The role of wheelchair
Wheelchairs not only meet the transportation needs of physically disabled people and people with limited mobility, but more importantly, they facilitate family members to move and take care of patients, so that patients can exercise and participate in social activities with the help of wheelchairs.
Wheelchair size
Wheelchairs are composed of large wheels, small wheels, hand rims, tires, brakes, seats and other large and small parts. Because the functions required by wheelchair users are different, the sizes of wheelchairs are also different, and according to the adult and Children’s wheelchairs are also divided into children’s wheelchairs and adult wheelchairs based on their different body shapes. But basically speaking, the total width of a conventional wheelchair is 65cm, the total length is 104cm, and the height of the seat is 51cm.
Choosing a wheelchair is also a very troublesome thing, but for the convenience and safety of use, it is necessary to choose a suitable wheelchair. When purchasing a wheelchair, pay attention to the measurement of the seat width. A good width is two inches when the user sits down. Add 5cm to the distance between the buttocks or the two thighs, that is, there will be a 2.5cm gap on both sides after sitting down.
structure of wheelchair
Ordinary wheelchairs generally consist of four parts: wheelchair frame, wheels, brake device and seat. The functions of each main component of the wheelchair are briefly described below.
1. Big wheels: carry the main weight. The wheel diameters are available in 51, 56, 61 and 66cm. Except for a few solid tires that are required by the use environment, pneumatic tires are mostly used.
2. Small wheels: There are several types of diameters: 12, 15, 18, and 20cm. Small wheels with larger diameters are easier to cross small obstacles and special carpets. However, if the diameter is too large, the space occupied by the entire wheelchair becomes larger, making movement inconvenient. Normally, the small wheel is in front of the big wheel, but in wheelchairs used by paraplegics, the small wheel is often placed after the big wheel. What should be noted during operation is that the direction of the small wheel is best perpendicular to the big wheel, otherwise it will easily tip over.
3. Hand wheel rim: unique to wheelchairs, the diameter is generally 5cm smaller than the large wheel rim. When hemiplegia is driven by one hand, add another one with a smaller diameter for selection. The hand wheel is generally pushed directly by the patient.
4. Tires: There are three types: solid, inflatable inner tube and tubeless inflatable. The solid type runs faster on flat ground and is not easy to explode and is easy to push, but it vibrates greatly on uneven roads and is difficult to pull out when stuck in a groove as wide as the tire; the one with inflated inner tubes is more difficult to push and easy to puncture, but The vibration is smaller than the solid one; the tubeless inflatable type will not puncture because there is no tube, and the inside is also inflated, making it comfortable to sit on, but it is more difficult to push than the solid one.
5. Brakes: Large wheels should have brakes on each wheel. Of course, when a hemiplegic person can only use one hand, he has to brake with one hand, but an extension rod can be installed to control the brakes on both sides. There are two types of brakes:
(1) Notch brake. This brake is safe and reliable, but more laborious. After adjustment, it can be braked on slopes. If it is adjusted to level 1 and cannot be braked on flat ground, it is invalid.
(2) Toggle brake. It uses the lever principle to brake through several joints. Its mechanical advantages are stronger than the notch brake, but it fails faster. In order to increase the patient’s braking force, an extension rod is often added to the brake. However, this rod is easily damaged and may affect safety if not checked regularly.
6. Chair seat: Its height, depth, and width depend on the patient’s body shape, and its material texture also depends on the disease type. Generally, the depth is 41.43cm, the width is 40.46cm, and the height is 45.50cm.
7. Seat cushion: To avoid pressure sores, seat cushion is an indispensable element, and great attention should be paid to the selection of cushions.
8. Foot rests and leg rests: The leg rests can be across both sides or separated on both sides. It is ideal for both of these two kinds of rests to be swingable to one side and detachable. Attention must be paid to the height of the footrest. If the foot support is too high, the hip flexion angle will be too large, and more weight will be placed on the ischial tuberosity, which can easily cause pressure ulcers there.
9. Backrest: The backrest is divided into high and low, tiltable and non-tiltable. If the patient has good balance and control over the trunk, a wheelchair with a low backrest can be used to allow the patient to have a greater range of motion. Otherwise, choose a high-back wheelchair.
10. Armrests or armrests: Generally 22.5-25cm higher than the seat surface. Some armrests can adjust the height. You can also put a board on the armrest for reading and dining.
The above is an introduction to the knowledge about wheelchairs. I hope it will be helpful to everyone.
Post time: Nov-20-2023