Wheelchair Management

A chair fitted with wheels for use as a means of transport by a person who is unable to walk as a result of illness, injury, or disability.

Types of Wheel chair

Management:

An assessment may be done to evaluate the patient’s need for a wheelchair.
This may include the patient’s strength, living situation, weight, skin integrity, etc. Once the patient’s needs are established, measurements are taken prior to ordering the equipment.
Wheelchair management also trains the patient in functional activities that promote optimal safety, mobility and transfers.
Patients who are wheelchair bound may occasionally need skilled input on positioning to avoid pressure points, contractures, and other medical complications.
May be part of an active treatment plan directed at a specific goal.
The patient must have the capacity to learn from instructions.
Typically 3-4 total sessions should be sufficient to teach the patient these skills.

To manipulate the brakes

To reach the right brake:
Hook the left elbow behind the left chair handle.
Lean forward and to the right, allowing the left biceps to lengthen as the trunk movement occurs.
To release the brake, use flexion of the elbow and shoulder to push the lever forward with the palm of the hand or the lower part of the supinated forearm To apply the brake, pull the lever back using the right biceps and either the extended wrist or the supinated forearm
To remove the armrest
Most armrests now tend to flip-up

To read more on Patient Care, click on the link below.

Tag: Wheelchair Management