Wheelchair Seat Depth Guide

Wheelchair Seat Depth Guide

Wheelchair seat profundity is estimated from the front to back of the seat. To decide the current size you need just measure the separation from the front edge of the seat to the back where the seat meets the back upstanding. This will give you a profundity measurement of the current seat.

Estimating to the back rest upholstery may bring about an off base estimation. Most back upholstery is extended and hammocked, so estimating in the focal point of the seat to the focal point of the back upholstery will bring about a more drawn out and inaccurate measurement. A few wheelchairs have add-on backs appended. A large number of these mount forward of the back uprights hence making any seat surface situated behind the extra back unusable.

To decide the suitable seat profundity for a client The client ought to be set in the most ideal situated position that can be gotten. An estimation is taken from the rear of the pelvis (uttermost piece of the posterior), forward to the rear of the knee. Ensure that every leg is estimated independently. There are more leg length errors (contrasts in leg lengths) than you may might suspect. Deduct 2" from the deliberate length for freedom.

On the off chance that you have settled on an extra back you should take into consideration this. In the event that the settled on back occupies seat room before the back uprights, you should add that sum once more into the equation. If not you will scratch your head asking why the seat shows up so short on the completed item. What about certain recipes about at this point?

With no extra back; (estimated length) – (2" freedom) = profundity. For seats with an extra back; (estimated length) – (2" freedom) + (cover of back on seat) = profundity.

In the event that there is a leg length error (contrasts in leg length), custom upholstery, seat dish, or embeds can be requested from the wheelchair maker (once in a while) or from post-retail providers. Many pad makers will likewise uniquely craft their items to oblige these distinctions.

Advantages of Proper Seat Depth

• A proper wheelchair seat depth will afford the user increased pressure reduction.
• It will also enhance comfort and will promote improved sitting posture.
• As shallow a seat as possible will assure a shorter wheelchair frame (in a manual wheelchair) which will result in a lighter chair, decreased turning radius, and easier transporting and storage.
• A longer depth will serve to distribute pressure over a greater area (the surface area of the seat), thus reducing pressure in any given place.

This does not hold true if the user is sitting in the knees up position with only the ischials (sitting bones) making seat contact. The pressure will still remain on the ischials no matter how deep the seat is. If the thighs do not make contact with the seat they will not aid in pressure distribution.

Disadvantages of Incorrect Seat Depth

• An excessively long seat will push against the back of the leg or in the area of the popliteal crease (fold on the back of the knee) causing the user to be pushed forward on the seat and into a sacral (slouched) position. If left unresolved in patients with insensate (no sensation or feeling) lower extremities this situation may also result in tissue trauma (sores, wounds) to the back of the leg.
• A overly deep seat will not allow the user to sit all the way back against the wheelchair back.
• If the user is forced foward on the seat most of the weight will be located forward on the wheelchair making the chair harder to push.
• Long seats will also add weight to the chair.
• Excessively short wheelchair seat depths will result in increased pressure to the seating area (less surface area). This may increase the risk of tissue trauma.
• Excessively short wheelchair seat depths will result in increased pressure to the seating area (less surface area). This may increase the risk of tissue trauma.
• The amount of support offered by the seat will also diminish possibly causing poor posture.