Wheelchair maintenance tips

Authors: Shen Chen, Gao Dayong; Chief Judge: Zhai Hua

Unit: Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center)

This popular science work is one of the popular science materials in the series "Don't be afraid of spinal cord injuries, there are ways to prevent and rehabilitate them"

Wheelchairs are one of the most commonly used assistive devices for people with spinal cord injuries to move around. They are a basic tool that meets the needs of the injured person’s physical condition, lifestyle, and environment. Wheelchairs can help injured people better participate in learning, work, and recreational activities, and thus better participate in social life.

By regularly maintaining the wheelchair and cushion, you can not only extend the service life of the wheelchair, but also prevent the user from physical damage and save various unnecessary expenses.

This time we have specially invited a rehabilitation therapist to answer some common knowledge about wheelchair maintenance. Let’s take a look at the relevant knowledge questions and answers below!

A: Although home maintenance of wheelchairs can reduce repairs, proper maintenance is still necessary. In addition to professional wheelchair repairers and friends who are good at repairing wheelchairs, we can also find people or places that may repair wheelchairs from the following people:

Answer: The following aspects need to be paid attention to:

01

Check the wheelchair for rust and look for cracks, wear, dirt or protrusions on metal parts, as these problems can reduce the strength of the material and cause parts to break, resulting in injury to the patient.

02

Check the seat and back fabric for proper tension. Good fabric can effectively support the body and make the injured feel comfortable when using it. However, sudden tearing of the fabric may cause injury.

03

Check the cushion cover and contents for wear, dirt and holes, especially the wear of the molded cushion, which needs to be checked by a professional. It is important to note that the life of the cushion is shorter than the wheelchair, so regular inspection of the cushion will help the injured person know when to replace the cushion.

A: You can use warm water and a little soap, wash and dry. Pay special attention to moving parts and where the upholstery meets the wheelchair frame. Cleaning the wheelchair and seat regularly can prevent rusting of metal parts, rotting of wooden parts and upholstery, and damage to moving parts caused by dirt and scratches.

A: Lubricating all moving parts (bearings, etc.) with lubricating oil can keep the wheelchair components running smoothly and prevent rust.

A: If you find that the wheelchair screws are loose, tighten them with a wrench or screwdriver (please be careful not to tighten too much). Regular maintenance of wheelchair screws can avoid unnecessary movement of wheelchair parts, discomfort to the user, and wear or loss of parts.

A: Yes. Squeeze two adjacent spokes along the wheel at the same time. If they bend when you pull them lightly, it means they are too loose. If they feel stiff, it means they are too tight. Regular maintenance of wheelchair spokes can prevent wheel deformation and damage.

In addition to the above hardware inspection and maintenance, patients should consider the following issues:

When using a wheelchair in daily life, what problems do you encounter that you cannot solve by yourself?

If you encounter difficulties while using a wheelchair, can they be resolved quickly and efficiently?

Is the wheelchair safe to use?

Can you sit upright in your wheelchair long enough?

Have you recently developed a pressure sore or signs of a pressure sore?

(Some pictures in this article are from the Internet)

References:

[1] World Health Organization. Wheelchair Service Basic Course [M]. 1st edition, October 2014. Haitian Publishing House, 2014.