I was newly paralyzed in 1992. I adjusted to life in a wheelchair but was totally in the dark concerning
prevention of wounds. The problem is when we spend
many hours in a wheelchair over a long period of time pressure builds up, especially in the sacral area of the spine.
It can take years before a wound finally opens up and then
in most cases it will take years to heal and can cause infections and death. The way to prevent ulcers is to have
the right equipment. Most insurances cover the necessary equipment with a doctor's or physical therapist's order.
It is crucial to have a proper mattress on your bed. Air mattresses are the best pressure relieving mattresses.
But they must be specifically designed for pressure relief.
Not all air mattresses qualify. Your local Durable Medical Equipment company can help with this or you can search online for pressure relieving air mattresses, not overlays.
I have found one that is very good for pressure relief as well as easy to transfer from to your wheelchair. It is called Sentech ** Sentry 1200 You can find this mattress at other stores. Just type the name in your search engine, i.e.**Google, Yahoo, etc.
It is also necessary to have a proper cushion on your
wheel- chair. **Roho air cushions are the best to relief pressure and prevent wounds. You can look for Roho cushions in other stores also or call your local DME company.
Another thing that is very important is to keep shifting
your body from side to side and doing push ups in your wheelchair. This is done by placing hands on armrests
and pushing up as far as you can, hold it for as long as possible and then slowly let yourself down. Do as many repetitions as possible without fatiguing yourself.
** Just click on underlined words to take you
to sites that will better assist you.
