Choosing a Wheelchair Cushion

A Wheelchair Cushion Serves a Medical Purpose

If your mobility is limited, you may spend hours at a time in a wheelchair, power wheelchair, or scooter. A good wheelchair cushion can prevent real potential risks to your health and your life, as well as providing comfort.

A basic cushion can cost as little as $30, but a cushion using more advanced technology may cost a few hundred dollars. Different designs offer differing levels of comfort and support, and can help correct bad posture. A good cushion can save your life, preventing pressure sores which, if they go undetected, can lead to infection and death.

People with limited mobility but are capable of walking and do not spend as much time in a wheelchair are at lower risk of developing pressure sores. For them, a basic wheelchair cushion can add comfort and support at a low cost. These cushions are made of some type of foam, like polyurethane, and have a waterproof covering. This material is also used in cushions which are shaped ergonomically to support the user and promote good posture.

Some cushions contain air or gel to protect against pressure sores, in sacs distributed throughout the cushion. These can be a basic grid design, or can be different sizes arranged in patterns designed to provide low-pressure support.

Cushions with multiple layers made of different materials combine techniques, correcting posture and preventing or treating pressure sores. Some have a metal base, high-density and low-density foam layers, and sacs or layers of air, gel, or fluid.

Further posture correction can come from wheelchair backs, which add extra cushioning to the back of a wheelchair. Multi-layer wheelchair backs can have metal frames, foam, and support panels for the thorax or other specific parts of the back.

If you’re using an electric wheelchair, your options vary depending on what kind of chair you use. Power-base wheelchairs have either “pilot” seats, which look like the seats of a car, or chairs which are similar to computer chairs. If you’re at risk for pressure sores, using an electric wheelchair which is based on a classic manual wheelchair design, or power wheelchair, can give you more options. You can place a custom combination of wheelchair back and cushion which meets your physical requirements, such as back support, comfort, or pressure relief.

Wheelchair users, especially if they suffer paralysis or are at risk for pressure sores, should always check for these sores and get them treated immediately. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you pick out a wheelchair cushion, making you more comfortable and preventing pressure sores. If your doctor diagnoses you as at risk, your cushion could be covered by your insurance or Medicare. -Article by Adam Hefner

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