5 replies to this topic

[ChairDroid]

Hi guys!
It's my first thread in Apparalyzed and I'm looking for some guidance on buying an active wheelchair (Ultra - lightweight rigid).
I'm from India and was injured 3 years ago in a diving accident and my neurological level is C5. Although, due to rigorous exercise and rehab during the first 8 months I've achieved functionality of "almost" a C7. Triceps are still weak though ( Grade 2 in right and 1 in left). My first wheelchair as assessed by the therapists was the Otto Bock Start M2 Effect. Well, they were suggesting an even heavier Invacare but I found this easier to handle.

Now, over the years, I've gotten better with my trunk balance and maneuvering the chair and I guess it's time for me to switch to an Active one; I see all those Youtube videos with Quads having lower functionality than me handling the active chair pretty well so why not me? Problem is, wheelchair (and proper focused medicare) availability and assistive technology knowledge is not so good here in India. Almost all Quads and Paras are assigned the folding chair, somewhat similar to mine. You can also get an idea of their service from the fact that my thighs are unsupported on my chair and the pressure is entirely on my bums(I'm tall), even though the chair was "thoroughly inspected and assigned to me by a trained assistive tech rep in the best Spinal Rehab in India". I had no clue of these stuff back then, internet helped me understand. Not to sound ungrateful because that rehab is the reason what I can do today, but facts are facts.

I inquired about an active chair and I only have 2 options here, and both chairs are uncomfortably low for me; I'll be needing 3 cushions to sit with my thighs supported. Beside they are of a completely unknown brand and being assigned to me because that'll all there is in stock since years.

I can get a chair imported from US/abroad but I think they are customized to meet specific requirements, size and comfort as everyone's functionality level is different? So I had a few questions :

- Do all of you buy chairs after consulting therapists/rehab so they can take the measurements and get it customized?
- Can I fill out forms like these with help of the assistive rep in the rehab, order online and expect good results? http://www.sportaid....wheelchair.html
- Are there any other options you can suggest me please?

Also, can you please suggest an Active chair for me around 1500 USD(cheaper the better). I'm 6'2" tall and weigh 165lbs. Current chair's seat width is 17" and feels good. I saw the Kueschall Airlite online and liked it, not sure if it's good stuff.

thanks for all your help !

[wheeliebear75]

Well I have known several TALL yet active chair users.....all of whom had their chairs custom built (this is actually "standard practice" here in the U.S. & UK ) to support their longer legs. It is VERY important that your chair fits YOU not only well but VERY WELL; if your chair is made to fit YOUR BODY including the longer legs you might just find that you have less problems with pain + better control/support allows you to ACTIVELY stay in your chair for longer periods.

The most important thing is to get the measurements correct & this is just getting the different proportions of your body measured.

How high do you want/need the back rest to come up, how wide are you at the hips, how long are your femurs/thighs, how long are your legs from the knee to the foot?

From there....."sky is the limit"....or how much $ you've got to spend. What features are you looking for? Are you looking for SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT? OR...is the amount of space it takes up once folded more important? There are things to consider such as "camber"...camber is how the wheels are set up. |-| = 0 degree of camber & /-\ = some camber the more tipped out the wheels are the higher the % of camber, camber is good in that it allows a tighter turning radius (less space to do a 360 degree turn) BUT the downside is that the more camber you have makes the chair that much wider which can be the difference between getting through a narrow doorway or NOT getting through that narrow doorway. Most of us have "quick release hubs" on our wheels so that they can be easily popped off for transporting the chair & also works nicely if you (many of us have more than 1 set for the same chair) have occasions where you will have to go in more rural areas or during monsoon season when everything is muddy having the quick release hubs makes it so you can have a nice smoother tread for city/urban pushing & a 2nd set with knobby mountain bike tires for when you have to deal with muddy roads or lack of ROADS.

[Vanessamaee]

In order for more direct help you'll have to get a little more specific... Are you wanting just a loighter weight chair? or are you wanting a sports chair? Sports chairs generally have the extreme camber between 16 to 20 degrees and depending on the sport, have different feautres, like basketball chairs have the tip wheels and guard on the front.

If your looking for a light weight every day chair. I would recommend tilite, even though I have a quickie q7. I personally like the tilite better and will be getting one when I get to get another chair. THe one you showed in your sportaid link is rather nice.

Depending on what your planning on doing depends on what you should get. I went through a seating company to get my Q7, but I am ordering my sports chair on my own because it is cheaper.

A quad that goes to my rehab has a Tilite fitted with emotion power assist wheels and a Jay 3 hard back. however he is a C5/C6 incomplete so functionality might be a little different for you

[ChairDroid]

Thanks for the insight Wheeliebear75 & Vanessamae

wheeliebear75, on 28 December 2011 - 01:30 AM, said:

It is VERY important that your chair fits YOU not only well but VERY WELL;

Totally agree!

wheeliebear75, on 28 December 2011 - 01:30 AM, said:

The most important thing is to get the measurements correct & this is just getting the different proportions of your body measured.
How high do you want/need the back rest to come up, how wide are you at the hips, how long are your femurs/thighs, how long are your legs from the knee to the foot?

So the whole import from US idea should be fine I suppose? No authorized TiLite/Quickie/Kuschall dealers in India, so I should just get the measurements in a detailed manner and customize myself (with the help of you guys).
The questions you've asked seem easy enough to determine and yes I am looking for a little camber, 5% maybe.

wheeliebear75, on 28 December 2011 - 01:30 AM, said:

sky is the limit or how much $ you can afford

$1500. I'm still new at web-development and that's all the money I've managed to save in the last year which is why I'm more skeptic if it'll go waste trying to assemble a chair on my own

wheeliebear75, on 28 December 2011 - 01:30 AM, said:

What features are you looking for? Are you looking for SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT? OR is the amount of space it takes up once folded more important? There are things to consider such as "camber"

Yes super-lightweight; don't care about the folded size.

Vanessamaee, on 28 December 2011 - 02:40 AM, said:

Are you wanting just a lighter weight chair? or are you wanting a sports chair?

Light weight everyday use.

Quote

even though I have a quickie q7. I personally like the tilite better and will be getting one when I get to get another chair.

I've read at some places that Q7 isn't very durable, is it true?

Quote

Depending on what your planning on doing depends on what you should get. I went through a seating company to get my Q7, but I am ordering my sports chair on my own because it is cheaper.

Indoors and plain surface riding - no rural stuff. I don't go out/travel a lot. Still can't transfer independently which is why I never gave a thought to getting a car modified.


I'm gonna give a call to Ottobock's and Invacare's offices in my city and ask if they can help me with measurements for new imported chair of another brand
If they refuse, I'm thinking to get it measured with help of mom and consult with you all.
Thanks so much for the help.

Edited by Abhinav, 28 December 2011 - 06:27 AM.

[Vanessamaee]

THe Q7 is rather durable, I havent had issues with that aspect of it. I had trouble with the manufactoring of the frame, it was made too large. and I have tried out my friends tilite which is too big for me and I still like it better. If your mainly using it on flat indoor surfaces Id recommend pneumatic or semi pneumatic tires... solids are good as far as low maintenance but they are also quite a bit heavier. Also I wouldnt get scissor brakes if your still learning how to transfer (atleast on the q7) because they can pop off easily (with pneumatic tires) and I managed to strip one completely off the chair.

[gilmeister79]

iam c5 i use a thilite zrx with emotion wheels that a good combo