Rehabilitation equipment: components and functions of wheelchairs

Wheelchair is a means of transportation for many people, but there are very few people who know about wheelchairs, here is a brief introduction to the basic knowledge of wheelchairs, I hope to be able to give you some help in choosing a wheelchair.

Components and functions of a wheelchair

Let's start by looking at the components of a wheelchair and what they do:

Grip: Also known as a handle, it is mainly used by caregivers, and can sometimes be used by users with poor lower back muscle strength to help users better grasp body balance.

Rear wheels: the main driving wheels of the wheelchair, with a diameter of about 61 cm, the size of the wheels determines the difficulty of driving, and the wheels are large to drive. Wheels are generally about the same size as bicycle tires so that they can be easily replaced later (bicycle shops can change them). There are generally two types of wheels: inflatable and solid rubber. Generally, the inflatable one has a cushioning effect, and people in wheelchairs are more troublesome, but in the event of a puncture, it is more troublesome for people who use wheelchairs. Solid, it is not afraid of the danger of puncture, and there is no need to pump frequently, but when encountering bumpy roads, the user is uncomfortable to sit up.

Wheel ring: also known as hand push ring, the operating equipment used by the user to drive the rear wheel. The rotation is made of different materials and shapes, which depends on the patient's condition, and the handwheel ring with protrusions can help people with poor grip. It is not recommended that the wheel ring be too smooth, because the friction between the hand and the wheel ring drives the rear wheel.

Brake: The braking device of the wheelchair has a long handle and a short handle, the long handle is suitable for people with poor trunk balance function, they have no way to bend down to reach the brake, and the person with insufficient upper limb strength can also achieve the purpose of saving effort by lengthening the handle. There are also forward brakes and backward brakes, which depend on the situation of your upper limbs.

Front wheel: a small wheel that can rotate freely around the axis in front of the big wheel, with a diameter of 15-20 cm, the wheels are large and small, the big ones are easy to go up the steps, the steering is more difficult, the small ones are easy to steer, but it is more difficult to go up the steps. The width of the front wheels also has a certain effect, the narrow ones are easy to sink into the horizontal stripes of the gutter cover, and the wide ones increase friction when turning. There are also inflatable and solid ones.

Backrest: When choosing a wheelchair, the height and angle of the backrest are important to maintain good posture for the user. The high-back wheelchair is suitable for people with poor torso ability, and the backrest of people with good ability should be below the shoulder blade, so that it will not affect the movement of the shoulder blade. The reclination angle of the backrest is generally around 15°.

Handrails: Provide upper limb support. Full length: Provides full support for the user's forearms. Half-length (table length): Wheelchairs can be brought closer to the table top. Handrails are fixed, detached and lifted, and the mobile handrails are easy to transfer. The height of the armrests is set according to their own situation, and those with poor torso balance can choose slightly higher armrests.

Cushion: The right cushion can provide good and positional support, prevent pressure ulcers by effectively cushioning and dispersing pressure, and is especially important for people with poor hip sensations. There are many types of cushions: inflatable, gel, foam, and hybrid. Generally, the choice of cushion needs to be selected by the occupational therapist after the pressure measurement.

Seat: Appropriate width and depth for the user's support Yes, the width is generally about 3-5 cm from the baffle on both sides of the hip after sitting upright, and the seat is moderately sized to facilitate passage through narrow passages. The depth should be such that you sit upright and do not push against the back of the knee (popliteal fossa). The front edge of the seat is 5 cm away from the popliteal fossa.

Wheelchair bracket: It can be divided into cross bracket and fixed bracket, cross bracket is also called folding bracket, which is convenient for storage and transportation. Fixed bracket: Provides very good stability and easy to move forward.

Calf Strap: Provides calf support and prevents your feet from sliding backwards off the footrests.

Foot pedals: provide foot and calf support, with fixed, rotating, detachable, and cockable ones. The footpegs should be about the same length as the calves (minus the cushion thickness, taking care to subtract the saddle thickness), and the footpegs should be at least 5 cm off the ground.

In addition to the basic components of the wheelchair, the wheelchair also has some accessories, and I will also give you some brief introduction:

Wheelchair table: It can be used for eating, reading, etc. It is mainly used by people with poor trunk control.

Heel loop: Attached to the back of the pedal to position the feet to prevent them from slipping.

Anti-tipping device: added to the rear wheel close to the ground to prevent the wheelchair from turning back. This also limits the use of wheelchair techniques and allows them to be used as an option.

Wheelchair bandage: a chest protector for people with poor balance to prevent them from sliding out of the wheelchair.

Wheelchair bag, wheelchair bag: convenient for traveling and carrying things.

Wheelchair gloves: increase the friction of the driving wheelchair and protect the hand.

Wheel ring sweatband: The same as the badminton racket sweatband, it increases friction, absorbs sweat and protects the hand.