A wheelchair is a necessary means of transportation for every paraplegic patient, without which it is difficult to walk an inch, so every patient will have their own experience in using it. Using a wheelchair correctly and mastering certain skills will greatly increase the level of self-care in life. The following is a bit of personal experience of wheelchair users, which is provided for everyone to exchange, and I hope it can be helpful to friends.
A large part of the daily life of patients needs to be spent in wheelchairs, so it is necessary to pay attention to the comfort and daily maintenance of wheelchairs. Sitting in a wheelchair for a long time, the first thing you will feel is the discomfort in the buttocks, and you will have a numb feeling, so you should consider improving the seat cushion, and the easiest way is to make another thick cushion on it. To make the cushion, you can use the sponge of the car seat cushion (high density and good elasticity). Cut the sponge according to the size of the wheelchair seat cushion. The thickness is about 8 to 10 centimeters. It can be covered with leather or cloth. Put a plastic bag on the outside of the sponge. If it is a leather jacket, it can be stitched at one time, and one end of the cloth can be zippered for easy removal and washing.With this thick cushion, the pressure on the buttocks will be reduced a lot, which can also prevent the occurrence of bedsores. Sitting in a wheelchair will also feel pain in the lower back, especially in the waist. Because of nerve damage, the strength of the psoas muscles will drop a lot, and patients in high positions will even basically lose it. Therefore, back pain will exist in every patient. There is a The method can properly relieve the pain, that is, put a small round cushion on the back of the waist, the size is about 30 cm, and the thickness can be 15 to 20 cm. Using this pad to support the lower back will relieve a lot of pain. If you are willing, you can also add a back pad, and patients and friends can try it.
The daily maintenance of wheelchairs is also very important. A well-maintained wheelchair can make us feel free and convenient to move around. If the wheelchair is full of defects, it will definitely be uncomfortable to sit on it.
There are several parts to pay attention to when maintaining a wheelchair:
1. Brake: If the brake is not tight, it will not only be inconvenient to use, but will even cause danger, so the brake must be firm. If the brake is not tight, you can adjust it backwards and tighten the fixing screw;
2. Handwheel: the handwheel is the only device for controlling the wheelchair, so it must be firmly fixed to the rear wheel;
3. Rear wheel: the rear wheel needs to pay attention to the bearing. After a long time of wheelchair use, the bearing will loosen, causing the rear wheel to shake, and it will be very inconvenient when walking. Therefore, the fixing nut should be checked regularly and the bearing should be smeared regularly. Butter is used for lubrication, and the tires must be inflated, which is not only good for movement, but also can reduce vibration;
4. Small wheel: The quality of the small wheel bearing is also related to the convenience of movement, so it is also necessary to clean the bearing regularly and apply butter;
5. Pedals: The pedals of different wheelchairs are divided into two types: fixed and adjustable, but no matter what kind, it is better to adjust to your own comfort.
There are certain skills in using a wheelchair, which will be of great help to mobility after mastering. The most basic and most commonly used is the advance wheel. When encountering a small ridge or step, if you go up hard, you may even damage the wheelchair. At this time, you only need to lift the front wheel and cross the obstacle, and the problem will be solved. The method of advancing the wheel is not difficult. As long as the hand wheel is turned forward suddenly, the front wheel will be lifted due to inertia, but the force must be controlled to prevent it from falling backwards due to excessive force.
The following situations are often encountered in detail:
Obstacle crossing: When we go out, we often encounter some small bumps or pits. The front wheels are small, so it is difficult to pass when we hit them. At this time, it is only necessary for the advance wheels to pass. The rear wheels are large in diameter, so it is easy to pass.
Uphill: if it is a large wheelchair, the center of gravity will be forward, and it is easier to go uphill. If the wheelchair is small, the center of gravity will be in the middle, and the wheelchair will feel backward when going uphill, so you should lean slightly or back up when going uphill.
When using a wheelchair, there is a technical movement of vacating the front wheel, that is, increasing the strength when advancing the wheel, so that the front wheel is raised, the center of gravity falls on the rear wheel, and the hand wheel is turned back and forth to maintain balance, just like a wheelchair dance. This action has no practical significance, and it is very difficult and easy to fall over, so try not to do it. If you have to try it, you must have someone behind you to protect it. The main point of this action is that the strength must be moderate when the wheel is advanced, so that it can be in place and maintain balance.
As for the smart use of wheelchairs, we will stop here and see you in the next time.
Post time: Feb-07-2023
