The History of The Wheelchair
Jan 24, 2014 23:28:18 GMT -8
Post by Butiki on Jan 24, 2014 23:28:18 GMT -8
I found this very interesting artical about the history of wheelchairs, I didn't realize that the wheelchair had been around for so long.
The earliest known record on the history of wheelchairs dates back to the 6th century with an inscription on a stone slate in China.
During the German Renaissance a wheelchair was invented for King Phillip II of Spain in 1595 by an unknown inventor. It was an elaborate chair with both armrests and leg rests. Although it had wheels he needed assistance to propel it and it resembled more of a modern day highchair than what we know as wheelchairs of today.
During the German Renaissance a wheelchair was invented for King Phillip II of Spain in 1595 by an unknown inventor. It was an elaborate chair with both armrests and leg rests. Although it had wheels he needed assistance to propel it and it resembled more of a modern day highchair than what we know as wheelchairs of today.
In 1900 the history of wheelchairs records the first spoke wheels being used. In 1912 the first motorized power chair had a 1 and ¾ horsepower motor on an “invalids tricycle”. In 1916, the first motorized wheelchair to go into production was manufactured in London.
Technology has improved with the creation of power wheelchairs operated with a joystick, a head stick or sip and puff devices. Tilt-in-space, elevating and stair climing wheelchairs, sports chairs are some of the vast array of wheelchairs available. The standing wheelchair allows the user to rise from a seated position to a standing position with the use of a hydraulic pump or lever action.
