1.The height of the footrest
The footrest from the ground at least 5 centimeters. If the footrest can be adjusted up and down, the footrest can be adjusted to the old man sitting down, so that the front of the thigh at the bottom of the 4 centimeters does not touch the seat cushion is appropriate.
2.Armrest height
The height of the armrest for the elderly sitting, elbow flexion 90 degrees, and then adding 2.5 centimeters upwards is appropriate. The armrests are too high, the shoulders are easy to fatigue, push the wheelchair is easy to cause skin abrasions on the upper arm. If the armrests are too low, pushing the wheelchair will easily cause the upper arm to lean forward, causing the body to lean out of the wheelchair. Long-term operation of the wheelchair in the forward position may lead to spinal deformation, and compression, resulting in breathing difficulties.
3.Cushion
In order to make the elderly comfortable while sitting in a wheelchair and to prevent bedsores, it is advisable to have cushions on the wheelchair seat, which can distribute the pressure on the buttocks. Common types of cushions include foam rubber cushions and inflatable cushions. In addition, it is important to pay more attention to the breathability of the cushion and wash it more often to effectively prevent bedsores. Like our lightweight folding electric wheelchair can be equipped with various materials of cushion and backrest according to your needs.
4.width
The wheelchair is like wearing clothes, one must determine the size of the fit, the right size can make all parts of the force uniform, not only comfortable but also to prevent adverse consequences, such as secondary injury. For the elderly sitting in a wheelchair, both sides of the hips and the wheelchair should have a gap of 2.5 to 4 centimeters between the two inner surfaces. A gap that is too wide requires the elderly to stretch their arms to push the wheelchair, which is not conducive to the elderly’s use and does not allow them to maintain balance and pass through narrower passages. The elderly cannot comfortably rest their hands on the armrests when resting. Too narrow will wear the skin of the old man’s hips and outer thighs, and is not conducive to the elderly up and down the wheelchair.
5.Height
Generally choose the upper edge of the backrest and the elderly armpit difference of about 10 centimeters is appropriate but should be based on the elderly torso functional status. The higher the backrest, the more stable the old man sits; the lower the backrest, the more convenient the activities of the torso and upper limbs. Therefore, only the elderly with good balance and less activity disorder can choose a wheelchair with low backrest. On the contrary, the higher the backrest, the larger the support surface, which will affect physical activities.
6.Function
Wheelchairs are usually categorized into ordinary wheelchairs, high back wheelchairs, standing wheelchairs, lifting wheelchairs, competitive sports wheelchairs, etc. Therefore, the first thing to do is to select the auxiliary function according to the nature and degree of disability of the old people, the whole body’s functional condition, and the place of use. High back wheelchairs are generally used for the elderly who have postural hypotension and cannot maintain a 90-degree sitting posture. After postural hypotension is relieved, the wheelchair should be replaced by an ordinary wheelchair as soon as possible, so that the elderly can drive the wheelchair by themselves. Elderly people with normal upper limb function can use ordinary wheelchairs with pneumatic tires. For those with poor hand function of upper limbs who cannot drive ordinary wheelchairs, they can be equipped with friction-resistance handwheel wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs; if the elderly have poor hand function and mental disorder, they can choose lightweight nursing wheelchairs and be helped by others to promote them.
Conclusion
To the elderly buy a wheelchair, pay attention to the height of the footrest is best from the ground about five centimeters, in addition to the height of the armrests is best when the old man sits down after the elbow joints flexed 90 degrees is most suitable, in addition to try to match with the cushion, but also look at the height of the wheelchair as well as the function, to choose the right wheelchair.