Wheelchair Clothes Guards / Side Guards Guide

Wheelchair Clothes Guards / Side Guards Guide

Strong plastic, fiber, or fabric. The gadget is formed like a fourth of a circle and is arranged between the wheelchair client and the back tires. The unbending models require additional mounting equipment that is joined to the seat. This gadget is utilized basically on manual wheelchairs.

Advantages of Side Guards

• Keeps clothes from rubbing against the rear wheels of the chair.
• Acts as a barrier and protects user from debris tossed up by the wheels.
• Aids in pelvic containment when no arms are being used on a wheelchair.
• Cloth models will fold tight when a folding wheelchair is folded.

Disadvantages of Side Guards

• Adds weight to the chair.
• May have to be removed to facilitate transfers.
• May have to be removed when folding a wheelchair.
• Requires mounting hardware to be installed on chair.
• If rigid models are added to a chair whose seat width is small for the user, they may cause pressure against the trochanters (hips).
• May not allow wheelchair to fold tight.
• Will not work with conventional single or dual post arm rests.

Commonly used with no arm rests or tubular arms.