How to Use a Self Propelled Wheelchair
Wheelchairs provide mobility and independence for people with limitations in their walking. It is essential to know how to move your chair and have a doctor/occupational therapist help train you in this area.
Wheelies are a popular technique for moving in a wheelchair. The client must have large hands in order to extend the rims of the wheelchair, and have enough grip strength to propel the wheelchair forward.
Seating Position
Self-propelled wheelchairs allow users to travel on their own and not be dependent on others. This is the most important factor for many who want to regain their independence or retaining it. It also reduces the chance of injury to both the user of the wheelchair and those in the vicinity.
It is important that the seat position is comfortable for the wheelchair user. There are many things to do to ensure this. First, the footplates should be in the correct position. Lift the latch for the footrests and move the footrests to place them in front of the chair. Make sure that the wheelchair user is able to put their feet on the footplates and there is even pressure on their feet.
It could be necessary to lower the footrest height especially if the person is hemiplegic. The footrests can increase pressure on the seat bone and cause discomfort and pain when they are too high.
A strap for the forehead can help keep the user of a wheelchair upright, particularly if they have weakness of the neck muscles. They can be fitted to wheelchairs with no headrests by a professional in mobility.
If the wheelchair comes with armrests, it is essential to ensure that they are in the proper position and that the user of the wheelchair can move without hitting them with their arms as they move. For this purpose, it is best to use wheelchairs with swing away or removable armrests. You can also add foam inserts to the back of armrests in order to raise them to the desired height.
It is also crucial that the wheelchair has a comfortable cushion, especially if the wheelchair user is at a high risk of skin breakdown, or pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers occur when the skin rubs against the surfaces of the wheelchair. In certain instances, the skin can become dry and irritated due to sitting in the same position for long periods of time. This may also cause blisters. Repositioning the wheelchair regularly can reduce the chance of developing pressure ulcers.
Pushing
Self-propelled wheelchairs let users move their wheelchairs on their own without the need for a person to push them. They are easier to maneuver because they have larger rear wheels and push handles. This allows them to move over a wide range of surfaces without worrying about tripping or getting stuck on obstacles such as curbs or small steps.
As you move forwards with your chair, be careful not to hold the handle too tightly. If you apply too much pressure, it could cause your hands to cramp and decrease the force you can apply. You might also find it beneficial to use a handrim cover or wheelchair gloves that have grip material built into the palms. This will help improve the position of your hands and increase the force you can apply.
Keep the front casters free of any debris, like sticks or rocks. If the casters are encased with this kind of material, it may make it difficult to move as you would from your wheelchair, and could lead to the loss of control or even injury. If you have a very high seat to floor height, it might be useful to get some extra padding for the front casters.
It is recommended that a caregiver push the wheelchair to assist you go up a curb or a small step. If you'd like to do this on your own, you'll require more instruction and practice under the supervision of a health professional. It is crucial to place the wheelchair perpendicularly (directly) towards the curb or with small steps and position the front tires just prior to the edge.
When pushing up a slope it is important to have a clear space ahead of you to ensure that you don't cross paths with other people. You'll speed up quickly when you don't have enough space ahead of you. You could also crash with someone else. You can prevent this from happening by being aware of people around you while on a slope. Also, make sure you have someone with you to help you if you fall off your wheelchair.
Braking
A self-propelled wheelchair requires the user to operate the braking and controlling actions in a certain way to ensure that the chair is safe to use. This is particularly important when the chair is situated on a slope, as the center of gravity can move forward if brakes are not applied in a controlled manner.
When pushing a wheelchair, make sure that the hand is placed in the right position, ideally at 10 hours (10:00) on the wheel, and then releasing at two o'clock (2:00). This will ensure that the majority (or weight) of the body is placed over the rear wheels, and make it easier to push. It also helps to maintain the strength of the shoulder wrist, elbow and elbow joint.
To turn right with a wheelchair you need to push forward on the right-hand side of the rim and pull the left-hand rim back. This causes the wheelchair to turn left and allow you to remain seated in your wheelchair. Wheelchairs can also be fitted with anti-tip bars that prevent them from tipping backwards.
Always read the user's guide provided with your wheelchair to determine the maximum safe slope that your chair is able to traverse. In certain situations the wheelchair might need to be removed temporarily and operated by hand to overcome steep slopes. In this situation it is recommended that you seek out a friend or family member for assistance and follow the steps in the User Guide.
It is recommended to use ramps while negotiating the kerbstones. This will lessen the pressure on the front and back tyres allowing you to travel faster over the kerb. The kerb climber feature on many manual wheelchairs will aid in this process by increasing the capacity of the wheelchair by approximately 10cm (4").
To stop a wheel chair you need to release the brakes gently and push the joystick towards you. This will de-clutch motor. The wheelchair will stop and you can remove the footrests and prepare walking aids prior to leaving the chair.
Steering
The user is responsible for steering and controlling the wheelchair. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this dependent on the structure of the wheelchair and add-ons such as armrests or phone/drink holders. Wheelchairs differ in their structure as well as size and weight. The size of a wheelchair's front casters can determine the terrain it can handle. Small casters let a chair move faster but they struggle on rough surfaces like cobblestone or grass. Large casters let wheelchairs to travel on rough surfaces, but it will not be as swift.
On smooth, level surfaces the wheelchair user should push the wheels with both hands to maintain the momentum. This is accomplished by grabbing the rims of the hand and pushing evenly with each hand. best self-propelled wheelchair mymobilityscooters should not be wrapped around the rims of the hand in order to avoid injuries and could lead to over-corrections (fish-tailing) when the chair makes a turn. It is also advised that the wheelchair user try leaning back and forward to different degrees to determine an optimal balance between leaning and control.
For more difficult or challenging terrain wheelchair users should prepare for obstacles and plan ahead. It is crucial that the user of the wheelchair looks over both shoulders regularly to avoid hitting objects or other people, and when they travel with a caregiver, they should ensure that they are ready to help when needed. If the wheelchair is used on a slope, the caregiver should assist or drive it until the user is comfortable with this.
To turn, the wheelchair user pulls one hand rim back while pushing the other hand forwards. The wheelchair user should practice this on a smooth and level ground prior to attempting it on any other surface, as the motion may be uncomfortable and the chair could easily fall over if the motion isn't mastered. The wheelchair's power wheels can help ease the pressure on the user, and also make turning easier. It is also beneficial to know that well-meaning but untrained strangers often try to push a person who is in wheelchair against their will, therefore the wheelchair user should ensure that the handle folds down or cover them with covers for the handles.