and down slopes in a powerchair. But the heavier weight of the chair means you’ll still need to learn the correct technique to avoid any accidents or incidents.

Going up a ramp

1. Switch the power on and select a slow speed
2. Line the chair up square to the incline
3. Move forward steadily using the joystick
4. Stay in control and avoid sudden changes in speed
5. Keep your weight slightly forward to maintain balance
6. Slow down gently as you approach the top of the incline
7. Stop before turning or adjusting position

Going down a ramp

1. Choose a slow speed setting before you start
2. Turn on any anti-tip devices or downhill controls
3. Move the joystick gently forward and keep the chair straight
4. Avoid making any sudden stops or sharp turns while moving downwards
5. Come to a full stop at the bottom and check around you before moving off

While it might seem like fun, never travel down a ramp or incline backward unless you’ve received proper training on correct and safe technique.