7 replies to this topic

[Kaz=1983]

I'm a C5-C6 and been in a chair now for 5 years, I'm also quite tall seeing as I'm 6'2 and also on the thin side ... now seeing as I haven't got a gut or any physical real trunk support, I have to relie on my seat back to provide me with balance and stability ... I've found this hard, I've tried Quickie upholstery, a Carbon fibre back and now a V-track back ... funnily enough the best seat back/upholstery I've tried is the upholstery on a rugby chair borrowed for 9 months, it was upholstery used by Melrose or Kiwi Concept Chairs on their rugby-chairs ... that said I know a couple guys one who is a similar level who doesn't seem to have this problem, he is a fair bit shorter than me however - it almost seems if your on the shorter side or have a bit of a gut on you, you don't these problems;

Quote

the only way I can do it this way is to sit hunched, as it pushes my tummy out and makes me feel or at least my torso very stable ... with my tummy straighter and my back arched, I feel good to begin with but after awhile I find myself feeling unstable or my spine want to curve forward

Anyway I'm not sure what to do ... the way I'm sitting ATM is slightly hunched, pushing my tummy out and this seems to make me feel like more stable when pushing or working with both hands ...



In the past when I try to sit up straighter although it feels better to begin with, after awhile I seem to feel unstable or my spine want to curve forward ... it's annoying cos as I said it feels better sitting with my bottom half of my back more straigher, here's what I mean ...



I need to find a way to support my back, keep it straight ... I know your supposed to do this via your seating position and height/angle of your seat back but the only way I can do it this way is to sit hunched, as it pushes my tummy out and makes me feel or at least my torso very stable ... with my tummy straighter and my back arched, I feel good to begin with but after awhile I find myself feeling unstable or my spine want to curve forward [as I said above].


Is there any other tall guys around the C5/C6 level on here who has had the same problem?

If so what have you done about, I feel like I need to wear something around my tummy/lower chest for support or something - at least I be able to sit straighter like in picture B and less hunched back looking!

Edited by Kaz=1983, 02 January 2009 - 07:44 AM.

[Grumpy]

I have the same problem. I'm a C8/T1 incomplete with no abdominal muscle control. I'm 6'3" and have a gut. The chair that the VA gave me has too high a back rest with not enough lean. If I sit up straight I fall forward, so I slump in the chair which makes my gut look bigger and gives me worse posture and makes my neck hurt. I had hoped to fix the problem with a different chair and back rest.

I guess I can't offer you a solution, but I can commiserate with you and let you know that you're not alone. You said the best upholstery you found was on a rugby chair. Is that something you can find and have put on your chair? Could you use a lumbar support to push your lower back out some?

[nomis]

I'm not as tall as you guys and my level is lower at T4 but I can identify with the problem. If became a growing cenern for me so a few years ago I had a solid Jay back fitted and played around with my cushioning and the slopes of my chair, footplates, etc.

The solid back was awkward at first but I quickly got used to it and my posture generally was much improved and pushing easier. I still gradually slide to a slump, specially when tired, so constantly have to re-prop-up myself which works ok. And I deliberately slouch at times to get balance when doing some task. A sort of compromise solution.

Grumpy's suggestion of a lumbar support (foam sausage) could be good, too. I've tried it - good when at a desk working but not so good being active for me.

Edited by nomis, 27 January 2009 - 08:14 AM.

[Grumpy]

I've got a solid Jay backrest now that's tall, above my shoulder blades, and I think it's a lot of the reason I slump. That and bad posture from forever. I was thinking that if I got a shorter backrest and could angle it enough, I might be able to overcome the posture issue and sit on my butt and not my sacrum. Does that sound like it might work?

[nomis]

Only one way to find out. The Jay-back should lower with adjustment. It's a hassle, but a long process of trial and error is probably the best way to a solution. Often with an adjustment it can take me several days or even a week to discover if I like it. You know, the first day you can feel like you're falling over but a few days later you've adapted and can't go back to the old way. It's tedious but I'd say keep experimenting till you're happy.

The back of my chair comes up almost to the level of my break. I might benefit from having it a little lower but I know if I go too far I'm in all sorts of danger of losing my balance backwards (that that happens so fast).

[cubanito_016]

bro I am a t5 complete i have been like this for ayear already and its hard for me to sit straigth for some reason and i got no abdominal feelin so i got the same probelm to.My therapist tell me to sit straigth and they dont have idea how hard it is

[Grumpy]

cubanito, I had a similar problem with the Dr that set me up in this chair. It sucks.

nomis, the backrest won't adjust low enough to try what I want to try and won't adjust any more angle-wise to help me. I have to go back and see the prosthetics folks in a week or so, and I'm hoping for a new chair.

[Jax]

The J3 backs have an insertable foam system that a good wheelchair fitter can help u with. I have a friend that is a T4 that it helped greatly. Not sure how he has it set up exactly, but can ask him if I remember. I have a J3 back, but the regular adjustments did fine for me because of the enormous amount of hardware I have. The guy that set up my chair is the one who actually showed me how the specially shaped foam inserts work. It's on the J3 website though. If you find something that works, would u please let me know? I like to keep up, as I am soon to start school to be an OTA. Thanks.