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Whether in need of a wheelchair full-time or at different periods throughout the day, it’s critically important for older adults to not just be comfortable in this mode of transport, but to help relieve pressure, improve alignment, and offer a level of independence for the user.
Most wheelchairs produced are universal in shape and build, and don’t offer customization. But everyone’s body differs in shape, and the needs for the wheelchair are also just as unique.
Continue reading to learn more about customized wheelchairs and their benefits.
What Is Custom Wheelchair Seating
As bodies begin to age and require mobile assistance, the need for wheelchairs becomes apparent — some in a part-time capacity and others who may need to transition to full-time assistance.
More than 5.5 million American adults use a wheelchair for mobility, according to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Adults older than 65 are four times more likely to use a wheelchair, the study showed.
Custom wheelchair seating is a specialized process, designed to tailor the mobility device to the individual user. This is done through multiple steps:
- Measurements: The user undergoes a specific fitting process that precisely measures the contours and shape of their body
- Molding: An accurate mold of the seat and back is created based on the user’s shape and posture needs
- Building: From there, a 3D image is used to carve the seat and back to meet the exact measurements of the user
- Customization: The user or individual will then get to choose the materials for the wheelchair that will create the most comfort and support
- Fitting: Just like shoes or reading glasses, the individual will then be fitted in the wheelchair to finalize any adjustments or specification changes
Why Is Custom Wheelchair Seating Important?
Aging comes with myriad physical changes, not the least of which includes diminishing strength, bone density, and discomfort. For those who may need wheelchair assistance for long stretches of their day — if not the entirety of their waking hours — how their body is situated in that device can severely hinder their physical health.
A custom wheelchair, however, can create a positive experience and even correct posture and pressure issues.
Here are three benefits of using custom wheelchair seating:
Benefit 1: Improve Postural Alignment
Postural alignment refers to how the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and ankles — all major joints in the body — stay in line with each other.
Proper body alignment for a wheelchair user is a necessity to reduce strain on joints and muscles that may be overexerted to compensate for spinal misalignment.
Custom wheelchair seating will improve postural alignment by supporting the entire body. The device, formed specifically for the user, will ensure the neck and back are straight while removing pressure from the hips and knees.
In addition to overall structural support, improved postural alignment can enable proper breathing and swallowing, helping to avoid other health risks.
Benefit 2: Pressure Relief and Comfort
Studies have shown that sitting in a rigid or improperly fitted seat for long periods of time can create health issues that include diabetes, poor heart health, and a range of brain deficiencies.
Once a custom wheelchair seat is fitted to its specific user to support postural alignment, pressure relief will come naturally.
The devices are designed to remove the burden of extra weight or pressure from the rest of the body. The custom seating can reduce the risk of pressure sores by decreasing the amount of stress and irritation on specific tissue areas.
Additionally, comfort is key for older wheelchair users. In the same way someone who is on their feet all day needs the proper shoes for leg and back support, a wheelchair user must feel the device is giving them the support needed over long periods of time to find comfortability. The chair’s specifically designed contours for the individual will provide full-body comfort.
Benefit 3: Enhanced Mobility and Independence
Lack of mobility and independence becomes more apparent as aging sets in. For those who require a wheelchair for part or all their daytime hours, these obstacles can be exacerbated.
As a result, the physical change can lead to a decline in mental health, spurring isolation and disengagement. Using a rigid or “one-size-fits-all” wheelchair that creates additional physical pain and discomfort can also be incredibly cumbersome for the user or a companion to self-propel. This may lead to the inability of moving fluidly throughout a home or office, more difficulty transitioning from the chair to other objects like a couch or vehicle, and obstruct access to areas with smaller doorways.
A custom wheelchair for older adults can promote greater mobility, giving users the opportunity to freely go about their routines. This leads to a greater sense of independence for the user who may not require as much assistance from a caretaker.
How UDS Can Help
While custom wheelchair seating has become more prevalent for patients with quadriplegia or paraplegia, it offers a world of benefits for older adults entering a new phase of life.
Improving postural alignment, offering much-needed pressure relief and comfort, and creating necessary mobility and independence for its users, custom wheelchair seating’s benefits are far-reaching. An older adult requiring wheelchair assistance will find a much smaller gap when adapting to their new daily routines when outfitted with a personalized device.
The United Disabilities Services Foundation (UDS) specializes in the creation and building of custom wheelchair seating. The organization assists the user from start to finish with a tailored process that includes:
- Professional evaluation and measurement to specify and design all necessary components
- Works with and gains insurance approval to justify the specified components of the wheelchair
- Fits and fabricates the custom wheelchair using 3D technology which is then built by experienced and skilled technicians
- Delivers and fits the device to the individual’s personal needs
UDS services a wide region in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania, encompassing more than two dozen counties. To learn more about the custom wheelchair seating process and how it can benefit older adults, visit our custom wheelchair seating page.