Selecting the Best Wheelchair Cushion

Written by Maricon Williams


Continued from page 1

If you have a pressure sore, you can tie off individual balloons to reduce contact under that area, allowing you to spend more time sitting asrepparttar sore heals. The Roho Quadtro allowsrepparttar 113840 user to inflate four quadrants separately for optimal positioning. Air cushions are relatively lightweight, and are waterproof, allowing for double duty inrepparttar 113841 bathtub or on a boat.

Crown Therapeutics, maker ofrepparttar 113842 Roho cushions, also offers air floatation products forrepparttar 113843 wheelchair back, supplemental lumbar or sacral support, full bed cushions, and even a product for a standard toilet seat. All are inflatable to adjust to your needs.

A longtime presence in disability magazines has been an ad forrepparttar 113844 "Bye-Bye Decubiti" cushion. It is inflatable, comes in many different sizes and shapes, is made of heavy duty rubber, and--although different fromrepparttar 113845 Roho balloon design--is uniquely formed to minimize pressure atrepparttar 113846 bony protrusions on which we sit.

Air cushions can be less stable for those who move around a lot in their chair, but recent designs offer either low profile or quadrant options that minimize this problem. The balloons used in air cushions can be punctured, of course, and leaks do occur, although a fairly heavy duty rubber is used. But patching them is easier than withrepparttar 113847 gel design. The hard part is submergingrepparttar 113848 cushion under water to findrepparttar 113849 leak (look for escaping air bubbles).

The biggest drawback to air cushions is that they require more maintenance. It is necessary to checkrepparttar 113850 pressure frequently, especially if you have pressure sores.

Urethane honeycomb cushions Thermoplastic urethane honeycomb cushions arerepparttar 113851 most recent development inrepparttar 113852 world of cushions. Because there are many individual cells--like a beehive--these cushions are able to distribute weight evenly, but there is no risk of leaking gel or of an air bladder being punctured. The many open spaces inrepparttar 113853 beehive structure ofrepparttar 113854 cushion allow air to travel more effectively. This design helps to protect against skin breakdown because your skin is kept cooler and moisture is prevented from collecting.

Urethane honeycomb cushions are very light, absorb shock, and a low profile cushion can provide significant support. These cushions can even be thrown into your washing machine and dryer, making them attractive for people with incontinence problems whererepparttar 113855 cushion will be soiled from time to time despite best efforts at bowel and bladder management.

Supracor of San Jose, California, makes several honeycomb cushions based on their patent. One type uses multiple layers of varying stiffness to allow your sit bones to sink intorepparttar 113856 cushion while deeper layers provide overall support and weight distribution. Another type is contoured to provide adduction and abduction, plus a rear dish for pelvic positioning. There is not much of a track record for urethane honeycomb cushions because of their recent development, but there appears to be good prospects for this type of cushion to evolve and become more widely used.

Alternating pressure The latest territory being explored in cushion design isrepparttar 113857 use of an air pump to create alternating pressure, of particular interest to those with more severe disabilities who are unable to perform their own weight shifts to relieve pressure.

Sitting for extensive periods of time without pressure relief causesrepparttar 113858 muscle and fatty tissues to separate, puttingrepparttar 113859 delicate skin layer in closer contact withrepparttar 113860 bone. This creates even more pressure onrepparttar 113861 skin. Lack of air circulation increasesrepparttar 113862 temperature between you andrepparttar 113863 cushion. Moisture collects and is trapped againstrepparttar 113864 skin. All of this further increasesrepparttar 113865 risk of a sore.

One alternating pressure solution isrepparttar 113866 ErgoDynamic Seating System from ErgoAir in New Hampshire. This system pumps air into and out of alternating portions ofrepparttar 113867 cushion. The product is contoured for pelvic stability, with a pre-ischial cross-bar design that prevents forward slipping--and therefore shear--onrepparttar 113868 cushion. Special vent holes serve to allowrepparttar 113869 flow of air and moisture. In a five-minute cycle, compartments are inflated and deflated to shift support alternately betweenrepparttar 113870 ischial (sit) bones andrepparttar 113871 hips. Both areas get regular periods of complete pressure relief. The manufacturer likens it to a massage while you sit, withrepparttar 113872 resulting promotion of blood flow. In some cases,repparttar 113873 makers suggest, a pressure sore can even heal while you sit. This cushion system can be plugged into some power chair batteries or charged in a cigarette lighter in your car.

Alternating pressure products are of course heavier--given their use of batteries and air pumps--and, like air floatation cushions, prone to puncture. However,repparttar 113874 technology for these innovative systems is likely to evolve further inrepparttar 113875 future, as new materials and batteries are developed.

Positioning systems Advanced needs such as significant spinal curvatures or asymmetries in your body require more complex kinds of trunk support. For example,repparttar 113876 Pindot system, recently acquired by Invacare and available from suppliers aroundrepparttar 113877 country, is a support system which customizes seat and back cushions to your exact shape. First, a special chair takes an imprint of your body's shape. A therapist views a computer image ofrepparttar 113878 shape and can customizerepparttar 113879 contours of your cushion. From your imprint andrepparttar 113880 therapist's specifications, a foam cushion that gives you optimal support is manufactured specifically for you. The Pindot system is of most value to people who will not move around much in their chair. Sincerepparttar 113881 cushion is formed to your shape, you will only be comfortable in it when you sit inrepparttar 113882 right relationship torepparttar 113883 customized contours.

Your needs might requirerepparttar 113884 services of a rehab engineer who custom designs your seating system. A rehab engineer might adapt existing products or build something from scratch just for you. Your therapist or dealer should be aware of such people in your area. Often they are working in a major hospital or university. The Veteran's Administration is also involved in research and engineering that addressesrepparttar 113885 need for customized positioning systems.



For additional Information about the articles you may visit http://www.wheelchairspower.com


Isn't It Time For WHOLISTIC Medicine?

Written by D. Braun


Continued from page 1

Therapeutic touch is being used in hospitals for surgery and heart patients, successfully. The power of prayer - dubbed ineffective byrepparttar so-called scientific experts for decades upon decades - has now been proven to have a measurable positive effect onrepparttar 113839 ill.

So, isrepparttar 113840 pendulum finally swinging back to center? I sure as heck hope so. But, more than that, I hope it doesn't completely swing inrepparttar 113841 opposite direction.

If I feel my children need medical attention, I do NOT HESITATE to get it for them. But, if I can keep my children healthy inrepparttar 113842 first place with natural therapies, herbs, vitamins, good nutrition and treat them at home inrepparttar 113843 same manner successfully, I do that.

We need that ever-elusive balance. Science, allopathic and 'alternative' medicine working TOGETHER forrepparttar 113844 good ofrepparttar 113845 people. In my humble opinion, THAT is what 'holistic' should mean. Everything working together as a whole to helprepparttar 113846 whole ofrepparttar 113847 person. The new buzz term for this is 'Integrative Medicine'.

But, no matter what you call it, it makes sense. Use everything at your disposal to heal - and first, do no harm. (I wishrepparttar 113848 pharmaceutical companies and many doctors would follow that!)

Dee is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified Reflexologist, and Reiki Master. Her site is AkobiAromas.com - a source of quality aromatherapy, herbal and reflexology information and products.


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