12 replies to this topic

[wyrdsister]

Hey there,

Does anyone have experience/opinion on Supracor Stimulite cushions? Considering one after 8 unhappy years on a Jay2.

Thanks!

[longhaul]

Have you considered a ROHO I went from a jay to one. it took awhile to get used to.it's real nice not getting pressure sores.

[Tim13]

I tried a Jay and hated it so i tolerated a roho for a few years till i found the Supracor, been using them for over ten years and would never go back to one of the "rehab grade" cushions.

[LuckyinKentucky]

I looked up some of these cushions and found a few different kinds. Have any of yall tried different ones... which have you stuck with? I found Supracore CLassic, Contoured, and slimline. Also whats the difference between sling bottom and flat?

[Tim13]

LuckyinKentucky, on Jan 20 2008, 07:00 PM, said:

I looked up some of these cushions and found a few different kinds. Have any of yall tried different ones... which have you stuck with? I found Supracore CLassic, Contoured, and slimline. Also whats the difference between sling bottom and flat?

I was typing out a reply but realized that I'd seen a much better description somewhere.
Here's a link to Sportaids page:

sportaid Stimulite Wheelchair Cushions

[ParaforGod]

I had a bad pressure sore on my tailbone that came up in two days, about 2yrs. ago it was so bad I had to go into the hospital. I was told I needed a temperpidic mattress to help keep me from getting pressure sores. I can't turn myself because when I lay on my side within 15mins. the pain from my rods and the neuropathy pain between my breast and across my chest is unbearable. As bad as that sore was it healed fast. When you lay on the matress it feels firm then you feel yourself start to sink down into the matress. It forms to your body shape. In 7yrs. that is the only pressure sore I've had until 2 months ago and I had a very small one that healed within 2 weeks. My chair cushion is also temperpidic. I wouldn't use anything else now. The representative that brought out my coushion put his car keys on the coushion while it was in my wheelchair he didn't tell my daughter and ask her to sit on the coushion so she could see how it forms to your bottom. She didn't know the keys were there. She couldn't feel them. When she got up he showed her his keys she couldn't believe it. He did the samething with my Mom and she didn't feel the keys.

[trains]

wyrdsister, on Jan 20 2008, 02:57 AM, said:

Hey there,

Does anyone have experience/opinion on Supracor Stimulite cushions? Considering one after 8 unhappy years on a Jay2.

Thanks!

Our savior was a pressure test. After 2 cushions and countless opions we found a distributor who used a mat and computer to see pressure areas from each cushion my son tried. Everyone is different, weight is a hugh issue. My suggestion would be test the pressure area your body leaves on each custhion

[LuckyinKentucky]

Thats the same place I was lookin to see all the different options Tim13. While I don't understand it all I'm assuming I dont have a sling bottom chair, also I understand what they are claiming the cushion performances to be but i was wondering if the contoured was noticeably better (it is noticeably bigger) or if the classic is comparable being much smaller.

[Tim13]

As near as i can tell, the contoured cushion is best for people who need extra stability or don't have fixed injuries (like we do). Nobody has ever offered me a contoured cushion-so i assume it isn't something that will be of any benefit to me.

Something that helped sell me on the supracor initially was that it is supposed to be the same material that is used in fighter jet seats. Obviously, fighter pilots can't just get up and stretch at any old time and need to be comfortable and maintain circulation during long flights. Sounded like a situation similar to mine.

There is one downside to the supracor and similar designs. If you get it wet, whether from getting caught in a rainstorm, spilling a drink or any other accident, the cellular foam takes a long time to dry out vs more dense cushions.

[edlee]

Can I assume that the supracor and the tempurpedic cushions are of similar construction? Not having used either, I am curious.

I have used a ROHO from day one, and must tell you that I am more than pleased with it's performance. I've had but one pressure sore ( knock on wood) since injury, and it healed while sitting normally on this cushion.

Since I have no feeling down there, I won't try to tell you how it feels, only that it has fulfilled my requirement quite well.

It allows air to circulate, spreads the pressure of my overweight tush, holds my butt above my inadvertant spills, is easily cleaned, and dries quickly.

You must be careful if you smoke, or if you weld without using a burn blanket over your lap ( my only patch in over three years). Or if you have cats ( mine have been declawed in the front, but I still don't trust the little buggers).

Balance will not be a problem if the cushion is properly inflated (sit on your hand, if you can barely move your fingers you got it right).

Decide what you want your cushion to do, then get the one that does those things best.

The problem with purchasing any of this stuff we need is that you can't be sure you did it right till months after you get it. Good luck!!!
ed

[wyrdsister]

Thanks for all you help. You certainly are right that sometimes it takes months before you find out whether you made the right decision. I know that I will never sit my bottom on a Jay again. Ever. Never.

Thanks again.

[ajcookie]

I used a supracor cushion for a while. It was great while it lasted, the best pressure map results I've had, but it didn't last long. After less than a year it had collapsed a lot at the rear. I went and had another pressure map done and it was horrendous! Back on a varilite now. Supracor cushions are great, but for the cost they really should last a lot longer. On a side note, if you remember in the 90s Reebok had a cushioning system in the heals of their trainers called hexalite. It's the same stuff as the supracor cushions, Reebok just licensed it from them. Well, Reebok don't use it any more... wonder why?! How about a Nike Air cushion!!!

[Big Valley]

I have a slim stimulite cushion and have been using the same one for 5 years. Not a single problem since I got it. Used to get sores with foam and gel cushions. Gel cushion would wear out and leak. Couldn't wash foam.

But with the Stimulite I hardly have to do pressure reliefs, is is easy to wash, light weight, no maintenance. I love it.

It is just a thick honeycomb mesh type material that is supportive, yet soft and flexible. To wash mine I toss the cover in the machine and hose off the cushion itself with some soapy water. Shake off the excess and blow dry or set it in front of a fan for a little while.

I have a second one I bought a year ago off eBay because it was going cheap at $50 shipped. It is a thick non-contoured square one and I use it for things like sitting on hard surfaces outside or while on the floor doing something. My g/f takes it along for herself when we go to baseball game or other places with hard seats.