How to choose a wheelchair

Classification of wheelchairs Wheelchairs are divided into ordinary wheelchairs and special wheelchairs. Special wheelchairs are derived from ordinary wheelchairs, such as standing wheelchairs, lying wheelchairs, unilaterally driven wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and competitive wheelchairs. Most patients use ordinary wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. Ordinary wheelchairs generally consist of four parts: frame, wheels (big wheels and small wheels), braking device, chair and backrest. Ordinary wheelchairs require patients to push their wheelchairs with their hands or caregivers, which is laborious. There are all kinds of ordinary wheelchairs on the market. According to the material, it is divided into steel pipe electroplating, steel pipe painting, aluminum alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy and so on. Divided into high backrest and low backrest according to height. According to the seat surface of the chair, it is divided into hard seat and soft seat. According to whether there is a bedpan, it is divided into toilet and ordinary. According to the size of the tire, it is divided into big wheels and small wheels. According to whether it can be folded, it can be divided into foldable and unfolded. It is characterized by being relatively light, especially foldable, easy to carry and transport, and cheap. In addition to the components of ordinary wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs also have more motor drive devices. According to the different use environment, it can be divided into indoor type, outdoor type and indoor and outdoor dual-purpose type. Its characteristics are labor-saving, easy to move forward only by operating some buttons, fast speed and wide range of activities; Disadvantages are heavy, not easy to carry, need to charge regularly, and high cost. Electric wheelchairs have developed rapidly in recent years. There are many electric wheelchairs with special functions, such as intelligent electric wheelchairs, which can be operated without hands, driven by voice and have the function of automatic obstacle avoidance. This kind of electric wheelchair which can go up and down stairs can realize the function of electric wheelchair on ordinary stairs through the added crawler. The choice of wheelchair, no matter what kind of wheelchair, should ensure the comfort and safety of the occupants. The main stress parts of wheelchair users are ischial tubercle, thigh fossa and scapula. Therefore, when choosing a wheelchair, we should pay attention to whether the size of these parts is appropriate, so as to avoid skin abrasions, abrasions and pressure sores. At present, there are many kinds of wheelchairs on the market. You can carefully select them according to your own needs and measure them with the help of the service staff in the store. Special body shapes can also be tailored. Seat width measures the width of the hips when seated. There should be a gap of 2.5 cm on both sides after sitting down. The seat is too narrow, it is difficult to get on and off the wheelchair, and the hips and thighs will be oppressed; If the seat is too wide, it is not easy to sit firmly, the operation is inconvenient, the lower limbs are easy to get tired, and it is difficult to get in and out of the gate. The seat length measures the horizontal distance from the hip to the nest when sitting down, and the measurement result is reduced by 6.5 cm. It is very important to measure the length of the seat. The seat is too short, and the weight mainly falls on the ischium, which is easy to cause local excessive compression; If the seat is too long, it will oppress the fossa, affect local blood circulation and easily irritate the skin. Seat height measures the distance from the heel (or heel) to the socket when sitting down, plus 4 cm. When placing the pedal, the board surface should be at least 5 cm from the ground. The seat is too high for the wheelchair to enter the table; If the seat is too low, the ischium will bear too much weight. Cushion In order to be comfortable and prevent pressure sores, a cushion should be placed on the chair seat of the wheelchair. Common cushions are foam rubber cushions (5 ~ 10 cm thick) or gel cushions. Height of backrest The higher the backrest, the more stable it is; The lower the backrest, the greater the range of motion of the upper body and upper limbs. When choosing a low backrest, measure the distance from the seat surface to the armpit (one arm or two arms extend horizontally forward) and reduce this result by10 cm; When selecting a high backrest, measure the actual height from the seat surface to the shoulder or backrest. Armrest height When sitting down, the upper arm is vertical and the forearm is flat on the armrest. Measure the height from the seat surface to the lower edge of the forearm, plus 2.5 cm. Proper handrail height helps to maintain correct body posture and balance, and make the upper limbs in a comfortable position. If the handrail is too high, the upper arm is forced to lift upward, which is easy to fatigue; If the armrest is too low, the upper body needs to lean forward to maintain balance, which is not only easy to fatigue, but also affects breathing. Types of tires ① The advantages of solid tires are easy to walk, simple to maintain and not easy to be damaged when pushing wheelchairs on carpets; The disadvantage is that it vibrates greatly when pushed on uneven roads. (2) Pneumatic tires have the advantage of shock absorption on uneven roads, which makes users feel comfortable to sit up and walk on sidewalks more easily; The disadvantage is that it needs to be inflated regularly, the tires are easy to be damaged, and it is difficult to push the wheelchair on the carpet. Other wheelchair accessories are designed to meet the needs of special patients, such as increasing the friction surface of handles, installing handrails on handrails, or wheelchair tables that are convenient for patients to eat and write. Precautions in Selection For patients with high spinal cord injury (above neck 5), it is necessary to choose a wheelchair with a high backrest and chest strap because their hands can't move. This kind of wheelchair is pushed by family members, and the patient can't control the wheelchair by himself. Therefore, the wheelchair brake must be reliable and firm to prevent the danger of slipping and sliding when no one is around. In addition, the handrails should be large and soft to hold hands. They should be equipped with pressure sore pads, and the pedals of their feet should be long enough to prevent their feet from being scratched. Patients with cervical 6 ~ thoracic 1 spinal cord injury can operate wheelchairs by themselves, and they should be equipped with good quality and light weight wheelchairs when conditions permit. When hands droop, they should be in a vertical line with the center of the big wheel shaft, so that there is friction when driving, and half-fingered gloves should be equipped to prevent hands from being worn out. The front wheels must be flexible and the pedals must be long enough. In addition, the pedals should be able to be separated to both sides, so it is more convenient to move to the bedside by skateboard. If the patient is weak, old or heavy, and it is difficult to drive the wheelchair with both hands, an electric wheelchair can also be equipped. For patients with moderate or low spinal cord injury, or patients with incomplete spinal cord injury, especially the elderly and infirm (those without spinal cord injury), if they can stand and move with the help of crutches and crutches, it is better to take fewer wheelchairs. Therefore, more training in this field should be strengthened to prevent lower limb osteoporosis. However, you still need a wheelchair to participate in long-distance activities, otherwise your physical energy consumption will be too high. Otto Bok electric wheelchair origin: German specification model brand: Otto Bok price: about 30,000 yuan Features: light and practical (only weighing 66 kg), the whole electronic system is installed in a box. Technical details: personalized adjustment, detachable; The total width is 57 cm. Optional accessories: puncture-proof tires, headrest components, curved seats, integrated pedals. American proud electric wheelchair origin: American specifications and models, brand price: about10.9 million yuan, features: patented central part drive, more comfortable operation; Double motor drive, can turn 360 degrees in situ; Low position and center of gravity design, more stable operation; Make various adjustments according to personal needs, which is more comfortable; One-button operation, more convenient to use; You can use a 40-kilometer trip on a single charge; The design of the maximum speed limit fully ensures safety. Otto Bock Wheelchair Puller (Ordinary Wheelchair) Origin: Germany specification model: Puller brand: Otto Bock reference price: about 2200 yuan Features: magnesium-aluminum alloy material-high strength, high load-bearing, light weight, beautiful and has certain rust-proof function. Special nylon material-The seat cushion and backrest tension cloth are made of special nylon material, which has high tensile strength, good air permeability, comfort and durability. Movable and detachable handrails-convenient for users to get on and off the wheelchair from the side. The backrest angle is completely suitable for the physiological bending of the human waist-providing the best support for the human body. Both wheels and body bones are equipped with reflectors-to ensure the safety of driving at night. Technical parameters: seat width: 38 ~ seat depth: 37.5cm or backrest height: driving wheel: multiple installation positions are optional; Folding width: less than wheelchair weight: 13.5kg Load bearing: