Threshold Ramps Give You the Advantage of Enhanced Maneuverability

When someone is confined to a wheelchair, one of the biggest challenges they face is maneuvering it over the metal plates that protect the base of doorways everywhere. Some of them can be as high as three inches, making it almost impossible to clear without some kind of help. Threshold ramps can make this challenge easier to handle and come in a variety of materials and sizes to fit any need.

Portable and Easy To Use

Threshold ramps are foldable and can be carried along when traveling inside and outside the home, or left in place for convenience. They do not have to be affixed in any fashion, and should be placed when needed at an angle that does not make using them dangerous. Some of them come in a fixed length, while others can be extended to at least three feet on either side of the doorway. Still others are best used in outdoor areas that are exposed to the weather or anywhere else that extra traction may be needed, like in a bathroom or shower area.

Plastic Ramps

Plastic ramps can be easily placed over any doorway threshold, up to six inches in height, and can be easily folded up for storage or transport. They are durable, with traction ridges built-in to handle most wheelchairs but may not be advisable for use with power chairs. The weight of power chairs and scooters can be in the range of more than a hundred pounds and with the added weight of the rider, may be more than a plastic ramp can handle. Always check the weight allowance on any ramp before purchasing one.

Aluminum Ramps

Aluminum is the material most often used in portable ramps, making them very lightweight when transporting them around. The extendable versions of these ramps make them very versatile for maneuvering about the home or office, and can be extended several feet on either side of the doorway. They are also good for overcoming curbs and steps with ease, as long as the angle they are placed at is within a safe climb for the wheelchair. Aluminum ramps are designed to hold more weight than most, making them perfect for use with scooters, power chairs and even heavy-duty wheelchairs.

Rubber

Finally, rubber threshold ramps are designed for areas where extra traction may be needed because of environmental conditions, as well as for providing smooth transition quickly over raised surfaces like sliding door frames and elevator doors. Built with molded treads, they are virtually non-slip in nature, making them perfect for use in the bathroom, kitchen, shower area, pool area or outdoor deck. Portability is even greater with rubber ramps, as they can easily be rolled up and stored in a pouch on the wheelchair, or even packed in a backpack or briefcase for use outside the home, or in the workplace.

Want to know more about how using threshold ramps can make life in a wheelchair easier? The experts at Mobility Specialists can answer any question you have about any mobility aids. Call them today to get all the information you need. Also, check our new page on Threshold Ramps.