Sunrise Medical explores wheelchair adjustability with Unicare's allied health partners
Workshop: Wheelchair Adjustments
– Understanding basic adjustments and seating system design
The Camfield, Burswood
Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Building functional wheelchairs and seating systems to meet unique client needs requires being able to adjust wheelchair components and understand which components are adjustable on different wheelchairs.
The purpose of this workshop was to provide therapists with the knowledge and skills they need to make confident wheelchair adjustments, while also optimising their clients’ seating choices and mobility needs.
This workshop was facilitated by Prithy Sivaraman, from the Sunrise Medical Clinical Education Team, who shared valuable experience as a clinician in the field.
Prithy Sivaraman is a Physiotherapist who has been working with both adults and children since 2007, prescribing complex seating and wheelchairs. Before relocating to Adelaide 10 years ago, she worked in Perth to broaden her expertise working with paediatric clients and alternative access controls for powered mobility.
She currently works for Sunrise Medical as an educator and trainer, and works closely with the Unicare Health team, assisting with orders, account management and the scripting of complex manual, power seating and wheelchair systems.
This workshop also welcomed presentations from Annette Terranova, Unicare Health’s Clinical Educator and Trainer, who provided attendees with an in-depth understanding of Unicare’s wheelchair range and the adjustability of each wheelchair’s seating system design.
Together, Prithy and Annette provided a valuable session covering:
- Wheelchairs and seating system design
- The adjustability of common manual chairs such as the Breezy Basix, SR45 and Quickie 2
- Hands-on basic adjustments (leg rest, footplate, seating angle etc)
- Headrest adjustments and more…
Annette reviewed adjustable wheelchair options, and what is adjustable pre and post-purchase on common manual wheelchairs widely used in hospitals and aged care, such as the Ansa Tourer, Breezy Basix, Echo Lite, SR45 and Quickie Manual wheelchairs.
Clinicians were also introduced to a variety of tools and hardware recommended for adjusting different wheelchair components.
Together, Prithy and Annette related how centre of gravity impacts a wheelchair set up for a user. Clinicians learnt to take note of stroke patterns, the impact of various wheel positions, as well as wheel spacing and how the slightest change in movement may impact a user in their chair.
“We need to do our due diligence by trialling the equipment first to see how suitable it is for your client.”
Seating considerations for various types of users were also addressed when looking at wheelchair and seating system design. For example, the position of wheels on a wheelchair for self-propelling users. The vertical position of the wheels is a vital consideration for self-propelling users to prevent strain on their shoulders. This is also a key factor to note for users that may require seat board transfers.
Annette and Prithy used the Breezy Basix and Ansa Tourer to compare the adjustability between the two.
“How we set a user up in the chair is going to impact their postural tendency for the day”
Clinicians were taught to identify the differences between the Breezy Basix and Tourer’s leg rest, armrest adjustability and their elevating leg rest and stump support options.
Prithy also stressed that budget and cost are factors to consider when it comes to wheelchair adjustments and to always consider a client’s budget before deciding on what is appropriate.
Annette and Prithy also addressed adjustment considerations for common tilt in space wheelchairs such as the SR45 and the Ansa Relax chair.
Together, they compared the adjustability of both chairs, their common misconceptions as well as other factors such as to be wary of and in what scenarios they would prescribe each chair for and why.
“Everything you adjust has a consequence and a reaction.”
Everyone had the opportunity to adjust wheelchair components and familiarise themselves with the many adjustments that were possible on various wheelchair models.
Everyone was eager to have a go and apply what they had learned.
Thank you
Unicare Health would like to thank Prithy Sivaraman and our friends from the Sunrise Medical Clinical Education Team for working in partnership with us to facilitate this valuable session for our allied health partners, especially for those who are newer to the wheelchair assessment and prescription process.
We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to attend our Wheelchair Adjustments workshop. We trust that everyone had an enjoyable experience adjusting wheelchair components, and in the process, have developed a more thorough understanding of the wheelchair seating systems to become more knowledgeable prescribers of highly functioning wheelchairs.
