The first invention of the wheelchair is difficult to pin down in history. While wheeled mobility aids aren't new, the wheelchair as we know it is relatively recent in human history. Many iterations and experimental chairs have been developed over the years, leading to the mobility aids we use today.

Here, we'll briefly examine wheelchair history to understand how they became the version we know them as.

A Brief Overview of the History of Wheelchairs

The main issues regarding the history of wheelchairs come from documentation. Some records point to wheelchairs being used in the period, but the further back historians look, the murkier the details become.

Ancient History

The first use of wheelchairs was in Greece or China, and we have art referencing wheeled chairs in both societies. Before this, specifically in China, wheelbarrows moved people as needed. Around 525 AD, we started to see depictions of these wheeled chairs in Chinese art.

Spain, 1595

King Phillip II was king of Spain in 1595 and had a unique chair built to be wheeled on. It had elaborate armrests, leg rests, and wheels, giving it the qualifications of a wheelchair by modern standards. However, it wasn't without its shortcomings, as there was no decent propulsion system, and it entirely relied on outside help for mobility. The chair was more of a throne on wheels and wasn't practical for modern use.

Germany, 1655

Stephan Farffler was a 22-year-old paraplegic watchmaker in Germany. With his knowledge of engineering and mechanics, he built himself a self-propelling chair on three wheels with large cranks and cogs. It was a wheeled chair, but closer to a handbike than a proper wheelchair.

England, 1650s

Around the same time, in England, Sir Thomas Fairfax had engineers build a self-propelled chair. This iteration is very close to what we understand as the modern wheelchair, except the wheels are still too small for modern use.

The Modern Wheelchair

The most impressive technological leap was in 1933 when Harry C. Jennings and Herbert Everest built a lightweight, steel wheelchair that could fold to be more portable. This is the invention of the wheelchair as we know it. Based on the "X-brace" design of folding camp chairs (still in use today), Everest and Jennings made the most significant leap in accessibility due to the decrease in weight and increase in portability.

When Were Wheelchairs Invented?

With this history in mind, it can feel like wheelchairs have been around for as long as human history. Precisely when the first wheelchair was invented is unknown, but with modern sensibilities and definitions it’s easy to point to Stephan Farffler in Germany as inventing the first self-propelled wheelchair.

Prior to this invention, wheelchairs were dependent on a servant or caregiver to provide locomotion. While self-propelling isn’t necessary to be considered a wheelchair, it helps pin down when independence became a staple in the industry.

Motorized Wheelchairs

Motorized or power wheelchairs were developed and produced roughly simultaneously as the folding wheelchairs. The first motorized wheelchair was designed in London in 1916 but never made it to production.

The real jump in motorized and power wheelchairs is attributed to George Klein, a Canadian citizen who invented the first electrically powered wheelchair in the 1950s. With his team of engineers, he created the "Klein Chair" to assist in the care of veterans post-WWII. This chair made it to mass production in 1956 with the help of Everest & Jennings, who, you recall, invented the folding wheelchair.

This Klein Chair formed the basis of what mobility aids could be like. It was so groundbreaking that some aspects, such as the joystick for steering, are still used to this day. Most modern power wheelchairs operate on the same principles as the initial chair in the 1950s, with more of a focus on comfort, durability, and range.

What's Next For Motorized Wheelchairs?

Motorized wheelchairs are a consistently improving market, with new technology incorporated into every new iteration. The base improvements always include decreasing weight, increasing stability, and improving range and overall comfort.

Some loftier goals are speculated to be realized in power wheelchairs in the next 50 years or so. Mind-controlled wheelchairs, for example, are already in the works due to Diwakar Vaish and have been in production since 2016. However, with the prevalence of AI and other machine learning algorithms, other improvements, such as automation and self-driving wheelchairs, aren't as lofty.

Any improvements to wheelchairs and accessibility are valuable. In the next few years, we should expect to see giant leaps in the quality of care and independence for people with mobility needs worldwide.

Find Your Perfect Wheelchair in California

Let us help you find your perfect wheelchair! At Freedom Mobility, our ATPs are ready and able to identify your needs and discern the chair that fits your lifestyle!

Call 800-980-5696 or contact us today to get started with your free mobility consultation!