|
Choosing the right powered wheelchair is very important-- after all, you're the one that is going to be using it.
It's good to look as powered wheelchairs in the same manner as we do automobiles. They have many options and are fully customizable. You prefer one brand over another. Let's look at the anatomy of a Powered wheelchair.
Material:
There are a few materials that wheelchairs are manufactured from. Steel and titanium are just to name a few. The upholstery materials include leather, vinyl, and nylon.
Colors:
We can go on and on about the available colors of wheelchairs. Depending on the manufacturer, the color of the wheelchair will vary. For example, pediatric wheelchairs may come in cheery colors and sports chairs may come in edgy designs and patterns.
Options and Accessories:
ELR's Elevated Leg Rests are available in padded and unpadded. The padded ones are often called calf pads.
Swing away leg rests are also available. Other accessories include, cane holder, removable arms, fixed arms, desk length arms, oxygen tank holder, wheelchair tray, seat belts,
Sizes:
Wheelchair seat width can be as narrow as 16 inches or as wide as 26 inches.
Styles:
Styles available are pediatric, adult, bariatric, light weight, sports, transport, and motorized/ powered wheelchairs.
If you have read this far, you probably understand why we compare wheelchairs to automobiles.
Now, on to how to measure for a powered wheelchair.
You would take measurements of a powered wheelchair basically the same as you would a manual wheelchair. Please see below.
Seat Depth
1 Measure from the most posterior point of the body to the inside of the knee, minus at least two inches. Some prefer more leg overhang to make room for their hand when lifting their leg.
Back Height
2 Measured from the seat base to the top of the chair back. Power chair riders need upper back support, particularly for the moment of initial acceleration.
Hanger Angle
3 Determines how far the toes extend away from the body, measured from the horizontal. A tighter angle allows the chair to turn around in less space. Depends in part on ability of the knee to bend towards the perpendicular.
Seat Width
4 Determined by the widest point of the body from knee to hip, plus an inch to ensure room to move. Consider bulk of clothing, particularly a heavy winter coat, if relevant.
Front Seat to Floor
5 Measure the leg from the back of the knee to the sole of the foot. Then subtract the thickness of the cushion when it is compressed. Next, add a minimum of two inches for footrest clearance. Do not add the footrest clearance if the chair will be foot-propelled
Portions of this article Provided by www.sci-info-pages.com
|
|
