Advantages of Electric vs. Manual Wheelchairs: Weighing the Tradeoffs for Long-Term Independence and Comfort

Whether you’ve just received a new diagnosis, or you’ve been a wheelchair user for a long time, choosing a new wheelchair is a highly involved process. The right wheelchair choice can make a positive impact on your independence and long-term health, but the wrong choice can lead to injuries, strain, and more health risks.

Comparing Electric vs. Manual Wheelchairs

To begin your research, you’ll need to determine whether it’s best to buy a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair. Let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option to determine which is best for your diagnosis, lifestyle, and long-term mobility. This post will go beyond the basics to explore the nuanced pros and cons that truly impact daily living, caregiver burden, and overall wellbeing.

Functional Independence: A Nuanced Look

Functional Independence: A measure of how well a person can perform their daily activities without assistance.

A wheelchair’s purpose is to increase the user’s functional independence. A great wheelchair will empower you to perform as many of your daily tasks as possible, from self-care to professional and social responsibilities. Here’s a look at what manual wheelchairs and power wheelchairs have to offer.

How Manual Wheelchairs Impact Independence

Manual wheelchairs can be propelled by the user or a caregiver without the use of battery-operated power components. Individuals may use their arms to push the wheels, use their feet to scoot the wheelchair forward, or a combination of the two (called hemi-propulsion). Other manual wheelchairs are entirely caregiver-propelled for individuals who don’t have the physical or cognitive abilities to move independently.

If your goal is to maintain physical fitness through everyday activity, a manual wheelchair can be an excellent choice. They are easy to use and don’t require training or a steep learning curve. These devices are also low-maintenance and don’t have batteries to charge and software to update. Breakdowns tend to be minimal, and repairs are much simpler than a power wheelchair.

On the other hand, manual wheelchairs can be quite strenuous to propel if you have a lot of ground to cover. If you have a large house, work outside the home, frequently go outside, or run a lot of errands, a manual wheelchair may cause exhaustion and even repetitive strain injuries.

How Power Wheelchairs Impact Independence

A person in an electric wheelchair can control the speed and direction with a wide range of controls, depending on their abilities. Most commonly, these wheelchairs come with joystick controls, but adaptable controls are also available for people with limited hand dexterity.

If you have a career, are active outside the home, or are looking for greater independence in everyday life, a power wheelchair might be a good fit. These wheelchairs eliminate fatigue and allow for an individual to remain mobile for as long as the battery lasts. With overnight charging, most people are able to enjoy all-day independence in movement.

Power wheelchairs, however, have a few drawbacks. They are complex devices with highly engineered hardware and software. They will need more frequent updates, and repairs can be complicated, costly, and time-consuming.

Another major drawback is long-term strength retention. Wheelchair users have a sedentary lifestyle to begin with. Adding a power wheelchair to the equation eliminates the built-in exercise from self-propulsion. This can lead to muscle weakness over time as muscles will shrink if unused. The process of muscle shrinkage is called atrophy, and is a distinct risk, particularly for those in power wheelchairs.

The Bottom Line on Functional Independence

Both manual wheelchairs and power wheelchairs offer advantages for functional independence. Work with your clinical team to determine whether a manual or power wheelchair best fits your diagnosis, abilities, and lifestyle. Over-reliance on a power chair can lead to muscle deconditioning while under-prescribing can lead to overuse injuries or dependence on caregivers.

Terrain and Environment Realities

Choosing between a manual and a power wheelchair isn’t just about features—it’s about the places you move through every day. Hallway widths, curb cuts, gravel paths, elevators, and bathroom layouts all shape your daily life. Below is a practical look at how each wheelchair type performs indoors, outdoors, and on uneven terrain, plus how a hybrid approach can offer the best of both worlds.

Manual Wheelchair Terrain Performance

Manual wheelchairs are typically narrower and tend to be best for tight spaces, such as small homes, bathrooms, and older buildings. Smooth floors, like tile, concrete, and low-pile carpet are most ideal. With a manual wheelchair, you can navigate these settings with fewer modifications and accommodations.

Once terrain becomes uneven, sloped, or textured, manual wheelchairs become less functional. Long hallways, plush carpeting, and ramps can lead to shoulder and wrist fatigue if self-propelling. If your home has thick rugs, multiple thresholds, or frequent transitions between rooms, daily propulsion can add up to strain and even injury for yourself or a caregiver.

Power Wheelchair Terrain Performance

For individuals who have larger homes, multi-floor workplaces, or outdoor hobbies, power wheelchairs offer greater access with less fatigue. With precise joystick control and programmable drive profiles, they handle tight turns when space allows and have batteries that last for full-day indoor use.

Width and turning radius can be challenging in older homes and small bathrooms, however. Spaces under sinks and counters are often too shallow for power bases, making self-care tasks harder without home modifications. Doorway clearance, turning circles, and floor-type transitions should be measured before purchase.

Outdoor elements are also a concern. The delicate electronic components will need to be protected from rain, dust, and debris. Climate should also be taken into consideration. Extremely cold temperatures may affect battery life, while hot weather could cause equipment to overheat.

Explore hybrid lifestyle planning (e.g., using a manual chair at home and a power chair outdoors or for errands) to get the best of both worlds.

Customization and Adaptability Over Time

Medical needs and mobility requirements can change over time. It’s important that your wheelchair can adapt with you as you recover or if a condition progresses. This is especially important if your budget for future mobility equipment will be limited.

Adaptability of Manual Wheelchairs

Manual wheelchairs are often easier and more affordable to customize for posture or mobility needs, especially in the early stages of a condition or for temporary injuries. Simple adjustments like adding footrests, cushions, or oxygen tank holders can make a world of difference for convenience and accessibility.

Some manual wheelchairs, like those from Broda, offer adjustable components like seat height, seat depth, arm rest height, and leg rest length. Wheels can even be changed when independent self-propulsion changes to a need for caregiver propulsion, or vice versa.

Adaptability of Electric Wheelchairs

Electric wheelchairs contain advanced features and software that are infinitely customizable for complex conditions. Customizing a power wheelchair is especially important for individuals who require specialty controls, such as eye tracking, touch screens, or even sip and puff controls, where the user moves the wheelchair with their breath.

Some power wheelchairs also come with terrain modifications, such as heavy-duty wheels or omnidirectional steering, allowing side-to-side movement. Other adaptations include automated tilt and recline, elevating leg rests, and sit-to-stand features.

The Bottom Line on Adaptability

Choose the better option for your budget and the trajectory of progressive conditions where the severity and frequency of symptoms worsen over time (e.g., multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease). Choosing the “right now” option may ignore the needs of “future you.”

Cost, Insurance, and Hidden Expenses

Budget is typically at the top of the list of concerns for wheelchair buyers. When considering cost, insurance, and other miscellaneous expenses, there’s a large gap between electric wheelchairs vs. manual wheelchairs. The “sticker price” is only part of the equation as well. Extra costs, such as accessories, cushions, customizations, clinic visits, and repairs also play a key role in affordability.

The Cost of Electric Wheelchairs

Upfront Cost
Power wheelchairs are significantly more expensive and can be harder to get approved by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. In order to get approval, you must have a thorough evaluation from a medical professional that lists all the medical reasons you need the features of the specific wheelchair. The good news is that power wheelchairs may qualify for more medical justifications since many of the accessories have niche uses for specific symptoms and conditions.

Maintenance Costs
Ongoing costs can add up. If you’re going to use your wheelchair long-term, it’s important to factor in maintenance and parts. Batteries are some of the most expensive components that will need to be replaced every 1-2 years. The average electric wheelchair battery costs $200-$600+ for replacement. Electronics such as joysticks, controllers, and wiring repairs can also be expensive as they require expert knowledge from a medical equipment specialist.

The Cost of Manual Wheelchairs

Upfront Cost
If you’re looking for a lower up-front cost, manual wheelchairs are an excellent choice. If you’re purchasing the wheelchair through insurance or a federal program, you’ll still require a seating assessment, although the product itself will be less complex than an electric wheelchair. With some manufacturers, you can even get manual versions of advanced features like tilt and recline positioning.

Maintenance Costs
While manual wheelchairs still require periodic maintenance and parts replacements, the components are much simpler than electric wheelchairs. For this reason, repairs often go faster and parts cost less than on power models.

Final Thoughts: Matching the Wheelchair to the Person — Not Just the Diagnosis

When choosing a wheelchair, the medical condition is just one piece of the puzzle.

If you want your wheelchair investment to last as long as you require a mobility aid, consider the full picture:

• What are my functional mobility needs?
• What kind of wheelchair could help me maintain my current lifestyle, career, habits, and hobbies?
• If my condition improves or worsens over time, how would my wheelchair need to adapt?
• How much budget do I have to spend on a mobility aid?

By taking these questions into account, you’ll have a solid basis for choosing an electronic vs. manual wheelchair. The right mobility device for you will depend on your lifestyle, support system, environment, prognosis, and personal preferences.

A Hybrid Approach

For many individuals with mobility challenges, a combination of a manual wheelchair and an electric wheelchair is most practical. The power wheelchair offers out-of-home mobility while the manual wheelchair is easiest to maneuver around the house. Others choose to keep a manual wheelchair as an affordable backup to their power wheelchair in the event of a breakdown, upgrade, or routine maintenance. There are many types of manual and power wheelchairs to suit any condition.

Need Guidance on Choosing a Manual Wheelchair?

If you’d like to purchase a manual wheelchair as your primary or backup mobility device, Broda is here to help. Our equipment specialists can help you navigate the process, from assessment to insurance claims.

Recommended Products