Wheelchair with Leg Extension

If a user’s legs need more support than standard footrests can give, there are two routes. You can buy a separate extension for a chair you already have, or you can choose a new chair that comes with longer or raising leg supports from the start. This guide is about the second route: shopping for the whole package.

Buying complete has real advantages. The leg supports are made to fit the frame, the fixings are right, and the seller can answer questions about the chair as a whole. But it still pays to know what you are looking at, because listings vary in how clearly they explain what is included.

Who Looks for a Wheelchair with Leg Extension?

The people searching usually fall into a few groups, and each has different priorities.

• Taller users whose knees sit too high on standard footrests, and who need the footplates to reach further down.
• People with a leg that must stay straighter, perhaps in a cast or after an operation, who need a support that holds the leg out in front.
• Carers choosing a pushed chair for someone who has been advised to keep one or both legs raised for part of the day.

If the reason is anything to do with health, such as swelling, circulation or recovery from surgery, ask your GP, an occupational therapist or your NHS wheelchair service what kind of leg support is appropriate before you buy. They can tell you whether raising the leg is recommended and how it should be supported.

Complete Chair or Add-On Part?

A complete chair makes sense when you are buying a chair anyway, when the existing chair has no compatible parts, or when the user’s needs have changed enough that a new chair is due. An add-on part may be better when the current chair suits well in every other respect.

If you already have a chair and simply need a longer support, our page on the wheelchair leg extender looks at add-on parts and how to match them.

Reading the Listing: What Is Actually Included?

Photos often show a chair with elevating leg rests fitted, while the price is for the chair with standard footrests. Look for clear wording in the specification or the box contents.

• Are elevating leg rests or extension supports listed as included?
• Is there a choice of standard or elevating supports, and does the price change?
• Are both sides included, or is one side sold separately?
• Are calf pads, straps and footplates part of the set?

If in doubt, ask the seller to confirm in writing what arrives in the box.

Transit Wheelchair or Self-Propelled Wheelchair?

Transit Chairs

Pushed by a carer, with small rear wheels, transit chairs are lighter and more compact. Many are sold with elevating leg rest options. Check the push handles are at a comfortable height for the carer and that the brakes are easy to reach. Our transit wheelchair guide covers folding and boot space.

Self-Propelled Chairs

With large rear wheels, self-propelled chairs let the user push themselves. Longer leg supports move the user’s weight forward slightly and add length, which can change how the chair feels to push and turn. Ask the seller whether the maker offers anti-tip bars and how the chair balances with the supports raised. Our self-propelling wheelchair page explains the other choices involved.

Fit for a Wheelchair for a Tall Person

For taller users, leg length is only one part of the picture. Seat depth decides how much of the thigh is supported. Seat height affects whether the feet can reach the footplates without the knees rising. Back height affects upper-body support. A chair with extended leg supports but a shallow seat may still not fit well.

The wheelchair service can measure the user and suggest what to look for. If you are buying privately, ask the seller for the seat depth, seat height and footrest range, and compare them with the measurements the professional takes. Our guide to the wheelchair leg extensions for a tall person goes into this in more detail.

Elevating Leg Rest and Elevating Footrest Options

If a leg needs raising, check how the support is adjusted. Many use a lever or a ratchet; some use a knob. Consider who will adjust it and whether they can reach and operate it easily. Also look at the calf pad, which should be adjustable in height, and the footplate, which may tilt as the support rises.

An elevating footrest sometimes only lifts the plate without adding a calf pad. That may not be enough for someone who needs the whole lower leg supported, so read the description closely and check with your OT if unsure.

Standard Wheelchair Footrest Versus Longer Supports

It helps to picture the difference. A standard wheelchair footrest hangs from the front of the frame and holds the feet on a plate with the knees bent. It usually swings away and lifts off. A longer wheelchair leg support either reaches further down, for a longer lower leg, or pivots upwards to hold the leg straighter, with a padded calf rest taking some of the leg’s weight.

Many chairs can take either type on the same hangers, which is useful if needs change. Ask the seller whether the chair you are considering accepts both, and whether the other type can be bought later from the same maker. That flexibility can matter for someone recovering from an injury, who may need raised support for a while and standard footrests afterwards.

If you are replacing a worn wheelchair leg rest on a chair you already own, the same compatibility questions apply. Our guide to the wheelchair leg rest explains the common hanger styles in plain terms.

Moving Around the Home

A chair with leg extensions is longer than a standard chair, especially with the supports raised. Before ordering, measure the tightest turns in the home, including the route from bed to bathroom. Ask the seller how much the overall length changes with the supports up. If only one leg needs raising, the extra length is only on one side, which can help in some layouts.

Folding, Lifting and Storage

Leg supports add weight and bulk. For car travel, check whether they detach quickly, whether the chair folds with them in place, and what the heaviest single part weighs according to the listing. A carer who does the lifting should be part of this decision.

Questions for the Seller Before You Order

• Which leg supports come with this chair, and can they be swapped later?
• Are replacement calf pads and footplates available for this model?
• Does the warranty cover the leg supports as well as the frame?
• What is the returns process if the supports do not suit the user?

Trying the Chair Once It Arrives

When the chair is delivered, set up the leg supports before the user sits in it, following the maker’s instructions. Check that each support locks firmly at every position, that the catches release smoothly, and that nothing rubs against the castors when the chair turns. Then try a short, gentle session indoors, including a transfer in and out, before relying on the chair for longer periods. If anything feels unstable or uncomfortable, stop and contact the seller or the professional who advised you, and keep the packaging in case a return is needed.

Getting Advice First

The NHS explains how to access your local wheelchair service on its walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters page. An assessment can help you choose the right chair and leg supports together, rather than adapting afterwards. Choosing a wheelchair with leg extension already built in can be the simplest route, as long as the chair fits the whole person and not just their legs.