The Reclining Wheelchair: True Comfort And Functionality
For individuals who must spend a majority of their lives in wheelchairs, comfort becomes a high priority, even higher at times than the ability to get around. Reclining wheelchair options are some of the best ways of maintaining a comfortable existence when unable to stand or walk. Individuals should be able to relax and feel good even when wheelchairs are their only modes of transportation. They should have an equal opportunity to enjoy the abilities others take for granted, such as relaxing in the sun or watching a movie at the theatre, be it for work or for pleasure, without painful necks and backs.
The reclining wheelchair is great for many reasons. Firstly, the user is able to relax and recline in a comfortable and safe manner. Reclining is something that many people take for granted and often do without a second thought. It is relaxing to lie back a little and remove the pressure of remaining upright from the back and the hips.
Before, the only way a handicapped person could recline was to carefully maneuver his or her hips forward without sliding off the chair. This is harder than it sounds when one does not have control of one’s legs and occasionally does not have full feeling at the hips. If done incorrectly, the individual can easily slide off the wheelchair and become injured. With a reclining wheelchair, the back moves backward, lifting the seat slightly to keep the occupant in a safe position while allowing for him or her to lean back into the chair. The chair does not tip when in this position due to anti-tip wheels or gyros, depending on the model.
Anti-tip wheels hold the reclining wheelchair upright if too much weight is placed on the back. This prevents the reclining wheelchair from reclining too far past its center of gravity and tipping. Gyros are sensors that have recently been used to keep the wheelchair upright using computer gravity monitors. These monitors adjust the wheelchair itself to keep the center of gravity over the primary wheels and keep the occupant safe. The gyros are often used by high-end reclining wheelchair manufacturers. Another benefit of using a reclining wheelchair is the return of blood and lymphatic fluid flow throughout the body. During normal transit, the human body keeps the blood and lymphatic fluid flowing through the legs, up the torso and to the ends of each extremity. This circulation is controlled with muscle movement, especially during walking. Since wheelchair occupants often do not have the ability to use their legs, blood and lymphatic fluid can become trapped in the legs, causing painful swelling and possible lymphodemia. Reclining wheelchair users often suffer this painful swelling less frequently than regular wheelchair occupants simply because of the ability to raise their feet level with their bodies or, at times, above their bodies. This causes blood flow and lymphatic fluids to drain out of the lower half of the body and continue on throughout the rest of the body.
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