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How to Use a Self Propelled Wheelchair Wheelchairs offer mobility and independence to those who have limitations in walking. It is essential to learn how to use your wheelchair and have occupational therapy or a doctor assist you in this. Wheelies are a popular technique to move the wheelchair. This requires the user to have hands large enough to reach across the rims and have a strong grip to propel them forward. Seating Position Like the name suggests self-propelled wheelchairs lets you move your body and not rely on others. This is the most important factor for many people to regain their independence, or keeping it. It also reduces the chance of injury to the person using the wheelchair and those who are around them. It is essential that the seat position is comfortable for the wheelchair user. There are many things that can be done to ensure this. First, the footplates must be in the correct place. Release the footrest latch and move the footrests to place them facing the chair. Make sure that the wheelchair's feet are seated comfortably on the footplates. The height of the footrest may require lowering, especially for users who are hemiplegic (one side of the body is more affected than the other). The footrests can put the pressure on the bone of the seat and cause pain and discomfort when they are too high. A forehead strap can help keep the user upright in their wheelchair, particularly if they have weakness of the neck muscles. These can be fitted to wheelchairs that do not have headrests by a specialist in mobility. If the wheelchair has armrests it is important to ensure that they are in a proper position so that the user of the wheelchair can propel without hitting them with their arms while they move. To ensure this it is recommended to choose a wheelchair with swing away or removable armrests. Alternatively, foam inserts can be cut and glued to the armrest's back to raise them up to a more comfortable level. A properly-fitting cushion for a wheelchair is crucial, especially if a wheelchair user is at risk of skin breakdown or pressure sores. Pressure ulcers can occur when the skin rubs against surface of the wheelchair. In some instances the skin may be irritated and rough due to sitting in the same position for a long period of time. It can cause blisters. To minimize the risk of pressure ulcers, the wheelchair must be rotated regularly. Pushing Self-propelled wheelchairs permit users to maneuver themselves and become independent from the need for a third party to push them. They are much easier to maneuver because they have larger rear wheels and push handles. This enables them to travel over a wide variety of surfaces without having to worry about slipping or getting stuck on obstacles like curbs or steps that are small. When you are moving forward on your chair, make sure not to grip the handle too hard. Too much pressure could cause your hands to cramp and reduce how much force you can apply. It may also be helpful to wear a handrim cover or a wheelchair glove with grip material that is built into the palms. This will help improve the position of your hands and increase the force you use. Keep the front casters free of any debris, like rocks or sticks. This material can make it difficult to move your wheelchair as you would expect. It can also lead to a loss in control and/or injury. If you have a very high seat to floor height, it could be beneficial to purchase extra padding on the front casters. When climbing a small step or curb, it is recommended that you use a caregiver to push the wheelchair to provide assistance. If you want to try this on your own, additional training and practice is required under the supervision of a health professional. When you do this, it is essential that you place the wheelchair directly facing (perpendicular to) the curb or small step and place the front wheels just before the curb's edge. It is crucial to leave plenty of space in the front of you when going up an uphill. This will prevent you from crashing into other people. You will gain speed quickly when you don't have enough space in front of you. You could also end up colliding with another person. To prevent this from happening, try to be aware of the people in the vicinity when you are on a slope. You should also have a friend or carer prepared to help you in the event that you begin to fall off your wheelchair. Braking A self-propelled chair requires the user to control the braking and guiding actions in a particular way to ensure that the chair is safe to use. This is especially important when you are on a slope since it is possible for the centre of gravity to move forward if the braking action is not applied in a controlled manner. Always make sure your hand is in the right position when you push the wheelchair. Ideally, you should place it at 10 hours (10:00) on the wheel. Release the hand near 2 o’clock (2:00). This will ensure that the majority (or weight) of the body is placed over the rear wheels, making it easier to push. It also helps maintain the integrity of the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. To turn right in a wheelchair, move forward on the right hand rim and pull back on the left hand rim. This causes the wheelchair to turn left and allows you to remain seated in your wheelchair. Wheelchairs also come with anti-tip bars to prevent them from tipping backwards. Always read the user's guide included with your wheelchair to confirm the safest slope your chair is able to traverse. In certain circumstances, the wheelchair might need to be temporarily removed and hand operated to overcome steep gradients. In this case it is recommended you ask a family member or family member to help and follow the directions in the User Guide. It is recommended to use ramps when you are negotiating the kerbstones. This reduces the pressure on the back and front tyres allowing you to travel faster over the kerb. The kerb climber option on many manual wheelchairs can aid in this process by increasing the capacity of the chair by around 10cm (4”). To stop a wheel chair, gently release the brakes and then push the joystick toward you. This will break the clutch on the motor. The wheelchair will stop, and you can remove the footrests or prepare walking aids prior to leaving the chair. Steering When using a self propelled wheelchair, the user is responsible for controlling and steering. There are a variety of ways to do this, depending on the wheelchair's structure and accessories like armrests, phone/drink holders or even a drink holder. Wheelchairs come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The size of the front casters on a wheelchair will determine the terrain it can handle. Small casters allow a chair to move faster, but they struggle on rough surfaces like grass or cobblestone. Large casters permit wheelchairs to travel over these rough surfaces, but the chair won't be as quick. On smooth, level surfaces the wheelchair user should push the wheels using both hands to keep the momentum. This is done by gripping the rims of the hand and pushing with a uniform hand. Hands should not be tucked tightly around the rims of the hand as this can cause injuries and result in over-corrections when the chair makes a turn. It is recommended that wheelchair users play with various degrees of leaning forwards and backwards to find the optimal balance between control and lean. The person using a wheelchair must anticipate obstacles and plan ahead for terrain that is more challenging. It is crucial that the user of the wheelchair looks over their shoulders frequently to avoid hitting objects or other people. Also, when they travel with a caregiver, they should make sure that they are able to assist when required. If the wheelchair is going to be used on the slope, it should be assisted or driven by an adult until the user is familiar with this. To turn to turn, the user pulls one hand's rim back while pushing the other forwards. The user of the wheelchair should practice this on a smooth and level ground prior to attempting it on any other surface as the movement may be uncomfortable and the chair might easily fall over if the motion is not mastered. The power wheels of the wheelchair can help ease the burden on the user and help with turning. It is also beneficial to know that even well-meaning but untrained strangers can try to push someone in wheelchair against their will, which is why the wheelchair user should make sure that their handle folds down or cover them with handles covers.