Oct. 28, 2022
Due to the decline in physical function, the elderly may cause lower limb dysfunction and difficulty walking, which seriously affects the life and social activities of the elderly. Buying a wheelchair is not the higher the price, the more expensive the better, the most important thing is to suit yourself. If you choose a wheelchair, it will not only cause economic waste, but also cause harm to the body.
Ordinary wheelchairs usually consist of five parts: the frame, the wheels (large wheels, handwheels), brakes, seats and backrests. When choosing a wheelchair, please pay attention to the proper size of these parts. In addition, consider the user's security, operability, location, appearance and other factors. Therefore, when purchasing a wheelchair, it is best to go to a professional organization, and under the assessment and guidance of professionals, choose a wheelchair suitable for your body function.
Multi-functional Manual Wheelchair
The correct length is that after the old man sits down, the front edge of the seat cushion is 6.5 cm behind the knee, about 4 fingers wide. If the seat is too long, it will hold the knee, compress blood vessels and nerve tissue, and wear the skin. If the seat is too short, it will increase the pressure on the buttocks, causing discomfort, pain, soft tissue damage and pressure sores.
After the elderly are in a wheelchair, there should be a 2.5-4 cm gap between the thigh and the armrest. If it is too wide, the arm stretches too much when the chair is pressed, it is easy to fatigue, the body cannot balance, and it cannot pass through the narrow aisle. When the elderly are in a wheelchair, their hands cannot be placed comfortably on the armrests. If the seat is too narrow, it will wear the skin of the old man and the skin outside the thigh. It is also inconvenient for the elderly to get on and off the wheelchair.
Typically, the upper edge of the backrest should be about 10 cm below the armpit, approximately at the width of the finger. The lower the backrest, the greater the range of motion of the upper and body arms, the more convenient the functional activity, but the smaller the support surface, affecting the stability of the body. Therefore, only those with good balance and low mobility barriers choose low-back wheelchairs. On the contrary, the higher the backrest, the larger the support surface, and the physical activity is affected, so it is necessary to adjust the height according to the height of the person.
In the case of the adduction arm, the forearm is placed on the back of the armrest, and the elbow flexion is normally about 90 degrees. If the armrest is too high and the shoulders are prone to fatigue, pushing the wheel ring may cause skin abrasions on the upper arm. When the armrest is too low, driving a wheelchair tends to cause the upper arm to lean forward, causing the body to pour out of the wheelchair. If the wheelchair is operated for a long time in the forward position, it may cause deformation of the spine and compression of the chest, which may cause difficulty in breathing.
The height of the seat and pedal are in a coordinated relationship. If the seat is high, the pedal is relatively low and the pedal is high. Under normal circumstances, the old man is in a wheelchair and puts both lower limbs on the pedal. At this time, the first 1/3 of the lower thigh is about 4 cm higher than the leading edge. If the seat is too high or the pedal is too low, it will cause the lower limbs to lose support and hang, and the body will not be able to maintain balance. Conversely, if the seat is too low or the pedal is too high, the buttocks will be subjected to full gravity, causing discomfort to the elderly. Sedentary movement can damage the soft tissue of the buttocks, and it is very difficult to operate the wheelchair.
In order to make the elderly feel comfortable in a wheelchair and prevent hemorrhoids, a seat cushion should be placed on the seat of the seat, and the cushion can disperse the pressure on the buttocks. Common mats are foam rubber and inflatable cushions.
