Week 13 Flashcards
What is the wheelchair formula
width x depth x height
–> in inches
What is the role of the OTA/PTA with wheelchairs?
1) Education on wheelchair use
how to self propel
how to maintain cushion
2) Wheelchair measurements or fit
3) Wheelchair adjustments
back rest
foot plate
4) Inventory maintenance
storing/organizing
What are the three main wheelchair goals?
1) Wheelchair fit
2) Comfort
3) Protection of skin integrity
What will happen if the wheelchair seat is too wide? What will happen if the wheelchair is too narrow?
Too wide:
Sliding from side to side
Poor access to wheels
Too narrow:
Pressure points
Will not be comfortable
What will happen if the wheelchair seat is too long? Too short?
Too long:
pressure points (knee)
Circulation issues
Sliding out of the wheelchair –> other pressure points
Too short:
Self propelling issue
Insufficient support (thighs)
What will happen if the wheelchair back is too low? Too high?
Too low? :
- Instability of trunk
- We need trunk stability to sit and move around
Too high? :
- Poor access
- Pressure points
- Discomfort
What will happen if the seat height is too high? Too low?
Too high:
- No access to ground (feet propelling)
- Shifting back if footplates are on
Too low:
- Pressure (back of knees)
- Doesn’t allow proper range for propelling
What will happen if the armrest is too high? Too low?
Too high:
Shoulder shrug (Too high up)
Poor access to rims
Balance loss
Too low:
Pelvic tilt
Falls
Balance loss
No support
What are some solutions to ‘wheelchair misfit causes’?
Unsupportive back rest
Seat depth too long
Seat too high
Footrests too low
Unsupportive back rest:
- supportive back rest
Seat depth too long:
- Moving back rest forward
Seat too high:
- Thinner cushion or adjust height of the seat frame
Footrests too low:
- Raise the footplates up
What are some posterior pelvic tilt solutions in regard to wheelchairs?
- Supportive back rest
- Moving backrest forward
- Thinner cushion, adjust height of the wheelchair frame
- Raise footplates up
What are some posterior pelvic tilt solutions in regard to wheelchairs?
- Adjust tilt of backrest
- Lower backrest
- Alternative for backrest (different backrest)
What areas of the body are there risks of pressure points from the wheelchair? What are the risk factors of being in a wheelchair?
Pressure point areas
- back of head
- Shoulder blades
- Hips
- Tail bone
- Elbows
- Buttocks
- Back of knees
- Heels
Risk factors:
- Wheelchair misfit
- Decreased sensation
- Decreased mobility
- Decreased activity
- Moisture
- Friction/Shear
What are some wheelchair pressure point solutions?
*Proper wheelchair fit
*Proper sitting posture
*Pressure relief cushion
*Reduction of friction and shear
*Education on daily skin inspection
*Frequent repositioning
What’s the difference between sit to stand and pivot transfers ?
Sit to stand: patient stands from seated position, using armrests, will be weightbearing through legs
Pivot transfer: not fully sanding up, arm rest removed (side to which they are transferring)
