There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase a folding or a rigid frame manual wheelchair. One of the many important considerations is that of energy efficiency.

When propelling a folding wheelchair, a lot of the energy is lost in the flexibility of the frame. It’s just one of those laws of physics. Rigid chairs, on the other hand, are indeed quite “rigid”. More of the energy exerted by the rider translates into forward motion. But because the frame is less flexible, the ride is less comfortable and can even be unstable on uneven terrain.

Some manufacturers now sell rigid chairs with shock absorbers to address these issues.. That would seem to be defeating the efficiency advantage as energy is now wasted on the up and down motion of the shock absorbers, rather than the forward motion. While it is true that there is some energy loss, in reality it is much less when compared to what is wasted on a folding frame.

Additionally rigid frame wheelchairs are lighter than their folding counterparts. The reduced weight requires less energy to propel. Folding chairs have a more complex frame and are therefore bulkier and heavier.