The choice of wheelchair
No matter what kind of wheelchair, the comfort and safety of the occupant should be guaranteed. The main parts of pressure on wheelchair users are the ischial tuberosity, thigh and fossa, and scapular region. Therefore, when choosing a wheelchair, pay attention to whether the size of these parts is appropriate to avoid skin abrasion, abrasion and pressure sores. There are a wide range of wheelchair models currently on the market, you can choose carefully according to your needs and measure them with the help of the service staff in the store. Special shapes can also be customized. Seat Width Measures the width of the hips when seated. There should be a gap of 2.5 cm on each side after sitting down. If the seat is too narrow, it is difficult to get on and off the wheelchair, and the hips and thighs will be oppressed; if the seat is too wide, it is difficult to sit firmly, and it is inconvenient to operate. Seat Length Measure the horizontal distance from the hip to the socket when sitting and subtract 6.5 cm from the measurement. It is very important to measure the length of the seat. If the seat is too short, the weight will mainly fall on the ischium, which will easily cause excessive local pressure; if the seat is too long, it will compress the fossa, affect the local blood circulation, and easily irritate the skin. Seat Height Measure the distance from the heel (or heel) to the socket when seated, plus 4 cm. When placing the pedals, the board surface should be at least 5 cm off the ground. If the seat is too high, the wheelchair will not fit at the table; if the seat is too low, the seat bones will bear too much weight. Cushion For comfort and to prevent pressure ulcers, a cushion should be placed on the seat of the wheelchair. Common seat cushions are foam rubber cushions (5 to 10 cm thick) or gel cushions. Backrest Height The higher the backrest, the more stable it is; the lower the backrest, the greater the range of motion of the upper body and upper limbs. When choosing a low backrest, measure the distance from the seat surface to the armpit (with one or both arms stretched forward), and subtract 10 cm from this result; when choosing a high backrest, measure the actual height from the seat surface to the shoulder or back occiput. Armrest height When sitting down, the upper arm is vertical and the forearm is placed on the armrest. Measure the height from the seat surface to the lower edge of the forearm and add 2.5 cm. Proper armrest height helps maintain proper body posture and balance, and allows upper extremities to be placed in a comfortable position. If the armrest is too high, the upper arm will be forced to lift up, which will cause fatigue; if the armrest is too low, the upper body needs to lean forward to maintain balance, which is not only easy to fatigue, but also affects breathing.