Finding Your Wheelchair Comfort Zone

At any point in your life, you may find yourself depending on a wheelchair for mobility. While it may be hard to deal with that fact, just remember that your wheelchair can offer you freedom regardless of your injury. Your wheelchair is a wonderful invention that helps you live your life, not limit the life you can live. If you are about to purchase your first wheelchair, replace the current wheelchair you have or plan to keep your current chair, be sure to think about comfort, because there may be some discomfort issues experienced from time to time. Being in a wheelchair doesn't mean you have to be uncomfortable - there are several things you can do to make your wheelchair conducive to your comfort level. If you are experiencing an uncomfortable feeling when sitting in your wheelchair, you may want to purchase a seat cushion. There are several wheelchair cushions on the market today that provide added back support and added seating comfort. They range in style, color and can even be custom-made for your chair. Do you have a pain in your neck every time you sit in your wheelchair? If your neck is experiencing pain or needs more support while in your wheelchair, think about purchasing a new head rest. There are several types available - some can be used for stabilizing your neck so there is minimum motion when moving in your chair, or some can just be used as a head rest, offering you full mobility when needed. They are very affordable and easy to install. You can also purchase wheelchair lateral supports that help minimize your head from leaning when you don't want it to. Again, they are very affordable, come in a wide variety of colors and offer that added support when you need it. If you have issues with leg positioning, you may think about purchasing leg abductors. You can purchase wheelchair leg abductors in a few different styles - some are designed to move out of the way when they are not needed, while others are a permanent fixture on your wheelchair. Sometimes gravity doesn't work in our favor and can pull us forward when we don't want to be. If this happens to you while seated in your chair, consider purchasing one of the several lapboards available on the market today. They can help you stay in the position desired in your wheelchair, while offering the added benefit of keeping items you need close to you. Arm control or lack thereof can sometimes cause a wheelchair user to experience discomfort. A myriad of arm supports are available for just about any situation or injury at a very affordable price. If you have a hard time keeping your feet positioned, you may want to purchase a foot rest. They are useful whether you have movement in your feet or not. They can keep your foot in the perfect position to alleviate leg and back pain, or can hold them at the proper position when you can't.