Page 21 - Mobility Management, April 2019

Bollinger listed several: “A tilt-in-space wheelchair provides changes in position for individuals who cannot weight shift inde- pendently. To be effective for pressure relief at the greater tuberos- ities, the tilt angle should be greater than 25°. Tilting an individual while maintaining their relative body angles provides the benefits of positioning changes without eliciting increases in spasticity, such as those caused when opening the hip angle when using recline.
“By positioning the individual in a tilted position, edematous legs can be elevated slightly above the level of the heart to help the extra fluid move back towards the heart for circulation to the rest of the body. This is often best achieved with elevating legrests and recline back. Additional physiological benefits of tilting an individual include respiration, digestion, hypotension, and autonomic dysreflexia.”
“The ability to achieve a variety of seat angles,” said Debbie Pucci, PT, MPT, Ki Mobility, “can contribute to a safe, more stable posture, reducing the risk of aspiration. It also allows for access to tables and other appliances, and positions for improved visual access to the environment for socialization. All of this can be provided while still providing beneficial changes related to tissue loading.”
“Over time,” Frank added, “tilt-in-space chairs have been highly adapted to the needs of the people who use them. This includes the addition of features such as recline options, dynamic backrests and legrests, contracture footrests, elevating legrests, etc., to meet
postural support or medical needs of those people.”
“Sitting for long periods of time causes your spine to collapse,”
Gonzalez added, “affecting your respiratory system along with organs. Expanding the trunk in a tilt-in-space improves breathing, blood circulation and organ function.
“If your body has some weakness from a neuromuscular disease, you probably experience fatigue. Gravity in a tilt-in- space really can work against our bodies. Tilt can assist our bodies in reducing the amount of effort it takes to remain upright in a wheelchair. Hygiene, range of motion, weight and pressure management can all be improved using a manual wheelchair that can adapt and change to meet a patient’s daily needs.”
Technological Differences
The E1161 code comprises a number of diverse wheelchair designs and capabilities.
“The Quickie IRIS has always been a robust and durable frame,” said Jesus Ibarra, Product Manager, Adult Manual, Sunrise Medical. “Sunrise recently upgraded the weight capacity on the IRIS to 300 lbs. on a standard frame and up to 400 lbs. on the heavy-duty frame. This allows more clients to fit into a lighter-weight and maneuverable tilt-in-space wheelchair.”
He added, “There are differences between tilt chairs that
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