Page 15 - Mobility Management, November 2018

reducing heat buildup and encouraging moisture evaporation, introducing heat can be helpful in cold temperatures as well — or simply when a wheelchair user transitions from a hot day outdoors to an air-conditioned room.
“For someone who struggles with
temperature control, that can be a drastic
temperature swing,” said Barbara Bowden,
Associate Product Manager of Seating
& Custom Seating for Sunrise Medical. “It can cause shivering and make them uncomfortable. With a gentle heating force, the client will be more comfortable outdoors on cold days and in over air-conditioned rooms.”
Management by Design
Another strategy is to build microclimate management right into the cushion’s or backrest’s design.
For example, Supracor’s Stimulite honeycomb is antibacterial and antifungal, while also providing ventilation via the structure of the honeycomb itself. (The machine-washable honeycomb
cushions also dry quickly).
Many manufacturers place cutouts in the
backrest shell to provide ventilation — as a bonus, those cutouts also typically reduce backrest weight. And some back systems
— such as Symmetric Designs’ Free Form Seating and Matrix Seating USA’s products — combine ventilation with robust adjusta- bility to accommodate clients who need high levels of complex postural support.
As Symmetric Designs’ Executive VP Sam Hannah, ATP, said: “Free Form is a completely ventilated seating shell, and when covered in Stimulite, provides a completely ventilated seating system. Heat and moisture are dissipated through the cover (air mesh), padding (honeycomb Stimulite) and shell (modular clamp and connector array). The open design facilitates air circulation and provides a healthier environment for skin by allowing their supported posture to be exposed to air flow.”
The bottom line: There are many ways to manage microclimate via technology — which should feel like a breath of fresh air to wheelchair users. m
Access4U®
Modular Ramps Threshold Ramps MINI Ramps Portable Folding Ramps
Access for Living
Access4U was established to provide people with affordable access to their homes. Access4U ramps are manufactured to the highest standards. With proper installation Access4U ramps are compliant with the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and International Building Code (IBC) requirements. Access4U products are manufactured in the United States.
Access4U Inc.
PO Box 2535, Lower Burrell, PA 15068 | Tel: 800-355-7025
www.access4uinc.com | customerservice@access4uinc.com See us in Booth 2332 at Medtrade
MobilityMgmt.com MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | NOVEMBER 2018 15
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