30 replies to this topic

[kansasmom]

My son "C", 15 years old, has just been measured for his first set of wheels. It looks like he will get a Quickie Q7. There is an outside chance he will need to get a folding chair (he's incomplete and stands from the chair with a walker so we need to check the Q7 first to see if that is possible). If he gets folding it will be a Quickie 2. Assume for the moment he'll get a Q7, but if you have thoughts on the Quickie 2 please do share those also.

What I need is your advice/tips on where to spend our money. Docs have requested the following:

• ultra-light chair
  
• tubular, flip-away armrests
  
• adjustable angle foot positioning
  
• custom foam seat
  
• adjustable tension, low profile back
  
• padded pelvic belt
  
• pneumatic tires with airless inserts
  
• spoke wheels with camber
  
• standard wheel locks
  
• anti-tips

I know insurance won't cover everything we want, or maybe even need. I'd like your thoughts on where we should spend money to get extras. What did you decide was worth the $$$ when you got your chair? Did insurance make you pay for any of the above things? What do you now wish you had asked for, or done without?

Thanks

Edited by kansasmom, 23 October 2011 - 03:01 PM.

[KayDub]

I've been having sooooo many problems with my DME, but I finally called the head offices and got things moving. I got measured for a Q 7 and all the paperwork was sent to my insurance company last week. They have quick turnover and provided they don't deny it again (lazy woman who is managing my account sent the papers in incomplete because she didn't feel like asking the person in her office who had the info for it). So hooray Q7s, I'm pretty excited to get mine, hopefully soon since I got out of the hospital in June and am sick of the folding loaner chair I have.

Anyway that stuff looks okay with my limited knowledge. Although with his injury level, I wouldn't recommend the armrests. I'm a T 10 incomplete, who can kind of get up on crutches for about 5 ft at a time in my house (unfortunately I've had some degeneration with my "injury" level, since the damage was caused by a virus that's still lurking there no matter what doctors do). However, I said no way to the armrests. I was very lucky to have a guy at Craig Hospital do my order form, so he didn't push any unnecessary extras on me like some reps will.

How high is the back on his chair, do you know? With his low injury, you probably don't want it too high. But like the armrests it's a matter of personal preference. I just know I don't like either, nor do many paras.

I know I also got wheel locks that aren't standard, because I didn't like the big ones sticking out. I forget what they're called but they're underneath my seat.

Other than that pretty much looks like what I'm getting. I'm getting really small push handles on my low back because I use them sooo much to carry things, and a holder underneath my chair just doesn't fit enough stuff (mostly textbooks).

The Quickie 2 is pretty similar, originally the DME had me down for that. When I found out I flipped and made them change it (which is when I found out my rep had been "let go" and they said I'd have to "start over"). I just want to be independent and am getting hand controls installed on my dad's car that I use (mine got totaled unfortunately). A folding chair doesn't allow me to take the car on my own. It's also heavier, hopefully you'll get the Quickie 2 Lite. I just hate the folding loaner chair I have (it's a TiLite something) because it's not as sturdy.

I have pretty decent insurance, it's Tricare, which is military insurance (my dad is an army colonel). They're pretty good at covering things, hopefully I'll hear back on Monday if they approved my claim. Since I didn't get many "extras" per se, I hope they won't charge extra. They denied the first two requests, the first because the DME didn't submit any doctors information and the second because the DME insisted my PT fill out the paperwork, and I was no longer with the PT because she didn't understand SCI but I hadn't found a new one yet. She didn't know how to fill out most of the paperwork and after 2 weeks of the DME woman and my PT sitting there being like uhhh I can't do this, I had them call each other to fill it out together. When it was denied the DME said they had no idea why but they got sent a more extensive form and when I called my insurance directly they said it was because the paperwork had blanks... Arrrrghhhhh. So I made sure the last set of 6 pages with everything from my injury and body measurements to how wide the doors of my house are was filled out correctly by my neurologist who has more info, and I included chart notes. So hopefully there won't be problems this time, especially since the head woman is now monitoring the not very smart woman who was in charge of my account. Isn't the American health care system just peachy?

The less bells and whistles you have, the better chance your insurance will cover it I think. And personally I like the chair being minimal. I don't know how much of a help this was, but good luck to you and your son!

[tsh3406]

kansasmom, on 23 October 2011 - 02:58 PM, said:

My son "C", 15 years old, has just been measured for his first set of wheels. It looks like he will get a Quickie Q7. There is an outside chance he will need to get a folding chair (he's incomplete and stands from the chair with a walker so we need to check the Q7 first to see if that is possible). If he gets folding it will be a Quickie 2. Assume for the moment he'll get a Q7, but if you have thoughts on the Quickie 2 please do share those also.

What I need is your advice/tips on where to spend our money. Docs have requested the following:

• ultra-light chair
• tubular, flip-away armrests
• adjustable angle foot positioning
• custom foam seat
• adjustable tension, low profile back
• padded pelvic belt
• pneumatic tires with airless inserts
• spoke wheels with camber
• standard wheel locks
• anti-tips

I know insurance won't cover everything we want, or maybe even need. I'd like your thoughts on where we should spend money to get extras. What did you decide was worth the $$$ when you got your chair? Did insurance make you pay for any of the above things? What do you now wish you had asked for, or done without?

Thanks

Most of that should be standard equipment on an ultra-light chair, the exceptions would be the cushion (none of my chairs ever came with one), that ajustable backrest (optional on most chairs, and well worth the money) and the pnue. tires with tubeless inserts (don't waste money on that setup, just order the chair with KIK Mako or similar solid, one piece tires). As for the anti-tipper and armrests, probably a waste of money, I always found them to get in the way. The gait belt you can probably find anywhere, cheap. Try a rigid frame before buying a folder, the rigids are lighter and much less maintainence. If you get onto a chair manufacturers website, you can find order forms and get an idea how much each option adds on to the price. It will also show you what options are covered by insurance. If I remember correctly, I went through United Seating in KC and they ordered my chair with LOTS of options, but my only out-of-pocket expense was the standard, durable med equip co-pay....

Tim

Edited by tsh3406, 23 October 2011 - 05:42 PM.

[ajl338]

get the rigid chair. I used to have a folding one but a rigid one is so much more comfortable to ride, easier to push and on the whole just better.
Go for the lightest one you can afford and you cant replace shoulders very easily and they will wear out, not made for pushing.

Also something noone told me. I used to drag myself round on sticks rather than use the chair, the result, damaged wrists and shoulders, if i had just used my chair that wouldnt have happened.

All the light weight chairs are simular, its what you like and more importantly how it is set up.

[Vanessamaee]

I have the Q7 and I wish I wouldve found this site and posted what you did before we ordered it. The doctors tell you that you NEED all of that, and in relatiy, you get rid of most of it in a month or two usually. They told me all the same and half was a waste of money.
About the Q7 from what Ive experienced
*Very light weight
*GET CAMBER! (my loaner chair didnt have it and my real one does and it makes a lot of difference)
*Make sure you have the correct dump in the seat
*as far as angled foot rest, usually you only need that if you have bad foot tapping (starts with a 'C' can't remember what its called though) but I dont have it so mine is just the standard flat footrest
*DONT SUCKER INTO THE ARMRESTS!!! They INSISTED I needed them, the loaner didnt even have them, so the first thing I did was take them off, Ive never used them
*I dont use anti tips but you might wanna get them until hes use to the Balance point
*also tires are totally your call, do your research, do you want light weight or do you want like heavy duty all terrain, what terrain will he be facing the most and choose them based off of that
*I have side fabric guards, Id recommend them just because it keeps your legs from rubbing up against your wheels, which also keeps your pants dry when it rains.
*Cushion is your call too, sounds like hes in and out of the chair a lot, so you probably dont have to worry to much about pressure sores, so get what he feels is comfortable.
*Back handles = waste of money. I hate being pushed so they were off soon too.
*lapbelt/seat = waste of money, I dont think Ive worn mine since the hospital where they made me wear it
*also I got a tension back and HATED it. theyre really bulky. Right now Im still in the loaner because they sized my chair wrong so its still being fixed, but it just has a sling back and its a lot more comfortable, not very durable though, I will be switching to a low hard back soon hopefully (Im a T3/T4.)

Any other questions about it feel free to ask. Ive had a lot of complaints/problems/but still good things about this chair. Not a bad chair at all, all the extra stuff isnt really necessary though.

OH! also the scissor brakes SUCKKK!!!! I stripped both of them off, so I have just standard brakes and they work a lot better. Doesnt help that Im really hard on my chair either... Joys of being active (:

[kansasmom]

KayDub, on 23 October 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

...with his injury level, I wouldn't recommend the armrests. I'm a T 10 incomplete, who can kind of get up on crutches for about 5 ft at a time in my house (unfortunately I've had some degeneration with my "injury" level, since the damage was caused by a virus that's still lurking there no matter what doctors do). However, I said no way to the armrests. I was very lucky to have a guy at Craig Hospital do my order form, so he didn't push any unnecessary extras on me like some reps will.

Kaydub, Now you have me wondering why not armrests. Do they get in the way of pushing? "C" is in a similar situation to you: got out hospital mid-May, with a loaner chair; we expected recovery (and got some in the first 8 weeks), but then he got worse (he has a tumor and it grew again after the surgery). Now he is on the mend after radiotherapy, but he could get worse again. I'm pretty sure he'll want the armrests as he uses them on the loaner chair quite a lot: he uses them when sitting down from standing and although his trunk control is fine, he has low muscle strength and tone in his core so he tires easily at rest. Do you know if the armrests can be removed, or just flipped up out of the way when on the move?

tsh3406, on 23 October 2011 - 05:37 PM, said:

...pnue. tires with tubeless inserts (don't waste money on that setup, just order the chair with KIK Mako or similar solid, one piece tires).
Tim

Tim. Please say more about why you like the KIK Mako over the pneumatics with inserts.
BTW, we are also going through United Seating in KC.

Edited by kansasmom, 23 October 2011 - 07:03 PM.

[tsh3406]

Here's more on solid tires....

http://www.airfreeti...air/default.asp

They are my personal preference because not having any air at all is to only way to guarantee I won't have low air pressure issues in the extreme cold, or flats when off-road. A lot of folks will tell you they ride rougher, and they can, but using Bullfrog front forks eliminates any difference. I spend a lot of time on surfaces other than concrete or asphault, and used to get flats regularly. Keep in mind, doctors don't use chairs, and really don't know anything about them. The chair salesman will be very familiar with every option, and adjustment that can be made to any given chair, and how it will affect your son. Example, the angled footrest (and I think the word is clonus?), that is just simply losening the screws on the footrest, changing the angle to whatever you want, then tightening it back up. You don't really order an ultra-light with an angled footrest. Same goes for camber and toe-in or out, it's all built in, and adjusted after you get the chair.

[SnoDrifterT12]

I really like my Q7 it is a good chair. As said above No need for arm rests, I had them my very first chair and now I don't really know how I ever had them on there. Brakes are going to be a personal preference, I have now moved to ultra lightweight wheel locks, they totally tuck under the chair and are never in the way. For the back rest, adjustable height posts are good so he can lower it as he gets better with the chair, and go with the adjustable tension "vented" back rest. The standard fabric did not breath very well. Biggest this is once the chair comes make sure it is right on to what you/he want not just what they tell you to get. He will be the one using it and the people that tell you what you "need" do not understand as they are not w/c users. I had a long time w/c user help me get my first rigid chair (also a q7) and it was the best thing I could have done. Someone that understands using a chair not a "salesman". Also I prefer pneumatic tires to tires with airless inserts. I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on mine and no flats to report, they also last for years without wearing out. They ride way better with air in them. I get up in my HKAFO braces from the chair no problem, just have to scoot out on the seat a bit. Hopes this helps.

Edit: If you are worried about tire pressure change from temp change going in and out, try Nitrogen in the tires instead of regular air. I live in North Dakota so i go from a 70 degree inside temp to as low as -40 outside all winter long with very little temp change. Any auto tire shop should have a Nitrogen setup. The place I go fill mine for free, and if he gets low mixing regular air won't hurt a thing.

Edited by SnoDrifterT12, 23 October 2011 - 07:39 PM.

[Vanessamaee]

United Seating in KC is who I go through... I hope you have better luck than I did. It has now been 5 months without my chair... Very nice people but they seem to hum and haw and procrastinate... a lot.. They do however do whatever it takes to make sure you're happy with the final product

Edited by Vanessamaee, 23 October 2011 - 11:52 PM.

[kansasmom]

Thanks for all the help guys/gals. Too bad that United Seating are taking so long to get your order Vanessamaee. I was told it would take 3 months - I'm hoping that it won't take any more than that. I am, however, pleased to hear that they make sure you are good with the final product. It's hard to know what you want/need on a first chair, but at the same time it's hard to wait and keep going with a clunky rental one!

[tsh3406]

kansasmom, on 25 October 2011 - 01:17 PM, said:

Thanks for all the help guys/gals. Too bad that United Seating are taking so long to get your order Vanessamaee. I was told it would take 3 months - I'm hoping that it won't take any more than that. I am, however, pleased to hear that they make sure you are good with the final product. It's hard to know what you want/need on a first chair, but at the same time it's hard to wait and keep going with a clunky rental one!

Mine took 2-3 months, I worked with a dude named Paul, don't know if he's still there. I think I called them regularly every two weeks or so. The turn around time will vary, depending on the chair manufacturer, and the frame measurements/options. I don't know if that's who you are going through, but like Vanessa said, they do a fantastic job getting the chair set up just right. The "salesmen" there see a very wide range of users and equipment, have a lot of demo models, and are very knowledgible about what they offer, it's not just one person telling you what works for them.

[kansasmom]

tsh3406, on 25 October 2011 - 02:20 PM, said:

Mine took 2-3 months, I worked with a dude named Paul, don't know if he's still there.

Yes, we are also working with Paul. Did he come to your house? Did he bring different cushions, backs and such? He is coming to my house and bringing a Quickie Q7 rigid for C to try, just to make sure he can stand up from it and that we don't need to go with the folding Quickie 2. I don't know if he is bringing any other stuff for us to evaluate. Can you say more about how the process worked for you please. So far we had one hospital visit where C was measured by an OT and his needs evaluated so that the prescription could be written. I'm just not sure what happens next.

[tsh3406]

kansasmom, on 25 October 2011 - 04:32 PM, said:

tsh3406, on 25 October 2011 - 02:20 PM, said:

Mine took 2-3 months, I worked with a dude named Paul, don't know if he's still there.

Yes, we are also working with Paul. Did he come to your house? Did he bring different cushions, backs and such? He is coming to my house and bringing a Quickie Q7 rigid for C to try, just to make sure he can stand up from it and that we don't need to go with the folding Quickie 2. I don't know if he is bringing any other stuff for us to evaluate. Can you say more about how the process worked for you please. So far we had one hospital visit where C was measured by an OT and his needs evaluated so that the prescription could be written. I'm just not sure what happens next.

I went to his office, just because I wanted to look at several different chairs, and eat KC bbq, lol. He went over the pros and cons of each frame design, and the fine details like range of adjustments and hardware material (like how weatherproof the nuts and bolts were), I picked out the frame with the features that were most important to me, did the measuring, added the options and then he placed the order. When the chair was done, they brought it to me, made all the adjustments and that was that. They've been good about delivering parts, and straightening the chair out when I bend it all up. I already had my cushion picked out, so can't comment on that.

[Kayak Girl]

My boyfriend had a Quickie 2 and just this year got a Quickie Q7. The difference is huge. He used to need a lot of help pushing long distances, up hills or on uneven surfaces like grass with the Quickie 2. With the Q7 he goes on 8 mile walks with me and hardly ever needs a push. It has given him a lot more independence. Even his family commented on it this summer when we went to visit and he was pushing himself all over the lawn on his own keeping up with everybody, before someone would have been helping him. I am also the one who takes the chair in and out of the car and I will tell you my shoulder was starting to have problems with the Quickie 2 but that all went away with the Q7. It is a much lighter chair.

My boyfriend doesn't have armrests either. They get in his way and he doesn't like them.

Some people are really against the push handles. For us we like them. We kind of have an unspoken understanding on we he wants help and when he doesn't so it has never been a problem. It allows us to go more places he couldn't get to on his own like when camping and going kayaking from a sandy or rocky beach, and if it means bumping him up a curb or taking the long way around we always go for the curb which we couldn't do without the handles. Also like KayDub said, the handles are great for holding stuff. My BF helps carry in a lot of groceries by hanging the bags on the back of his chair.

He didn't go for the spoke wheels he went with the other ones, not sure what they are called. They are not as light as the spoked wheels but are more sturdy. They don't klook as nice either but we push the limits of the chair at times and wanted something that would hold up.

We have a small car, a honda civic, and at first I felt that the rigid chair took up alot more space than the folding chair but once I figured out the best way to set it in I think it actually takes less space. We haven't tried camping yet though, you have to get very creative with a small car and a chair.

Good luck! I hope your son gets what works best for him.

Edited by Kayak Girl, 25 October 2011 - 06:56 PM.

[Vanessamaee]

kansasmom, on 25 October 2011 - 04:32 PM, said:

tsh3406, on 25 October 2011 - 02:20 PM, said:

Mine took 2-3 months, I worked with a dude named Paul, don't know if he's still there.

Yes, we are also working with Paul. Did he come to your house? Did he bring different cushions, backs and such? He is coming to my house and bringing a Quickie Q7 rigid for C to try, just to make sure he can stand up from it and that we don't need to go with the folding Quickie 2. I don't know if he is bringing any other stuff for us to evaluate. Can you say more about how the process worked for you please. So far we had one hospital visit where C was measured by an OT and his needs evaluated so that the prescription could be written. I'm just not sure what happens next.

Im working with a guy named Robert. and He usually has different parts with him and also, say you want to try a different back, they will put the new back on, but leave the back you had on, just in case you dont like it and want to switch back, Ive had to do this multiple times, were still trying to find a hard back that works, and Im pretty sure they also carry a variety of cushions with them, they gave me the sample of the RIDE cushion they have and I love it lol, they replaced the gel cushion I had orgianlly had with it, its a honeycomb. and yes te average wait time is 2 to 3 months, but it really does fly by

[Raspberry]

Lovin' my Q7 (Helium in the UK where I'm from).

I agree with the poster above re "Also I prefer pneumatic tires to tires with airless inserts. I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on mine and no flats to report, they also last for years without wearing out. They ride way better with air in them." - I came from a Quickie Ti (my 1st chair) which I had fitted with solid tyres, cos I was terrified of getting a puncture - Now, I've been convinced by the Marathon Plus pneumatic tyres with their "Puncture protection"...so much more comfortable, and much easier to self-push

[kansasmom]

Thanks again for all your tips. Paul is meeting with us on Monday and he is going to bring different kinds of cushions for C to try and go over the different wheelchair models, tires, and wheel choices with us. I'm hoping insurance will approve C's wheels quickly and we'll just have to wait for delivery. I got a big workout pushing C all over a college campus yesterday, when we went on a visit. I know I'm ready for a lighter/better chair!!!

[KayDub]

The first rep I met was at my PT's office and he didn't bring anything for me to try. It was almost two months later when they -started- the insurance claims and had all sorts of problems and I found out they had me down for a folding chair. We pretty much restarted the process, but I met with their head guy based out of Craig, who is amazing! He got a bunch of info about me before we met and had four chairs to try based on what I told him. That's when I fell in love with the Q 7. Since I really got involved with the insurance claim this time and made sure the papers were filled out quickly and correctly it was approved. We had to pay $600 out of pocket, $300 before the order, $300 when it was delivered. I don't know how good of a deal that ends up being, but it's better than not having insurance! They say it takes about 2 weeks (10 business days) to get the parts once they're ordered and another week or so to put it together. We're on the final stretch!!! Good luck with your journey, like V said, time flies!

[tsh3406]

Raspberry, on 28 October 2011 - 12:17 AM, said:

Lovin' my Q7 (Helium in the UK where I'm from).

I agree with the poster above re "Also I prefer pneumatic tires to tires with airless inserts. I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on mine and no flats to report, they also last for years without wearing out. They ride way better with air in them." - I came from a Quickie Ti (my 1st chair) which I had fitted with solid tyres, cos I was terrified of getting a puncture - Now, I've been convinced by the Marathon Plus pneumatic tyres with their "Puncture protection"...so much more comfortable, and much easier to self-push

I don't think solids necessary for everyone, most folks don't need them. If you don't spend much time out camping or out in pastures, you won't run over thorns all that often. You spend a much time out in the boonies and have to change a tire almost every day, you're glad you have them. It all just depends on where you spend most of your time ....

[megatrig]

Ok in brief!


EDIT! OOOPS LOL!! I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS FIRST!!
http://www.quickie-w...e-Q7-27894.html
GET THE REP TO FILL THIS IN. POST IT ON HERE AND SEE THE RESPONSE!!!



He is 15 and going to be charging around giving his chair a hammering. He will want to look good too!! Imagine a mountain bike instead of a wheelchair!

Keep it simple!!!

RIGID Frame DEFINATELY!
SPINERGY WHEELS - justify by strength, weight. Let him pick a coloured spoke.
Low back -- probably. Depends on his posture, muscles, growth, etc
Camber. Hmmm 0 or 2% possibly.
Bucket?? hmmmm a little maybe.
Cushion -- hmmm not easy to answer. Depends on skin. Any cushion can work though.
Marathon tyres too. Everyone uses them now as you don't get punctures!!! Easily swopped from a selection.
Brakes. I use scissor brakes as they tuck away under the frame. Given a short time he'll never put a brake on!

Forget handles and arm rests and antitips. He'll never use them!

Standing up from chair. You slide to the front of the cushion. Feet on floor. Stand up. Honestly just as easy from rigid frame.

POST THE REPS SUGGESTION BEFORE! YOU BUY!!!

He will be sitting in it obviously. So will want it very simple and looking good as it is now part of him. He'll want to be out with friends so again he will not want a load of bits that rattle fall off or get in the way.

Lots of great tips on here!! Print it off and show the rep. A decent guy will be happy to read it and will want him to have the best chair to suit his needs. As you say the first chair is really difficult. It is a whole new world!!! Good luck. Once you have done a few months it is a breeze!!!

AS REGARDS.............

adjustable angle foot positioning

custom foam seat

adjustable tension, low profile back

padded pelvic belt

Why an adjustable foot rest?? Standard one as he can move his feet will work well.

Cushion??? Why, what, reason for?? ASK THE REASON THE DOC RECOMENDED A SPECIFIC CUSHION> otherwise a 2" foam. It is light and washable.

Yes an adjustable back rest to start. Low though!

PELVIC BELT!!???!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Why?? Doctors!! humph!! Deep Sigh!!!

Ohhhhh insure it for accidental damage on your home insurance!!

Edited by megatrig, 31 October 2011 - 03:55 PM.

[kansasmom]

Thanks so much Megatrig. We met with Paul from United Seating in KC yesterday and we'd made a few changes to C's spec on the Q7.

• Definitely going for the Q7 (not the folding Quickie 2)
  
• Ditched the padded seat belt - not needed
  
• Regular plastic cover for footrest (not angle adjustable) - we want the cover because C does go barefoot at home and his feet are floppy bunnies
  
• Foam cushion with air cells in the back portion - most comfortable - if insurance will cover the cost, otherwise just regular foam
  
• brakes that are out of the way, underneath - C is bound to get good on his wheels and he will break nails and such with regular brakes (thanks for the suggestion)
  
• Low back - below shoulder blades - with handles (C likes the occasional push) and the back will be narrower than the seat so that it does not impede
  
• Spinergy wheels with black spokes - don't know if insurance will cover, but we're gonna try
  
• Pneumatic tires with inserts
  
• Probably 4" or 5" casters
  
• I think he suggested 2 degrees of dump, or was that inches, and 1" frame inset per side

C was really excited after trying the Q7 and says it will be really hard to wait 2-3 months now that he knows how much better the Q7 is than his rented 'tank'. It was great to see him so happy about the idea of getting some decent wheels. I think he had a more positive attitude to PT yesterday because of it - he was ready to get to work!!!

[Vanessamaee]

kansasmom, on 01 November 2011 - 07:55 PM, said:

Thanks so much Megatrig. We met with Paul from United Seating in KC yesterday and we'd made a few changes to C's spec on the Q7.

• Definitely going for the Q7 (not the folding Quickie 2)
  
• Ditched the padded seat belt - not needed
  
• Regular plastic cover for footrest (not angle adjustable) - we want the cover because C does go barefoot at home and his feet are floppy bunnies
  
• Foam cushion with air cells in the back portion - most comfortable - if insurance will cover the cost, otherwise just regular foam
  
• brakes that are out of the way, underneath - C is bound to get good on his wheels and he will break nails and such with regular brakes (thanks for the suggestion)
  
• Low back - below shoulder blades - with handles (C likes the occasional push) and the back will be narrower than the seat so that it does not impede
  
• Spinergy wheels with black spokes - don't know if insurance will cover, but we're gonna try
  
• Pneumatic tires with inserts
  
• Probably 4" or 5" casters
  
• I think he suggested 2 degrees of dump, or was that inches, and 1" frame inset per side

C was really excited after trying the Q7 and says it will be really hard to wait 2-3 months now that he knows how much better the Q7 is than his rented 'tank'. It was great to see him so happy about the idea of getting some decent wheels. I think he had a more positive attitude to PT yesterday because of it - he was ready to get to work!!!

I wish I wouldve found this site while I was in the hospital and before we ordered my chair! This sounds really good and you know what your getting. I LOVE my spinergy wheels. I didnt get to choose my spoke color though because they were given to me by the Kansas Coty Rehab Institute. They have blue tires though which is kinda cool (: Good luck! HOpe your happy with the finished product

[Kayak Girl]

[*]Definitely going for the Q7 (not the folding Quickie 2) You will like it too. I remember when I first started pushing BF in the Q7 after the Q2 I had to be careful not tip him over backwards because it was so light. LOL

[*]Low back - below shoulder blades - with handles (C likes the occasional push)

C was really excited after trying the Q7 and says it will be really hard to wait 2-3 months now that he knows how much better the Q7 is than his rented 'tank'. It was great to see him so happy about the idea of getting some decent wheels. I think he had a more positive attitude to PT yesterday because of it - he was ready to get to work!!!
[/quote]

Good to hear!

[megatrig]

really pleased to hear he is geting the right chair!

As he gets used to it he'll tweak it to his prefered set up.

probably 2" of "dump, "bucket". It just means you sit lower into the chair. It gives a bit more stability too and helps with pushing.

[tsh3406]

Also supposed to be better for your posture and makes the chair slightly more compact.



The 1" inset relates to the distance between the inside of the wheel and the ouside of the frame. I had BCBS-KC at the time, they covered a custom set of Spinergy wheels with black spokes and black hubs (a color combination they didn't make at the time), and fortunately my employer has switched back to them. A word about the spokes on those wheels, I love them and will get another pair with my next chair, they CAN melt and they can be sliced, so just be careful around
campfires, lol....

[kansasmom]

tsh3406, on 02 November 2011 - 01:30 PM, said:

I had BCBS-KC at the time, they covered a custom set of Spinergy wheels with black spokes and black hubs (a color combination they didn't make at the time), and fortunately my employer has switched back to them. A word about the spokes on those wheels, I love them and will get another pair with my next chair, they CAN melt and they can be sliced, so just be careful around
campfires, lol....

Wow, who knew the spokes could melt! I will tell C not to get too close to campfires. We are with BCBS, but not out of KC. Fingers crossed for spinergy coverage for C! From what everyone says they will make a difference to his independence, which is what we want.

[tsh3406]

kansasmom, on 02 November 2011 - 04:14 PM, said:

tsh3406, on 02 November 2011 - 01:30 PM, said:

I had BCBS-KC at the time, they covered a custom set of Spinergy wheels with black spokes and black hubs (a color combination they didn't make at the time), and fortunately my employer has switched back to them. A word about the spokes on those wheels, I love them and will get another pair with my next chair, they CAN melt and they can be sliced, so just be careful around
campfires, lol....

Wow, who knew the spokes could melt! I will tell C not to get too close to campfires. We are with BCBS, but not out of KC. Fingers crossed for spinergy coverage for C! From what everyone says they will make a difference to his independence, which is what we want.

They are made of a braided cord that looks similar to kevlar fishing line, then plastic coated, and they have a tiny bit of flex to them also, which aids ride comfort. You can't bend them either. My chair fell out of the back of my truck at 70mph, Spox were just as true as ever, lol....

[kansasmom]

C's chair should be here within a couple of weeks, maybe sooner. I've told him 2-3 weeks (I'd rather he be surprised than disappointed)!

BCBS seem to be paying for everything we asked for, including Spinergy wheels. Yay! United Seating told me yesterday that everything has been ordered and some parts have been shipped. I'll keep y'all updated

[Vanessamaee]

kansasmom, on 03 December 2011 - 06:08 PM, said:

C's chair should be here within a couple of weeks, maybe sooner. I've told him 2-3 weeks (I'd rather he be surprised than disappointed)!

BCBS seem to be paying for everything we asked for, including Spinergy wheels. Yay! United Seating told me yesterday that everything has been ordered and some parts have been shipped. I'll keep y'all updated

Great News! (: Im suppose to be gettin my replacement chair this week too (: they cam and did another seating eval to get it correctly ordered this time but they forgot to send the info to get it made... so it got postponed a little but should be here within the next couple of days (: Another test on spinergy wheels. The basketball chair (and most basketball chairs) I use has spinergy wheels and I dont know how many times I have locked wheels with some and not have a spoke break. I see metal ones get busted all the time. Also, just a little thing for you to think about, I didnt read to see what kind of back he was getting, but if you try for a hard back definatly try the Jay Extreme! I fell in love with it. its extremely low so it was hard to get use to since I cant feel it, but I now love it and high backs (not really high but right below the shoulder blades) now feels awkard. I was told as a T3/T4 I couldnt use the jay extreme because it was too low. but the basketball chair I am borrowing right now has it and I love it and I have been hit and slammed many times and haven had an issue (:

[ZEN12many]

Wow, I'm surprised so many don't like arm rests. I have two chairs: a Quickie with removable/adjustable arm rests attached to the frame right below them AND a Tilite that has tubular arms that swing out and are attached at the back.

I can stand and use the arm rests to push off with to get me in an up position. The Quickies arm rests are much more solid feeling than the Tilite's tubular arm rests. What type of arm rest OR whether needed at all depends upon how easy it is to stand and/or transfer.

Re push handles, my Quickie has them and when I wear a short sleve T-shirt, and turn around to reach something, the sleave gets caught on the push handle - very annoying. If you can get folding push handles, it might solve this problem (or a lower back height might do it also).

Try to get a demo to use before you make final decisions.

Edited by ZEN12many, 04 December 2011 - 06:37 PM.