Wheelchairs and Crutches and Canes, Oh My!

What are you up to now?

I am currently learning about assistive devices in school; How to use them, how to keep people safe while they’re using them, and how to help someone choose the best device for them based on their needs. Part of my lab for today is going to be getting around in a wheelchair. I will need to access a public restroom stall and transfer to and from the toilet, so I can have a better understanding of the needs of people who use wheelchairs. I will also need to be transferred up and down the stairs while in a wheelchair and be part of a team that is transferring someone else up and down the stairs in a wheelchair. It sounds terrifying but I’ll do it if it means being a better PT.

I’m also learning about gait patterns, which is essentially just different ways of walking, and how to choose the best one for a patient. Between the gait pattern and assistive device, I want the person I’m working with to have as much mobility and ability to perform daily tasks as possible while also staying safe.

"Wheelchair basketball: Wounded warriors roll to recovery" by Army Medicine is licensed under CC BY 2.0

What’s been most surprising?

That there are so many options for adjusting wheelchairs! Reading my textbook felt more like reading a catalog. There are standard size wheelchairs that you can order for use in doctor’s offices and hospitals, which you’ve probably seen somewhere before. But if someone is going to be in a wheelchair for a long time or they’re just fortunate enough, they can custom order one. When you custom order a wheelchair, you can choose specific seat height, depth, and width, seat back height and width, footrest height, armrest height, length, and removability, tray attachments, brakes in front of the wheel or under the seat, ability to recline the seat or legs, calf supports, seat and back materials, cushion type and size, sportsy, lightweight, ultralightweight, folding or not, and I’m sure I’m missing something here! You can even get a wheelchair with the option to change out bases or seats, which is super handy if you have a growing child that needs a new size seat every year but you don’t want to buy new wheels every year. It’s also handy if you need to switch between manual and electric power regularly.