Page 24 - Mobility Management, May 2017

ATP Series
Showing Their Age
Why Wheelchair Seat Cushions Wear Out — And a Standards Update
“There are multiple factors that can help accelerate cushion aging,” he said. “Dirt, food, liquids and a multitude of other things come in contact with the cushion on a daily basis.”
Kara Kopplin, senior research manager/research and inno- vation for Permobil, said, “Wheelchair cushions play such an important role in protecting the health, function and well-being of the user, and they have to survive environments and use that can be very damaging over time. Just daily sitting and transfer- ring provides a mechanical stress to the cushion, and adding in moisture from sweat and incontinence, as well as exposure to body temperatures or higher (especially if left in a car!) can all potentially shorten the useful life of the cushion.”
Susan Cwiertnia, PT, MS, director of medical for VARILITE, noted, “There are many everyday factors that impact how a wheelchair cushion ages. A major factor is how much time
the user spends in their wheelchair during the day and their activity level. Some users can spend as much as 16 hours a day in the wheelchair!
“The activity levels vary from sitting in an office most of the day to higher activity levels with frequent transfers throughout the day and transporting in a vehicle. Whether the cushion is used primarily in an indoor or outdoor environment impacts
By Laurie Watanabe
As a critical interface between wheelchair and user, complex rehab seat cushions have a huge impact on positioning and overall mobility efficiency.
They’re expected to be breathable. Many provide positioning via contouring. They might use multiple types of media — for example, gel bladders in addition to layers of foam — to be mindful of weight distribution in critical areas. For ultralight- weight wheelchair users, cushions need to be lightweight so they don’t make self propelling more difficult.
And naturally, cushions are expected to be “comfortable” and “durable,” definitions that vary from user to user.
WHEN LIFE HAPPENS
Like any often-used equipment, seat cushions do wear down
— and ironically, when ATPs and clinicians do a great job of building a seating and wheeled mobility system, its cushion may age more quickly because it’s being used extensively. The goal the seating team aims for — a fully functional consumer — can be the exact thing that wears down a cushion.
Jeff Rogers, senior product manager of pediatrics and seating for Sunrise Medical, confirmed that much of what causes cushions to age can be linked to everyday wheelchair use.
24 MAY 2017 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
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