How to choose a wheelchair

Categorization of wheelchairs Wheelchairs are divided into two categories: ordinary wheelchairs and special wheelchairs. Special wheelchairs are derived from ordinary wheelchairs, commonly used standing wheelchairs, reclining wheelchairs, unilateral drive wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, athletic wheelchairs and so on. The majority of patients most commonly used are ordinary wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. Ordinary wheelchairs are generally composed of four parts: frame, wheels (big wheels, small wheels), brakes, seat and backrest. Ordinary wheelchairs require patients to use their own hands or rely on caregivers to push the wheelchair forward, more laborious. There are various kinds of ordinary wheelchairs on the market. According to the material, it is divided into steel tube plating, steel tube painting, aluminum alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy and so on. -According to the height, they are divided into high backrest and low backrest. According to the seat surface is divided into hard seat, soft seat. -According to the presence or absence of commode is divided into with toilet and ordinary. -According to the size of the tires are divided into large wheels, small wheels. According to whether it can be folded is divided into foldable, non-foldable. They are characterized by being lighter, especially the foldable type, easy to carry and transport, and cheaper. Electric wheelchair In addition to the components of an ordinary wheelchair, there are more motor drive devices. According to the different use environments, they are divided into indoor type, outdoor type and indoor/outdoor dual-purpose type. It is characterized by labor-saving, easy to move forward only by operating some buttons, faster speed, and can have a larger range of activities; the shortcomings are heavier, difficult to transport, need to be regularly charged, and the cost is also higher. Electric wheelchairs have developed rapidly in recent years, and there are many special features of electric wheelchairs, such as intelligent electric wheelchairs, which cannot be operated by hand, and can be driven by voice to move forward, and has the function of automatically avoiding obstacles, etc.; electric wheelchairs that can go up and down stairs can be realized by the addition of tracks to achieve the function of electric wheelchairs going up and down the ordinary stairs. Wheelchair selection No matter which kind of wheelchair, it should ensure the comfort and safety of the occupants. The main parts of the pressure borne by the wheelchair user are the sciatic tuberosity, thighs and fossa, scapula area. Therefore, when choosing a wheelchair, it is important to pay attention to whether the size of these parts is appropriate to avoid skin abrasion, abrasion and pressure to produce pressure sores. Currently, there are a full range of models of wheelchairs on the market, you can carefully select them according to your needs and take measurements with the help of the service staff in the store. Customized measurements are also available for special body shapes. Seat width Measure the width of your hips when you sit down. There should be a gap of 2.5 centimeters on each side when you sit down. If the seat is too narrow, it will be difficult to get in and out of the wheelchair, and the buttocks and thighs will be compressed. If the seat is too wide, it will be difficult to sit down and maneuver, the lower limbs will be easily fatigued, and it will be difficult to get in and out of the door. Seat length Measure the horizontal distance from your buttocks to your seat when you sit down and subtract 6.5 centimeters from the measurement. It is important to measure the length of the seat. If the seat is too short, the weight will mainly fall on the sciatica, which will cause excessive localized pressure; if the seat is too long, it will compress the fossa, affecting local blood circulation and easily irritating the skin. Seat height Measure the distance from the heel of the foot (or the heel of the shoe) to the fossa when sitting down, and add 4 centimeters. When placing the footrest, the surface of the board should be at least 5 centimeters above the ground. If the seat is too high, the wheelchair will not fit into the side of the table; if the seat is too low, the sit bones will bear too much weight. Cushion For comfort and to prevent pressure sores, a cushion should be placed on the seat of the wheelchair. Common cushions are foam rubber cushions (5-10 cm thick) or gel cushions. 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 (one or both arms stretched forward) and subtract 10 centimeters from the result; when choosing a high backrest, measure the actual height from the seat surface to the shoulder or the back of the pillow. Armrest height When sitting down, with the upper arm vertical and the forearm flat on the armrest, measure the height from the seat surface to the lower edge of the forearm, plus 2.5 cm. Appropriate armrest height helps to maintain correct body posture and balance, and allows the upper limbs to be placed in a comfortable position. If the armrest is too high, the upper arm is forced to lift up, easy to feel fatigue; armrest is too low, you need to lean forward to maintain balance, not only easy to fatigue, but also affect the breathing. Types of tires ① solid tires, the advantage of pushing the wheelchair on the carpet, it is easier to move, and maintenance is simple, not easy to break; the disadvantage is that there is greater vibration in the uneven road to push. ② Pneumatic tires, the advantage is that the uneven road surface has a shock absorbing effect, the user sits comfortably, on the sidewalk, it is also easier; the disadvantage is that it needs to be inflated regularly, the tires are easy to break, and it is more strenuous to push the wheelchair on the carpet. Other auxiliary parts of the wheelchair are designed to meet the needs of special patients, such as increasing the friction surface of the handle, armrests installed arm rests, or a wheelchair table to facilitate the patient's eating and writing. Selection considerations For patients with high spinal cord injuries (neck 5 or above), since they cannot move their hands, it is necessary to choose a wheelchair with a high backrest and a chest belt. This type of wheelchair is driven by family members and the patient cannot control the wheelchair by himself/herself. Therefore, the wheelchair brake must be reliable and sturdy to prevent danger from sliding and slipping when no one is around. In addition, the armrests should be wide, soft and able to fix the hands, with anti-pressure sore pads, and the footrests should be long enough to prevent the feet from touching. Patients with cervical 6 to thoracic 1 spinal cord injury can operate the wheelchair by themselves, and should be equipped with good quality and lighter wheelchair when available. When hands are down, they should be on a vertical line with the axis of the big wheel, so that there is friction when driving, and should be equipped with half-finger gloves to prevent hand abrasion. The front wheels must be flexible, and likewise, the foot pedals should be long enough. In addition, the foot pedals should be able to separate to the sides so that it is easier to move to the bedside with the skateboard. If the patient is frail, elderly or heavy and has difficulty in driving the wheelchair with both hands, a power wheelchair can also be provided. For patients with low or moderate spinal cord injury, or incomplete spinal cord injury, especially the elderly and frail (no spinal cord injury), if the use of double lower limb supports and crutches can stand and move, to less wheelchair is preferred, and should be strengthened in this aspect of the training, to prevent osteoporosis of the lower limbs. However, to participate in the activities of the longer distance, still need to sit in a wheelchair, otherwise the physical consumption is too large. Otto Bock electric wheelchair Origin: Germany Specifications Brand: Otto Bock Price: about 30,000 yuan Features: lightweight and practical (weighing only 66 kg), the entire electronic system is installed in a box. Technical details: personalized adjustment, removable; total width of 57cm. optional accessories: anti-puncture tires, headrest components, curved shape seat, one-piece footrest. U.S. Pride Power Wheelchair Origin: U.S. Specifications Brand Price: about 19,000 yuan Features: Patented design of central drive, more comfortable operation; dual motor drive, can be in place 360-degree steering; low and central center of gravity design, smoother operation; according to personalized needs for a variety of adjustments, more comfortable; one-touch operation, the use of a simpler; a charge, can be used for 40 kilometers of travel; the design of the highest speed limit fully guarantees safety. Otto Bock wheelchair Puluo type (ordinary wheelchair) Origin: Germany Specifications: Puluo Brand: Otto Bock Reference price: about 2200 yuan Features: magnesium-aluminum alloy material - high strength, high load-bearing, lightweight, beautiful and has a certain degree of anti-rust function. Special nylon material - cushion and backrest bandage cloth with high tensile strength, breathable special nylon material, comfortable and durable. Movable and detachable armrests - it is convenient for users to get on and off the wheelchair from the side. The angle of the backrest is perfectly suited to the physiological bending of the human lumbar region - providing the best support for the human body. Reflectors on the wheels and bones of the body - to ensure the safety of traveling at night. Technical parameters: Seat width: 38 ~ Seat depth: 37.5cm or Backrest height: Drive wheels: There are a number of available mounting positions Folded width: less than Wheelchair weight: 13.5kg Load capacity: