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Wheelchair Seating GuideGuide to Wheelchair Seating
Wheelchair Seat Width (wheelchair seat image measurement #3)
Unlike certain parts of the human anatomy, bigger isn't better when it comes to the seat width of your wheelchair. The seat of your wheelchair should be as narrow as possible without your hips touching either of the sides of the wheelchair. To measure the width of your hips, place a book next to each hip and then measure the distance across, in between the two books. A wheelchair seat that is too wide encourages poor posture, causing you to lean to one side, and also allows your hips to shift while seated in your wheelchair. The seat width of wheelchairs also affect the performance of the wheelchair, as the seat width of many wheelchairs determines the overall width. A wheelchair that is a fraction of an inch too wide can, create inaccessibility to vital places like the bathroom. still, for proper posture, choose the correct seat width. You may like an extra inch or two to tuck in your winter parka, but remember that to maintain proper posture and wheelchair performance, it is important to choose the correct seat width. Extra seat width on your wheelchair isn't in your body or wheelchairs best interest.
Wheelchair Seat Depth (wheelchair seat image measurement #1)
It's quite tricky to find the correct seat depth for a wheelchair. If the wheelchair seat is too deep, it encourages your hips to pull forward in the wheelchair seat causing you to slouch, rotating your pelvis and rounding your spine. On the other hand, too shallow of a wheelchair seat causes the underside of your upper legs to extend beyond the edge of the wheelchair seat, placing more pressure on your bones associated with sitting (ischial bones). A wheelchair seat with insufficient depth also fails to provide enough support, with the user experiencing less stability, muscle and tendon fatigue, and less control of their wheelchair. Similar to seat width, the seat depth will also affect a wheelchairs performance. On a manual wheelchair, added seat depth will make the wheelchair less agile, placing more weight ahead of the drive wheels. While seat depth of a wheelchair is usually a fixed element at the time of construction, it can be adjusted by various types of wheelchair backrests. A sling backrest may have adjustable tension, which allows you to sit farther back in the wheelchair, or a solid backrest will seat you further forward. Therapists all have their scientific formulas and high-tech miniature tape measures, but the best way to determine what seat depth is right for you is by paying attention over the long haul to what is most comfortable and feels best for you.
Wheelchair Backrests (wheelchair seat image measurement #2)
Back in the hippie days of free pot, the only wheelchair backrest choice we had was sling upholstery, which didn't provide lumbar support or postural stability. Fortunately in this day and age of technology, a molded, rigid backrest with lumbar support comes almost standard on any wheelchair. Formed wheelchair backrests discourage the advancement of kyphosis, reduce back pain, and provide a more comfortable and functional seating posture. Wheelchair backrests give you the ability to adjust seating angle and depth, while increased height improves your visual field, fostering effective environmental control. Wheelchair backrests range from low profile, light weight sportschair models to high profile power wheelchair models that provide extensive lateral side support.
Wheelchair Cushions
The right wheelchair cushion can provide comfort, positioning, and prevent pressure sores, but need not meet that criteria for every user. An ambulatory patient who only uses a wheelchair to go shopping doesn't have the same needs as a high level quad who spends eighteen hours per day in a power wheelchair, so it's important to fully understand your needs and requirements so you can select the appropriate wheelchair cushion. Wheelchair cushions come in a variety of sizes and styles from different foams, gels and gel/foam combination wheelchair cushions to air cushions such as ROHO wheelchair cushions.
Please contact our customer support at 855-528-2539 with any questions or concerns.
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