When buying a wheelchair for yourself it is important to look at all aspects of the chair than just speed and functionality. Since you are going to spend a lot of time sitting, choose your wheelchair seating with special discretion. Comfortable seating will help you use your chair without exerting yourself too much or suffering pressure sores and back pains.
There are some specific dimensions such as the seat angle, width, depth and height that need to be considered and have set guidelines for optimum benefit. But the right seating and cushioning depends primarily on your comfort, ease of use and physical abilities. Below are some useful tips -
The angle of your wheelchair seating is the angle of the seat to the ground. In most manual and power chairs this can be adjusted to convenience. For example, a person with a weak spinal chord or low head control will feel more secure if the seat is angled slightly upwards.
Also if you use a manual wheelchair, you'll find it easier to push on the wheels without as much pressure on you. A higher seat angle has it's drawbacks as well since it may result in pressure on the spinal disk or less circulation of blood to your lower body. At worst, it may make it hard even to get in an out of you chair. Here, a good cushion can help in comfort and making slight adjustments to the angle of the wheelchair seat.
The depth of your wheelchair seating, the seat pan, should be chosen with great care. If the seat is either too shallow or too deep innumerable problems can occur. When buying a wheelchair see that the depth of the seat is enough to give full support to your back, legs and thighs yet not get in the way of maneuvering the chair.
In a manual chair, if the seat is too deep - your hands won't reach the wheels to push. You will also find it hard to rest your back. On the other hand if the seat is too shallow you may find it hard for you to rest you legs on the footrest. It will also not provide adequate support to your thighs and back. It is important to keep in mind the kind of wheelchair back you will be using as it has a great bearing how deep your seat should be.
TIP: What should the depth of my seat be -
A general standard when measuring seat depth is a couple of inches less than measure from the back of the buttocks to the inside of the knee.
The width of your wheelchair is very important to both the stability and the mobility of the chair. Ideally it should be a perfect fit for your body but without any points of contact to avoid pressure sores from sitting in it. Other than the fact that it won't need to be changed if you do put on some weight, a wide seat has no real advantages.
Wheelchair seating that is too wide more than anything else promotes bad sitting posture, which is a health hazard for wheelchair users. Of course, your seat should not be so narrow that you have to force yourself into it. A wider chair will also be more difficult to wheel. Keep these factors in mind when picking your wheelchair seating.
TIP: What should the width of my seat be -
For wheelchair seating width measure from one side of the hip to the other side of the hip and don't forget to a few extra inches for easy movement and bulky clothing such as suits or coats. To narrow a width may also create contact points which result in pressure sores.
The back is arguably the most important part of the wheelchair seating and in making sure that you have a smooth ride. Wheelchair backs are available in various heights, with different upholstery and cushions and can be greatly customized to suit your exact needs.
In most cases the recommended back height is to the shoulder or like in some of the sports wheelchairs, lower still, for lumbar support. This is when you have good head control. If you lack control of head and neck, you may need to consider a headrest or some kind of head support depending on you condition. Also, if in your case you find it difficult to sit straight up, you could try using wider backs for more comfort and support.
TIP: : What should the back height be -
Back height should be measured from the base of the seat to your shoulders. Also take into account above mentioned factors and if necessary seek specialist advice in the kind of back support you need.
Adjustable backs are also popular because you can adjust it to suit your needs. Also there are a lot of options available for add on wheelchair backs for disabled users who need special support. Our partner wheelchair stores offer adjustable back heights, wheelchair seating options and other accessories at huge discounts.