Wheelchair Cushion

The ability to feel your body is significant and should not be taken for granted. The ability to move your body is even more vital. When you cannot feel it and cannot move it, technologies like specialized wheelchair cushions can assist in the prevention of pressure sores and aid in maintaining proper posture and balance. Cushions have a role much more than just pressure relief.

There are cushions made out of dozens of little air pockets that can be pumped up or deflated as necessary to get the most comfortable fit. There are cushions made out of multiple layers of different densities of foam and combined with a gel top layer. And there are types made out of synthetic materials formed into a breathable, lightweight honeycomb shape like the cushion in the photo above. This is not an exhaustive list of the different types of cushions but what I would consider the three most common.

They can be simply a flat rectangular design, extra thin for sport purposes, and contoured like the one above to improve posture and balance. A cushion with a contour like this can be used on a standard wheelchair seat to simulate a newer design of wheelchair frame that incorporates ergonomic seating. That is one whose frame keeps your hips perpendicular to the ground. The standard wheelchair frame tips your whole body back a few degrees to bring your knees up to your chest slightly, improving your balance. This will be covered in a future article.

The best way to find the cushion that's right for you is to try many different kinds, see which minimizes pressure while still providing good balance, which helps with maneuverability and independence in your chair. When you find the happy medium between comfort and balance you will begin to trust that you are not going to fall out of your chair. That's when you will feel confident in trying things, such as wheelies, that will get you over obstacles you were not able to overcome before.

Source: Wheelchair dealers and many medical supply stores. For insurance purposes, an occupational therapist's approval may be required.