However, there are ways to control the pain. Here are some options available to wheelchair users with joint pain, to give relief and better alleviate the pain.

Exercise: Particularly of the upper body to strengthen and keep those arm, shoulder and chest joints and muscles supple/ flexible. Regularly doing this, your body will be able to withstand  better, the stress that manual wheelchair use puts on the upper body.

Medication: A major reason why one would need to use a wheelchair, will be as a result of a Spinal Injury.

Sometimes, the injury is complete and the whole affected area is numb. At other times though, that injury didn’t affect the entire nervous system, so that pain can still be felt.

The only options in this case, is either Surgery or Medication. Your physician will help you decide which is best for you. And give medication to reduce the pain. There are lots of available pain medications in different doses for different types of pain.

Hereditory/ Genetic: If the cause is genetic, there is no current treatment available for that,  aside from Pain Relief and Management. Therefore, it might be a better option to opt for an Electric/ Power Wheelchair.

Electrically Operated Wheelchairs will do the hard work of pushing your wheelchair and keeping mobile, for you.

Though the maintenance of an electric wheelchair might be slightly tedious, it’s a good investment if you don’t want to add stress on your body.

Diet / Overall Body Weight: It is important to maintain body weight at a reasonable average level. Obesity has been found to considerably add to joint pain.

This is due to the fact that the joints and muscles now have to support that extra weight – Just like when one is really, really tired – and is then given extra chores to do. Remember how that makes you feel?

It is advisable to maintain a Low-Fat Diet and watch your Calorie Intake. This way, you won’t have to worry too much about how to burn off the excess.

Fear not – There is plenty of Low-Fat, Low Calorie, Scrumptiously tastey meals you can make, or improvise on.

And Exercise. Again! We can’t emphasis this one enough!

With these options presented, if you are a wheelchair user, Then you know you have fewer worries with experiencing joint pain. It is just a matter of choice which way to go.

Trusted Joint Supports: True Relief for Achy Joints!

Trusted Joint Supports: True Relief for Achy Joints!

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1. Joint Pain in Wheelchair Users: What Factors Influence This? Wheelchair users are usually at risk of developing joint pain....

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A lot of factors lead to the development of joint pain. But for wheelchair users, a number of specific reasons are commonly its’ cause.

One of such factors that cause joint pain is the constant hard use of the shoulder and elbow joints. Especially in cases of manual wheelchair use. Excessive use of the joints in the shoulder and elbow may wear out the disks on those joints, causing pain.

The muscles controlling the joint must also be taken into account. Your muscles may cause harm to a joint if  it isn’t able to handle the strain placed on  it.  This is why it is important to  exercise and stretch your muscles regularly – No matter how light.

Improperly exercised joint muscles become weaker and cannot effectively function to support the stress placed on the joints. When this happens, the muscles will do more harm than good to the joint. Causing pain.

Our Diet is another factor most of us tend to overlook but which is a very important factor. Food is one of the many joys of life and it’s no wonder we over-indulge in it sometimes – especially our favourites and those with a sweet disposition. And most especially for comfort.

It’s OK to indulge ourselves as much as we like. The only problem is, we need to find a way to burn off the excess, or it adds up on our body mass. Which adds up to the extra weight our joints need to support.

As a result of reduced mobility and physical workout in one using a wheelchair, those extra pounds eventually add up – Leading to Obesity.

Obesity in wheelchair users will cause back pain. This is because the increased load on the spinal joints put more strain on them.  With prolonged strain in the spinal joints, injury to the spinal disks may result, which will then result in excruciating back pain.

Our Genes: Some persons are genetically disposed to having a weak bone structures. If a wheelchair user is one of them, he is prone to have joint pain. A weak bone structure  is unable to handle the stress of using wheelchairs manually.

As time progresses, the degeneration of the bone will increase and make the shoulder joint fully unusable.

Extra Support for Joint Pain Relief to Ease Your Burden

Extra Support for Joint Pain Relief to Ease Your Burden

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It is characterised by neurological disorders, learning disabilities or mental retardation.

Types of mental disabilities include Dementia, Schizophrenia, Dyslexia, Depression …

A common disadvantage of mental disabilities is the fact that – as the name implies - it is not physically so obvious – unlike a deformity.

This report on  The Special Problems of the Mentally Disordered  really gives you a deep insight on this sensitive matter.

Some of the Challenges which should Raise Our Concern for the Mentally Disabled Include:

• An inability to make appropriate decisions about matters essential to their own well-being – Cooking, Dressing right for the weather, Unawareness of their environment, Inability to recognise/ protect themselves from dangerous situations…
• A tendency to unleash violence upon themselves, or on those around them; Unusual aggressiveness; A wish to take own’s life…
• Easily distracted or disoriented - placing themselves and others at risk of harm…

Living with a Mental Disability is Emotionally and Physically Challenging - Both to the Mentally Disabled and their Carers/ Family.

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It is not based on [the] disability but the needs arising from it. Needs involving bodily functions such as bathing, feeding, dressing up…

Getting qualified to recieve this benefit takes a lot of time – applying for forms, filling the forms (There 59 pages of very personal, depressing stuff to fill in), getting the medical assessments, waiting for those results and those of other medical/ physiological/ institutuional… bodies involved in the referral and assessments.

It does take a lot of time and painstaking effort to put it all together (hopefully) right. All the while being at the painful mercy of that disability.

Nearly half the time, though, the application is usally rejected. Then the entire process starts all over again, as the disabled applicant tries to appeal for a re-assessment. Or makes an appeal to the tribunal.

Now, the big question on the lips of many is – What’s all the fuss about DLA?! Everything else is being cut, Why not DLA as well?!! To which the simple and Honest answer is …

Because as a result of their disability, the disabled get paid much lower wages/ salaries than their non-disabled collegues.

Because, much as they would love to, the disabled cannot work for as long or as consistently as the non-disabled. There are days when the failings of their minds/ bodies mean searing pain and agony.

Because the disabled cannot do many of the everyday tasks and activities non-disabled people do without thinking about it, nor of it – Skipping out of bed, Bathing, dressing up…

Because they need special care, treatment, therapies, transport and daily living aids/ equipment to achieve what the non-disabled would, without much effort. All which come at a monetary cost.

Because an increasing pressure on social care budgets mean DLA is often the only financial support those living with a disability get.

Because it is more expensive to live as a disabled person in our society.

And THAT is the reason why NOT to cut Disability Living Allowance. Nor to deny those that trully need it.

It’s there to bridge the gap between the disabled and the non-disabled. So they also, can achieve their full potential – Even with a disability!

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With so many mobility wheelchairs on offer, it may be easy to get distracted from choosing the right wheelchair to meet your needs.

So, we’ve put together 5 Buying Tips and Recommendations to guide you in your search.

The First – and Most Important Factor – is to Determine your Strength and Abilities. Do you have arms and legs at all? Have you had to have one or the other amputated at some point due to a medical condition? If you do have arms and / or legs, Can you move them at all? How easy is it for you to do this?

These questions will help to determine if you will be operating your wheelchair by yourself. Or if you will need help operating it.

If you do have arms that are strong enough to push you around in your wheelchair, then what you most likely need is a manual wheelchair. On the other hand, if you can move your hands but will tire easily pushing yourself around, an electric / power wheelchair will better serve you.

The Second Factor is to Define What You Hope to Achieve Using Your Wheelchair. Will you want the wheelchair for short distance, indoor use? i.e within your home – moving from room to room? Then you might want to consider a manual wheelchair. Will you push it yourself? – get a self propelled, manual one. Or will you need help from a carer / friend? An attendant propelled, manual wheelchair is best for this.

Are you the active type? Do you plan to go for outdoor trips? Trips or camping on rough grounds need a heavy duty, electronic / power wheelchair. These wheelchairs have an extremely strong body, and tyres which can cope with the roughest terrain.

Will you need to transport your disability wheelchair – in your car, van or use a bus / train – when travelling long distances? You might want to consider a folding wheelchair option. Manual and Powered Wheelchairs all have foldable options.

Third, Your Medical Condition. Certain medical conditions make it impossible to self-operate a wheelchair. Such conditions may include Epilepsy, Dementia… For an epileptic sufferer, the unpredictability of the attacks make it unsafe to operate a wheelchair. Dementia causes patients to become largely unaware of their surroundings. For such people – even though they may have strong arms – an attendant propelled wheelchair, pushed by another well capable person is the solution.

The Fourth Point to Note is Your Comfort and Safety. How often will you be sitting in this wheelchair? For how long? You have enough to worry about in the course of the day. The last thing you want to do, is add discomfort to the list.

Since you most likely will be spending a considerable amount of time in your wheelchair, your comfort and safety is key. Check that you have the right size. Seat measurement – width, height, depth, back height – and weight capacity are the usual standards of wheelchair measurement.

And probably an easily adjustable one too. You may put on weight in the coming years. You need a wheelchair that will accommodate that – especially for the really expensive models. Then how easy is it to adjust your position? This is really important in preventing pressure sores – a common problem with wheelchair bound users.

What safety features – brakes and anti-tipping devices, e.t.c – are included?

A good practice is to invest in additional wheelchair accessories – cushion, clothing, e.t.c. This customizes and enhances your comfort and use of the wheelchair.

Lastly, the Fifth Key Point is Your Environmental Layout. You should consider here the design of your home, office or where you will be using the wheelchair most in.

How easy is it to maneuver there? Do you have enough space? How about the ease of storage? Passage through doors? E.t.c?

Taking these into consideration will help you get the most from your wheelchair. You may want / need to modify and re-design your living / work space to make this possible.

Of course, you will need to consult with a physician or therapist to assess your needs first. To figure out the features and options that are best suited for you.

Whatever option you choose, there is always one to fit your budget. You know what they say – Where there is a will, there is always a way!

There are other questions you may want to consider in choosing your ideal wheelchair to meet your mobility, comfort and independence need. These basic ones are most important to consider and will get you well on your way.

Choose The Right Wheelchair and Wheelchair Accessories to Meet Your Mobility Needs

Choose The Right Wheelchair and Wheelchair Accessories to Meet Your Mobility Needs

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Your Wheelchair Brakes are a very, very important part of the wheelchair.

Other wheelchair parts are also important, but most especially the brakes. Pay particular attention to them – They help to maintain stability.

A wheelchair brake works by making contact with its tyres and clamping on them. This prevents the rotation of the wheel, bringing the chair to a stop.

Before sitting down into, standing up or leaning over to pick objects from a wheelchair, the safety brakes must be applied. When you do this you prevent your chair from rolling away from you, causing you to lose your balance – And in most cases, causing a nasty wheelchair accident.

You will usually find the controls for the brakes on the side of the wheelchair, the armrest for power chairs. Or under the seat – depending on the model. For those who cannot use hand controls, braking and safety shut-off controls may be operated by breath control of the mouth, voice control, orally… New inventions are released regularly, to empower more people with a handicap to use a wheelchair safely.

Regular maintenance of the wheelchair brakes are important for your safety. Otherwise, a loose bolt may cause an inadequate braking. This could cause the wheelchair to roll off, when you most need it to stay put. Causing an accident.

Many wheelchair brakes act directly on the tyres. To ensure your safety and protection while using a wheelchair, it is important to replace your tyres as they wear out. Also, keep them correctly inflated to maintain the required pressure for top performance. Or you may use puncture-proof tyres instead.

Some quick reminders on practicing wheelchair safety for brakes include:

• Always apply the brakes when getting into and out of your wheelchair.

• When lifting the wheelchair into your car, wheelchair lift, e.t.c, put the brakes on to prevent the wheels from spinning.

• If you will be sitting in the wheelchair while it is being transported, in a bus or van, then be sure to have the brakes on.

• Carry out regular maintenance to check that the wheel locks / brakes are secured tightly to the wheelchair frame. And that it is easily accessible when you need to apply it

• Brakes work directly on tyres. Keep the tyres in top condition to prevent brake failures.

• Read and follow the Owners’ Manual on safety guidelines.

 Being mindful of your wheelchair brakes will definitely go a long way in protecting you from mishaps. If you have any problems with it or can’t fix it properly by yourself, then you could ask an able friend / relative. Or contact your local wheelchair dealer to have it serviced.

Your safety depends on it!

Trusted Wheelchair Accessories to Help Prevent Wheelchair Accidents and Improve Your Safety

Trusted Wheelchair Accessories to Help Prevent Wheelchair Accidents and Improve Your Safety

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Several factors contribute to the many accident risk, using a wheelchair exposes one to. One of such is the wheelchair wheels itself.

A wheelchair is a chair on wheels, basically. Without the wheels, there is no wheelchair. This will give you an insight into how important the wheels are on your wheelchair.

Here, we will share on how to take care of the wheels on your wheelchair. So you may protect yourself and others from accidents and grief.

The choice of wheels on your wheelchair is a factor which decides the sort of care and attention you need to pay to them, in preventing accidents.

Your wheelchair wheels also affect how smooth or rough, riding over different grounds will be; How easily you can turn the wheels; How fast or slow the wheelchair can go; and How smooth it is to control. These are all affected by the wheelchair wheels, its’ tyres and casters.

The wheels could be Pneumatic or Solid, Puncture-Proofed.

Pneumatic wheels are air-filled and give a less bumpy ride. But require more care and maintenance than the solid, puncture-proof tyres.

Here are 10 safety tips to observe in keeping your wheelchair wheels / tyres accident-proof.

i. Check the tyre pressure regularly. Keep them inflated at the right pressure, as specified on the tyre itself. This makes it roll easily and smoothly.

ii. Be sure the wheels are well threaded. And not threadbare.

iii. Replace tyres when they become worn and threadbare.

iv. For a manual wheelchair, check the front and rear wheels to ensure they spin freely.

v. Check the wheel alignment. Is it straight? A quick and easy way to do this is to push the wheelchair across a flat area. If it goes in a straight line, then all is well. Otherwise, the wheel might be out of alignment and needs some straightening out. Or the bearings may have weakened and need to be replaced. Or then, maybe the spokes have become loose or damaged.

vi. Keep clothes and other attachments away from getting caught in the wheel spokes.

vii. Wheelchair wheels lose their grip on the road when wet, making them slippery. Be careful in the rain, snow or on wet surfaces. If possible stay indoors till the elements are dry again. Or maybe travel in a wheelchair van.

viii. Keep all four wheels firmly on the ground at all times when riding.

ix. Check that the brakes don’t touch the tyres while rolling. This can affect the ease with which the tyres roll, causing unnessesary wear. Make adjustments if they do touch.

x. Take your wheelchair to the specialist regularly to maintain top performance

And finally, keep the wheelchair wheels safely in the locked position when you are parked; Before you stand up from the wheelchair and before sitting down in it. This is a common factor which causes a lot of falls and accidents amongst wheelchair users.

Be careful! Observe Wheelchair Safety Rules. Prevention is easier, safer and less painful than cure!

Trusted Wheelchair Accessories to Help Prevent Wheelchair Accidents

Trusted Wheelchair Accessories to Help Prevent Wheelchair Accidents

 

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It’s time to move on now. As all brave people must, with life experiences.

And getting instructions on how to use a wheelchair for your mobility, is definitely a step in the right direction.

First, you need access to a well fitted, comfortable and functional wheelchair. It could be a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair or attendant-propelled wheelchair. You could borrow, rent or buy it.

Before you do anything else, apply the brakes. If it is a power wheelchair, turn it off. This will prevent the wheelchair from rolling away as you try to sit in it, causing a nasty accident.

When you are safely and comfortably sitted, release the brakes. Now you are ready to start rolling the wheelchair.

Instructions on How To Move Forward: Place your hands on the rims of the larger back wheels. Push the wheels forward. You will notice the wheelchair inch forward slowly. Let go of the wheel rims.

Repeat the motion, placing your hands on the larger back wheels and pushing them forward. Again and again. Pushing forward slowly, till you get the hang of it.

At first, you may find that you need to look at both wheels before pushing forward – That’s O.K. With time, you will instinctively know where they are, and push without looking. Gaining speed with experience.

Instructions on How To Reverse or go Backwards: Place your hands on the larger back wheels again. Then, instead of pushing forward on them, pull the wheel rims backwards.

Instructions on How To Turn to the left or right on your wheelchair: This may be more tricky at first, but just practice doing it again and again. Soon you will get it.

Instructions on How To Turn Left in the Wheelchair: Hold the left back wheel firmly still. Don’t move that. Instead, push forward against the rim of the right back wheel. This will cause the wheelchair to turn left. To turn right, do the opposite – right wheel firmly still, push only left wheel rim forward.

Also important is minding the simple wheelchair safety rules:

• Always apply brakes when you stop or park.

• Do not lean forward or backwards while sitting in the wheelchair. Rather, turn the wheelchair at an angle, such that you can pick objects up from the side.

• When going up a slope, lean forward slightly to balance your center of gravity, so you don’t tip over backwards…

Best of luck as you take your first solo ride. Remember to practice before an experienced person or professional before taking the plunge.

Trusted Manual/ Power Wheelchairs to Provide Solutions to Your Mobility Problems

Trusted Power/ Manual Wheelchairs to Provide Solutions to Your Mobility Problems

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I hope, by highlighting some of those challenges in this article, everyone becomes more aware of them. So we can all work together to create a safer and fairer world for ourselves, our families and communities.

The problems include but are not limited to:

1. Buildings with doorways, corridors or parking lots that are difficult / impossible to pass through, using a wheelchair. This makes it really difficult for wheelchair users to get things done. Things like shopping, visiting friends / relatives, e.t.c

2. Rough, uneven, dangerously sloping grounds, make it really tiring to push wheelchairs – especially Manual Wheelchairs – around.

3. Travelling by public transport – buses, trains, e.t.c takes a lot of time. The majority of time consumption comes from waiting for the buses to get low down enough, and then slide out the ramp access, so the wheelchair can go in. And then, getting off the transport as well…

When you add this to the time it takes a wheelchair user to accomplish the daily care routine of washing, getting dressed, feeding… That is a lot of time out of a 24 hour day!

4. Travelling by train also poses a lot more challenge to the wheelchair user than the buses. Especially negotiating that gap between the train entrance and the platform.

5. Health Problems such as Muscle Cramps and Pressure Sores. As a result of sitting in the wheelchair, or anywhere else – as wheelchair users need to, when not lying down – cramps and pressure sores are a great source of discomfort, concern and challenge.

6. Motorists, Pedestrians and other road users pose another area of challenge to the wheelchair user. Being below the average line of vision while riding a wheelchair on the roads, means that one may not be quickly or clearly seen by others. This has been a cause of many road accidents involving wheelchair users.

7. Finally, and just as important, is the attitude of the society – others – to wheelchair users. Others who do not use a wheelchair, find it a bit difficult to see through the eyes of one. Non-wheelchair users may talk down at one; Totally ignore one; Expect them to do more for themselves, notwithstanding the physical limitations… to mention a few.

All these challenges may seem overwhelming and force a wheelchair user to remain at home. This need not be the case though.

With more information on these challenges; A greater awareness of the available disability aids to overcome them; And an empathic understanding from the society at large, these challenges can and will be overcome.

Make the world safer and more wheelchair-user friendly. Especially as everyone, sooner or later, most likely will end up in one anyway!

For Great Insights into Some of the Real life Challenges of Wheelchair Users, Visit Steve “WheelchairSteve” Wilkinson blog…

Wheelchair Solutions to Your Mobility Problems

Wheelchair Solutions to Your Mobility Problems

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Down syndrome – A genetic condition, resulting from extra genes which restrict physical and intellectual abilities – is one of the causes of learning difficulty.

As affected persons grow older, research has shown that they are more likely to develop Dementia/  Alzheimer’s disease – and at a much younger age.

Learning difficulty/ disability – one of the results of having Down’s syndrome – makes it difficult for those suffering with it to live independent lives; To to achieve basic academic/ vocational success; Nor to find/ keep a job that utilises the individuals full potential.

This, coupled with Dementia when they age, leads to a life of fear and confusion due to memory loss. They become increasingly unable to recognise familiar environments and relationships.

They gradually become dependent on family members/ others for every basic need – Eating, medication, clothing appropriately, safety…

This, further exposes them to a life of increasingly total dependency, as they lose awareness of their surroundings and the dangers present around them.

This article from Joseph RownTree Foundation sums it all so well:

Derek’s starting to feel his age…but, unlike many of us, he doesn’t have any family around to help him out. He never married or had children of his own, and – as a late and only child – he has no siblings either. Derek’s never found it that easy to make others understand him, but now it seems to be getting even harder.

His friend Peter and carer Theresa just don’t get why he’s so often confused and upset. Why does he seem frightened when he goes into the bathroom – perhaps he thinks it’s a stranger looking out of the mirror? Why won’t he eat his dinner – he can’t really tell what’s food, what’s plate and what’s table cloth? Why can’t he find his own bedroom door – maybe it needs to be a different colour from all the other doors? And why is his dear friend Peter starting to behave oddly towards him – is it because he is feeling resentful about the increasing amount of time Theresa gives to Derek instead of him? Couldn’t someone take the time to explain to him, simply and honestly, what’s happening to his old friend?

Derek is one of a growing number of people with a learning difficulty, who has also developed dementia. Due to improvements in medical treatment… [Read More]

Trusted Daily Living Aids to Help Cope with  the Challenges of Dementia and Learning Disability

Daily Living Aids to Help Cope with the Challenges of Dementia and Learning Disability

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