With comfort being an important factor when using a wheelchair it’s important that for long periods of use that you have good seat padding that can also help to relieve and prevent pressure sores.

But the seat of the wheelchair is most likely not the only area that you require enough comfort, it’s important that your back doesn’t get sore and even the arm rests should provide enough comfort so that overall you can enjoy your time in the wheelchair and not become distracted by pains caused by a lack of cushioning and comfort.

A padded wheelchair cushion, like the one above, provides extra padding in all of the areas that matter, rather than just extra padding in the seat area.

You can get comfortable with this type of cushion as it provides extra padding in all of the right spots,  and because it’s one piece it makes it easy to put into place and to remove.

Underneath they are usually waterproof so that you have no worry of the cushion absorbing moisture.

You can rest your arms or have them down at your sides and if the weather is cold then this extra padding is going to give you quite a snug feeling when combined with a cover over your lap or any type of leg or body weather protection.

A full padded wheelchair cushion will usually cost around £95 but the extra comfort that you can gain from one makes it well worth the investment.

Sometimes it’s not necessary to be seated out of your wheelchair and in a recliner chair if you are intending on staying mobile for a few hours and wish to have the readiness of still being in your wheelchair while being able to deal with a few things during that time.

From having a cup of tea to signing paperwork or a cheque and enjoying your hobbies you can perform all of these a lot easier with a wheelchair tray.

They are usually positioned just above your lap and provide a level and steady work area as well as somewhere to place a cup of tea or coffee while chatting with relatives and friends.

Many of the trays available go across the full area of your lap and tend to curve and wrap around the side of your waist area but still leave enough breathing room, then there are the type that cover most of one side (half lap tray) and can either be fitted to the left side or the right, usually with a cup placing area, similar to the full sized wheelchair trays.

All wheelchair trays can be wiped clean so they are suitable for cups and small plates as well as anything else that you wish to place on the tray, they can even come in handy at times as simply a place to rest your hands and arms on.

A simple addition for a wheelchair but with multiple uses and allowing you to do a variety of everyday tasks while still seated in your wheelchair.

You can usually pick up a wheelchair lap tray for about £18 upwards for a basic moulded one and if you require a half lap tray they can cost considerably more, usually from around £70 upwards.

For manual wheelchairs, you can buy spare types for both the large back wheels and also the front castor wheels, they usually come in sizes between 18 and 24 inches for the large back wheels and there usually isn’t much price difference between the small castor tyres and the large back tyres but fortunately they are generally inexpensive.

Because the tyres are taking the full weight of the wheelchair and user, they will in time wear down and less grip on the tyres can mean less traction and require more of an effort by the wheelchair user, but there’s also the factor of safety, for example making your way up or down a ramp, you want to make sure that the tyres have enough grip on them to prevent any chance of sliding or not being able to stop properly.

Both the castor type and the larger tyres will usually be priced at around £8 upwards, generally costing not much more, and thats cost per tyre.

When buying spares and replacing parts on a manual wheelchair, the tyres are probably one of the most important to deal with as they are the parts touching the ground and taking most of the wear and tear over time.