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← Tilt in Space Wheelchairs - What features do you need?
Active User Wheelchairs - What features do you need? →
Nov 2019
06
Standard Wheelchairs - What features do you need?
John Fitzpatrick
clinical
,
equipment
,
manual
Standard wheels tend to come with few options, however there are several things to consider.
Every wheelchair should have a cushion. A very basic cushion should be considered a minimum to provide some comfort and pressure relief.
Seat size. Ensure an appropriate seat size. There shouldn't be much space between the user's hips and the sides or armrests of the wheelchair. There should be 1-2" space between the back of their knee and the front of the cushion.
Backrest height. The backrest should be sufficiently high to prevent the user leaning backwards over the top of the backrest upholstery.
Anti-tips. These are two small wheels that protrude close to the ground from the back of the wheelchair. They prevent the wheelchair tipping over backwards. This is especially important if the wheelchair is to be used on slopes or if there is any other reason why the wheelchair should be more unstable than normal, such as leg amputees.
Headrests allow the head to be supported, especially when using backrest recline. When reclined, the users head is likely to fall backward with gravity, therefore it is important to support it in a comfortable position.
Headrests also provide some safety when travelling in a vehicle whilst seated in the wheelchair, in a similar way the headrest of a standard car seat would do. It is important to note that a wheelchair headrest is not tested to the same criteria as a car seat headrest would.
Some users require additional head support to maintain an upright head position, or to maintain their head in a comfortable position. Additional supports and shaping can be added to tailor the support offered by the headrest.
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