Wheelchair seat cushions are an essential part of any transportation setup in Senior Living and Healthcare. While standard sling seats may be acceptable for short-term use, they are not suited for patients to use indefinitely. Augmenting these seats with cushions improves not only patient comfort, but the safety of the wheelchair as well. Wheelchair seat cushions are more than just a comfort seat pad for wheelchair users. The best wheelchair seat cushions are highly resilient and provide patient skin protection and equal pressure distribution for a comfortable wheelchair experience.
Read on to discover helpful tips for choosing the best wheelchair cushion types and selecting the best wheelchair cushions in 2022.
What Are the Biggest Factors in Choosing a Wheelchair Cushion Type?
Wheelchair cushions are not a one-size-fits-all solution for your fleet and should be suited to each patient individually. As you make this assessment, the two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits. These different options cater to unique conditions, however, and using the wrong wheelchair cushion could lead to hazardous positioning. Choosing the best wheelchair seat cushion type can provide long term benefits for patients and can prevent and heal skin breakdown.
What Are the Different Wheelchair Cushion Shapes?
The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.
When choosing a wheelchair seat cushion shape type, it’s important to consider a patients’ mobility and positioning needs. Do they need pain pressure relief for posture issues, such as posterior pelvic toilet or pelvic rotation? Skin breakdown can be prevented by choosing a wheelchair cushion type that comfortably positions patients.
Saddle-Shaped Wheelchair Cushions: Perfect for seniors and patients with hip rotation or a lack of abduction control. Saddle-shaped wheelchair seat cushions provide pelvic stability and control for patients.
Pommel-Shaped Wheelchair Cushions: Suited for seniors and patients who tend to cross or buckle their knees. Pommel-shaped wheelchair seat cushions reduce internal rotation contracture and skin shear.
Wedge-Shaped Wheelchair Cushions: Designed to help position seniors and patients with posterior pelvic tilt to remain back in their seat. Wedge-shaped wheelchair seat cushions are triangular-shaped and can prevent back pain by promoting better posture.
Anti-Thrust Wheelchair Cushions: Used to help mitigate slide for seniors and patients who are constantly moving in their wheelchairs. An anti-thrust wheelchair seat cushion prevents sliding with a high-front and low-back cushion design.
How Can I Choose the Best Wheelchair Cushion Material?
The three most popular wheelchair cushion material types are foam, gel and air. The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.
- Foam Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for maximizing immersion with a greater degree of pressure management and offloading properties.
- Gel Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for regulating body temperatures and reducing buildup of moisture.
- Air Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for advanced pressure management and all-day comfort with a cool and dry surface.
Wheelchair Cushion FAQ:
What are the different types of wheelchair cushion shapes?
The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.
What are the types of wheelchair cushion material?
The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.
What are the biggest factors in choosing a wheelchair cushion type?
The overarching two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits.
The Benefits of Choosing the Best Wheelchair Seat Cushion Type
Knowing how to choose the best wheelchair seat cushions for patients in your healthcare setting can create comfortable wheelchair experiences and prevent pressure sores and skin breakdown. Refer to our blog on using equipment to prevent skin breakdown to see how mattresses and other assistive devices can also increase your patients’ quality of care.
Browse through our vast selection of wheelchair cushions to explore potential solutions for your residents’ unique needs or contact us to learn more!
