The wheelchair may not be as modern as you think. The first of its kind dates back to 1783, and was known as the Bath Wheelchair. Today, the design and functionality of the wheelchair has come a long way.
Modern-day wheelchairs provide mobility and support to those who cannot walk due to injury, illness, or disability. Whether it’s a self-propelled or electric wheelchair, they provide a sense of mobility freedom for those who need it.
If you or a loved one have recently taken up the use of a wheelchair, this blog outlines how to use a wheelchair safely and efficiently to make the most of your mobility.
What Are the Benefits of a Wheelchair?
The use of a wheelchair may not be all-too-appealing to first-time users. Understandably, it’s a huge adjustment to become reliant on a wheelchair for mobility and not your own legs. However, in most instances, a wheelchair can be beneficial for both the user and those who care for them.
Most types of wheelchairs are designed for long-term living and allow you to carry out regular daily tasks. The end-goal is to ensure you’re as mobile as possible, according to your needs. Wheelchairs are usually recommended by a healthcare professional. Generally, a physical or occupational therapist should recommend the best type of chair based on wheelchair comfort and your mobility needs, of course.
Some of the benefits include:
- Reduces the risk of slips, trips, and falls due to illness, weakness, or immobility
- Decreases pain levels and fatigue which is caused by long bouts of walking or standing
- It’s beneficial post-surgery as you can limit the amount of weight on the legs or feet
- You can move around safely when taking medications that cause drowsiness or confusion
Not only this, but a wheelchair also assists caregivers in moving around those they care for — whether it’s to and from doctor’s appointments, running errands, or around the home.
While there a several different types of wheelchairs today, the most popular is the manual wheelchair which can be self-propelled or pushed by someone else. However, self-propelling a wheelchair takes practice and a certain amount of upper-body strength and mobility.
Whether you intend to propel yourself in a wheelchair or leave this task to your caregiver, these safety tips apply:
1. Forward Propulsion
Moving forward in a wheelchair is quite simple, but it does take some technique. In order to do so, grip the wheelchair hand rims, but start near the back of the chair. Then, push forward and down on the hand rims to move the wheels forward.
Remember to lift your hands off the rails to allow the wheels to move freely and not trap your fingers. Move your hands back to the starting position and repeat to keep moving forward.
2. Turning Left and Right
In order to turn your wheelchair in the right direction, remember the rule of opposites. In order to turn right, you’ll need to push forward on the left-hand wheel rim. You also need to slow down the right-hand wheel at the same time. Repeat on the opposite side to turn left.
3. Prevent Backward Tipping
In order to move backward in a wheelchair, grip the wheel rims near the front and push back and down to move the wheels in reverse. But remember to do this slowly as there is a chance your wheelchair could tip backward if you move too quickly. You can also prevent tipping by adding anti-tip bars near the rear wheels.
4. Stopping Without Injuring Yourself
In order to stop or slow down your wheelchair, you’ll need to use friction to slow the wheels from turning. You can do this by gripping the wheelchair rails and pushing down. If the rims are slippery or wet, you can pinch the tires instead.
Bear in mind that there is a chance you could get heat burn caused by the friction if you try to slow yourself down too fast. Try to slow the wheels at a gradual pace without burning your hands or getting your fingers trapped. Take particular care when moving downhill or a slope that may be wet.
5. Mounting Curbs and Small Steps
If you need to get up and down a curb or small step, this is usually best with the help of a caregiver. You can negotiate a curb edge on your own, but this takes some measure of practice and upper-body strength.
In order to mount a curb, your caregiver must position the wheelchair perpendicular to it. The front wheels should be as close to the curb as possible. Then, by applying pressure or weight to the back handles, they should tip the wheelchair backward onto the rear wheels. The front wheels should then mount the curb, where you can push forward on the wheels to propel up the curb.
You can do the same, independently, but you will have to use your own weight to tip the chair onto its rear wheels. But this is only recommended if you are strong and mobile enough to do so.
6. Descending Ramps Safely
As mentioned, great care is needed when negotiating downward slopes and ramps. If descending a ramp on your own, maintain friction on the wheels at all times to control speed. Stick to a slower pace to prevent accidents. If you’re going uphill, lean your body forward and use short, strong pushes to propel yourself.
If a caregiver is navigating your chair up or down a slope, they must keep the chair as straight as possible to avoid tipping over.
7. Locking Your Wheelchair
Every single manual wheelchair is fitted with locks at each rear wheel. These wheel locks are super important when your wheelchair is in a stationary position. They are most useful when transferring to and from your chair, or using transportation.
Sometimes, these locks are referred to as breaks but bear in mind that they don’t work like breaks. They are only meant to lock your wheels in place for safety. Remember to lock your wheels when your wheelchair is not in use for your own safety.
8. Preventing Wheelchair Blisters and Pressure Sores
The reality of using a wheelchair is that there’s a chance you could develop blisters on your hands and pressure sores on the body. Blisters are often caused by wheel friction and can be avoided by controlling your wheel speed carefully. Or you can wear gloves to protect your hands.
Pressure sores are caused by long periods of sitting. These types of sores can develop at any point of contact between your skin and the chair surface. The most common areas include the spine, buttocks, ankles, heels, and sacrum. In order to prevent pressure sores, the skin must be checked regularly, and you should also be moved or transferred from your chair as often as possible.
Get Your Retail Therapy Fix Here
We hope this article on how to use a wheelchair has been useful to new wheelchair users or their caregivers. Remember to take comfort, convenience, and mobility into account when choosing the best wheelchair for your needs.
If you’re looking for interesting news and updates on what’s happening in Canada’s retail environment, be sure to check out the rest of this site. We offer insider reviews and articles on what’s hot in retail across the nation, so explore for more!
