Report Overview
The global manual wheelchair market size was valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% from 2023 to 2030. Manual wheelchairs are the most common form of mobility assistive devices providing mobility support to the disabled and geriatric population. This type of wheelchair is propelled by the user or pushed by another person and is differentiated into three types: self-propelled, attendant-propelled, and wheelbase. The increase in the geriatric population and the surge in the number of spinal cord injury cases that require mobility assistance are some of the key factors boosting the market growth.
The demand for manual wheelchairs is expected to increase on account of the prevalence of chronic disease and the rise in risk of lifestyle-associated diseases among a wide population due to the increase in incidences of obesity & sedentary lifestyles. For instance, According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, around 17,730 spinal cord injury cases happen every year in the U.S., and the leading cause of injury is vehicular crashes. Thus, the U.S. stands as a key market for manual wheelchairs.
The COVID-19 epidemic has suggestively affected the mobility and transport sectors. It had disturbed the supply channel of the manual wheelchair to a great level. Wheelchair manufacturing was limited across numerous countries due to lockdowns being executed. Hospitals have observed steady demand owing to a rise in the number of elderly people getting admitted owing to the COVID-19 infection. With the revised COVID-19 restrictions, companies are expected to resume operations.
Developing countries such as India are expected to be key revenue generators for manual wheelchair manufacturers over the forecast period. The country has one of the highest rates of road accidents at a global level, leaving several people disabled. It also has one of the highest disabled populations at a global level. In terms of availability and adoption, the country is still at the nascent stage, however, with supportive government initiatives and growing awareness among consumers, the demand for manual wheelchairs is expected to rise in the years to come.
Category Insights
The adults segment dominated the manual wheelchairs market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 68.4% in 2022. The segment is projected to continue its dominance over the forecast period. This is mainly due to the rise in the elderly population globally, which forms part of the definition of adults. Adults comprise individuals from the age group of 18 onwards. Disability in older people due to arthritis pain, or stiffness in a knee, hip, ankle, or foot increases the demand for manual wheelchairs.
The pediatric segment is also expected to grow significantly owing to the increase in the number of childhood disorders such as cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is one of the most common movement disorders that require wheelchairs. According to the Cerebral Palsy Guidance, over 10,000 babies in the U.S. are born with this disorder each year. It is the most commonly diagnosed movement disability of childhood in the U.S. Thus, the pediatric segment is expected to be a key revenue generator for manual wheelchair manufacturers in the coming years.
End-Use Insights
On the basis of end-use, the global market has been divided into hospitals, outpatient facilities, and homecare. The hospitals segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 55.3% in 2022 owing to the high volume of patients due to the increasing chronic diseases globally and increased financing and services capabilities of these healthcare settings. This growth is credited to the rise in cases of medical emergencies that require manual wheelchairs. The post-surgical processes drive the demand for manual wheelchairs. In hospitals, these chairs are mostly used for a visit to a doctor’s office in a large-scale medical facility and for transporting patients.
Homecare registered the highest growth rate of 7.7% due to the rise in the number of patients using manual wheelchairs at home, the increase in demand for manual wheelchairs in homecare settings, and the rise in geriatric population drives the growth of the market.
Regional Insights
North America dominated the global market in 2022 and accounted for the largest revenue share of 35.2%. This growth is owing to the major target population and rising adoption of manual wheelchairs. Moreover, the presence of a large number of market players in the region will; further boost the market growth during the forecast period. The region is continuously developing cost-efficient and advanced devices for patients to capture a huge share of the market.
Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The APAC region is backed by a great population base in countries, such as China and India, owing to the improvements in healthcare facilities and growing government initiatives for offering quality mobility devices. In addition, the high geriatric population in countries, such as Japan, also supports market growth. Moreover, economic strides made by countries, such as China, India, and South Korea, coupled with improvements in healthcare infrastructure will contribute to the region’s growth.
Key Companies & Market Share Insights
The market players are focusing on adopting various growth strategies, such as partnerships and expansion of product portfolio, to retain their market position. For instance, the market players are introducing innovative technologies to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in July 2021, Sunrise Medical launched QUICKIE Nitrum ultra-light wheelchair which offers the highest rigidity and strength. Some of the prominent players in the global manual wheelchair market include:
Carex Health Brands, Inc.
Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing
Graham-Field Health Products Inc.
Invacare
Medline
Sunrise Medical LLC
Karman Healthcare
Quantum Rehab
Numotion
Pride Mobility Products Corp.