Moving your wheelchair forward

Moving forward in your wheelchair is one of the first – and probably most important – skills you’ll learn. Once you’ve got this mastered, you’ll have a strong foundation to build on to develop more complex skills and it’ll soon feel natural.

This guide breaks down how to move yourself forward safely and confidently, whether you use a manual or powered wheelchair.

This is part of a series of guides we’ve created to help you build basic and advanced wheelchair skills.

In this guide we’ll cover:

• Being aware of your environment
• Moving forward as a manual wheelchair user
• Moving forward as a powerchair user
• Practicing speed control

What you need to know

Moving forward sounds simple, and it is as long as you keep a few things in mind. We recommend taking a safety-first approach, identifying any potential obstacles and obstructions before moving.

You want to maintain control at all times. The more you practice, the more stamina you will build to help you go further and faster.

Safety first

Staying aware of what’s around you is the best way to keep yourself and others safe. The aim is for you to be safe, stable and smooth. You’ll soon find that sharp, jerky pushes or sudden stops can make the chair tip or be pretty uncomfortable. 

Here are some basic tips:

• Always look in the direction you’re travelling and check your surroundings.
• Try to keep your movements smooth and gradual.
• Slow down when you’re inside, somewhere busy, or if you notice any hazards or obstacles.
• If you use a powered chair, switch it off whenever you stop moving.
  

How to move forward

We’ve split this part into two sections for people in manual wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs.

Moving forward in a manual wheelchair

1. Place your hands at the 11 o’clock position on the push-rims. Rest your thumbs on top and keep a light grip with your fingers.
2. Lean slightly forward to keep the front castors down.
3. Look around to check the area is clear.
4. Start pushing gently, increasing power through the movement, and finish at the 2 o’clock position.
5. Release and return your hands to 11 o’clock to repeat.

Pushing a wheelchair forward involves a specific technique, but it also demands strength. You’ll want to work on the most efficient action to maximise distance and minimise effort. 

Long, smooth pushes will take you further and help protect your shoulders. Go slowly as you build your strength.

Moving forward in a powerchair (with joystick control)

1. Switch on the power and make sure that your chair is set to an appropriate speed, starting slowly if you’re not sure.
2. Place your hand comfortably on the joystick.
3. Check around to make sure that there are no obstacles and it is safe to start moving.
4. Push the joystick forward to start moving.
5. The further forward you push, the faster you will move. To stop, let go of the joystick. 
6. Adjust your speed to the circumstances and situation.

Moving forward in a powerchair (with button controls)

1. Switch on the power and make sure that your chair is set to an appropriate speed, starting slowly if you’re not sure.
2. Position yourself so that you can comfortably access all of your control buttons.
3. Check around to make sure that there are no obstacles and it is safe to start moving.
4. Hold down your forward button to start moving and release to stop. 

Moving forward in a powerchair (with eyegaze controls)

1. Switch on the power and set make sure that your chair is set to an appropriate speed, starting slowly if you’re not sure.
2. Position yourself so that you can comfortably see both your eyegaze device and your surrounding area.
3. Check around to make sure that there are no obstacles and it is safe to start moving.
4. Look at the ‘up’ arrow to start moving forward. To stop moving, look away. 

Try to keep your body as upright and relaxed as possible. This makes it easier to stay in control of your chair and to spot any obstacles, like cars, pedestrians or pets that might get in your way.

Practising speed control

Moving forward safely involves carefully controlling your speed. You’re going to be the best person to assess each environment, but here are some recommendations from the experts:

• Indoors: Stick to a slow, steady pace.
• Outdoors: In safe, open areas you can go faster.
• Near roads, on pavements, downhill, or on bumpy ground: Stay at a speed that keeps you in control.

There are different kinds of powerchairs, but none are allowed to go faster than 4mph on pavements.