Areas where bones are close to the surface (called "bony prominences") and areas that are under the most pressure are at greatest risk for developing pressure sores.
In bed, body parts can be padded with pillows or foam to keep bony prominences (areas where bones are close to the skin surface) ...
Purpose: Investigate the type and frequency of wheelchair repairs and resulting adverse consequences in a Veteran population.
Design: Convenience cross-sectional sample survey.
Setting: Data were collected at the 2017 National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
Participants: Veterans who use a wheelchair ≥ 40 h/wk (n = 60).
Intervention: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Repairs and associated adverse ...
What is the study about?
This study’s aim was to assess the effectiveness of group wheelchair maintenance training.
What did the study find?
This study found that after the training program, participants saw an improvements in their ability to complete maintenance (capacity) and how often they did maintenance (performance) for both manual (MWC) ...
What is the study about?
The goal of this study was to investigate the rates of wheelchair repairs and resulting negative consequences in a population of Veteran full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Access to wheelchairs can help individuals with impaired mobility to more easily participate in personal, professional, ...
This infographic teaches how to transfer in and out of a manual wheelchair safely in three simple steps. Learning how to transfer correctly can protect the user's arms and shoulders.
For more information about how to transfer safely, see MSKTC’s factsheet on Safe Transfer Technique.
This infographic explains the different parts of a rigid manual wheelchair. The infographic also includes a daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedule to reduce wheelchair breakdowns and repair costs.
For more information about wheelchair maintenance, see MSKTC’s Maintenance Guide for Users of Manual and Power Wheelchairs.
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This infographic explains the different parts of a power wheelchair. The infographic also includes a daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedule to reduce wheelchair breakdowns and repair costs.
For more information about wheelchair maintenance, see MSKTC’s Maintenance Guide for Users of Manual and Power Wheelchairs.
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This infographic explains the different parts of a folding manual wheelchair. The infographic also includes a daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedule to reduce wheelchair breakdowns and repair costs.
For more information about wheelchair maintenance, see MSKTC’s Maintenance Guide for Users of Manual and Power Wheelchairs.
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Introduction
Wheelchair breakdowns can injure wheelchair users and limit mobility and social participation. Poor wheelchair maintenance increases the risk of wheelchair breakdowns and personal injury or death, and increases the costs of medical care. The number of users injured from wheelchair breakdowns doubled from 1991 to 2016.
According to a 2016 study, ...
How can I tell if I have a pressure sore?
First signs. One of the first signs of a possible skin sore is a reddened, discolored or darkened area (an African American’s skin may look purple, bluish or shiny). It may feel hard and warm to the touch.
A pressure sore has ...
This infographic teaches how to transfer in and out of a power wheelchair safely in three simple steps. Learning how to transfer correctly can protect the user's arms and shoulders.
For more information about how to transfer safely, see MSKTC’s factsheet on Safe Transfer Technique.
What is skin tolerance?
Skin tolerance is how much time your skin can stand to be under pressure before damage starts to occur. Each person's skin tolerance is different. Some people may need to relieve pressure very often, others may not have to do it as often, but they still need ...
What do I need to know?
Ninety-five percent of all pressure sores are preventable!
After spinal cord injury, your skin requires daily care and a lot of attention.
You will need to spend time daily cleaning the skin, keeping it dry (from incontinence or perspiration), checking the skin for problems or changes, moving ...
What do I need to know?
Individuals with SCI are at high risk for developing pressure sores.
Pressure sores can be life threatening.
Possible complications:
Infections can develop and spread to the blood, heart and bone.
Amputations
Prolonged bed rest necessary for healing can keep you out of work, school and social activities for months.
Because ...
A pressure sore (also called pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, decubiti (plural), bedsore or skin breakdown) is an area of the skin or underlying tissue (muscle, bone) that is damaged due to loss of blood flow to the area. Blood flow to the skin keeps it alive and healthy. If the ...
What is the study about?
Survival within two years after spinal cord injury (SCI) has greatly improved over the past few decades, although long-term survival after the first two years has not shown significant improvement. However, people with SCI still have higher rates of mortality than people without SCI. To better ...
The pressure relief technique you use will depend on your level of injury, the type of wheelchair you use and how much movement and strength you have in your arms and shoulders.
Tilting or reclining
If you are unable to perform independent pressure reliefs, you can use a power tilt wheelchair for ...
Pain is a serious problem for many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pain after SCI can occur in parts of the body where there is normal sensation (feeling) as well as areas that have little or no feeling.