quality of life Sri Lanka 104 Havelock Road Colombo 5 Sri Lanka Tel: +94 11 5378 230 to 3 Fax: +94 11 2589 334 email: info@.org.uk website: www.worldmade.info wheelchair user guide
checking for pressure sores Check for the presence of pressure sores daily. A mirror can be used to check parts of the body that cannot be seen. An assistant should check if a wheelchair user is unable to do it themselves. 1
pressure relief techniques notes Side to side leaning Lean to each side for at least 15 seconds every half hour. Side to side leaning Hook right arm behind push handle for stability. Lean to the left side for at least 15 seconds every half hour. Repeat this for the right side. 2
cushions pressure relief techniques Checking the cushion Make sure the cushion is of enough thickness. Check if there are any objects (e.g. keys) on the cushion. Push up Push up on the armrest for at least 15 seconds every half hour. You will need good upper body strength to practise this pressure relief. Putting the cushion in the seat Make sure the cushion is placed correctly on the seat. The cushion well should be at the back. Bending forward Lean forwards in the wheelchair to relieve pressure off the back and buttocks. A carer should be in front of the user when doing this technique for safety. A person with a high level spinal cord injury may need assistance to go down and get back up. Be careful with wheelchair users who have blood pressure problems as they might get dizzy. 10 3
wheelchair mobility cushions Hand position for pushing Push rim between pad of thumb and curled fingers. Washing the cushion Wash the cushion cover with soap and water if it becomes dirty and wet with urine. Keep under the sun to dry. Propelling up slopes Lean forwards. For steeper slopes, assistant should stand behind the wheelchair with hands ready on the push handles to hold wheelchair. Drying the cushion Dry the cushion under the sun if it gets wet. 4 9
transfer techniques wheelchair mobility Assisted standing Position wheelchair close and at an angle Brakes on Footrests up Lift user forward in wheelchair Position feet clear of footrest Helper uses knees to block the user s legs Helper s arms outside user s arms and squeeze Lean user forward User holds around helper s waist Main helper counts 1,2, 3 lift Second helper assists lifts Propelling down slopes Lean backwards and let the push rim slowly slide through fingers. Arms should be forwards and straight with equal pressure on both hands. Be careful at the bottom of a slope. Footrest might catch on the level ground and might tip the wheelchair forwards. Assisted non-standing Position wheelchair close sideways on Main helper has one foot on floor one knee on bed User folds arms Main helper puts their arms through user s arms Main helper holds user s forearms and squeezes against chest Main helper counts 1, 2, 3 lift Second helper lifts user s legs To go up a flight of stairs Position the wheelchair with the rear wheels against the bottom step. The rear helper tips the wheelchair into a tilted back position. The second helper holds the front of the wheelchair frame NOT the footrests or the user themselves. On the count of 3 the helper pulls up and back on the next step and the lower helper pushes up and back. Repeat for each step slowly steadying the wheelchair on each step. 8 5
transfer techniques transfer techniques Independent standing Position wheelchair close and at an angle Brakes on Footrests up Independent non-standing legs up Position wheelchair close and at an angle Brakes on User lifts forward in wheelchair Position legs and feet User uses arms to transfer Users lifts forward in wheelchair Position feet clear of footrest User uses arms for assistance and transfers from the wheelchair to the chair Independent non-standing legs down Position wheelchair close and at an angle Brakes on User lifts forward in wheelchair Position feet clear of footrest User uses arms to transfer 6 7