Question: I need advice regarding the purchase of a wheelchair for my wife. She is 81 years of age and has had two low back surgeries, suffers with osteoporosis and an untreatable compression fracture of the spine. I cannot envision her propelling herself in the large wheelchair and I am leaning toward what is called a "transport" chair as I would like a chair that is portable and light and which I could keep in the car. The material I have read on your web page indicates that the transport chair is for use only inside medical centers or hospitals. Is there a "transport" type chair available that you would recommend for both interior and exterior use that comes close to fitting our situation needs? ~W. R. Lucas

Answer: Transport wheelchairs are generally used by hospitals for indoor use only as they are generally not durable enough to be used outdoors and over long periods of time. Plus, transport chairs are generally rigid models, which mean they don't fold for storage. A lightweight folding wheelchair would probably be your best bet. Folding wheelchairs offer more flexibility than rigid models, which is an advantage when you are traveling over slightly uneven surfaces, because the chair's frame will bend to accommodate the surface and all of its wheels will remain on the ground. Better still, folding wheelchairs can be folded and stored in your car or closet without having to disassemble any parts.