Tilt wheelchairs allow for frequent position changes to prevent pressure sores and offer greater comfort. They come in manual and electric models and are suitable for patients with limited movements. They also have applications in sports, where lightweight materials and mobility are critical.
A tilt wheelchair is a type of mobile pressure relief device in which the seat of the chair can be tilted from zero to approximately 40 degrees while the wheels remain stable on the ground. While typically made from aluminum or steel, this design makes for a compact and heavy wheelchair and does not allow the wheelchair to fold. There are two types of tilting wheelchairs: the manual model, which is pushed by an assistant, and the electric wheelchair, which is self-managed by the user through a centralized control panel. Unlike other types of wheelchairs, a tilt system addresses patients’ need to frequently change positions to minimize pressure sores caused by prolonged sitting. Ultimately, the tilt wheelchair offers people with mobility issues greater overall comfort and greater seating tolerance.
Patients enjoy many benefits from a tilting wheelchair that they won’t find in other types of models designed for medical use. For example, without a tilt system, a patient with a forward curve in the upper spine would be constantly facing the floor. The addition of a tilt mechanism allows it to easily view its surroundings. In this type of wheelchair, only the physical orientation changes, so a patient can still maintain proper orientation with his electronic medical and communication devices.
The tilting wheelchair also prevents various types of cuts, i.e. the friction on the skin tissues caused by being dragged on a surface; the cut often causes a misalignment of the body in the chair. This advantage makes a tilting wheelchair particularly suitable for patients with cerebral palsy or for those with head and spinal cord injuries whose movements are very limited.
Initially considered a life-saving device that provides mobility to paraplegics, the tilt wheelchair has now evolved into a piece of equipment that allows its users to optimize their abilities in all aspects of life. One such area is sports, where disabled athletes participating in races and other competitions have turned their wheelchairs into extensions of their bodies. This has taken the engineering and design of sports wheelchairs to the next level, especially the racing models.
While patient comfort and safety are primary considerations for reclining wheelchairs, mobility and lightweight materials are critical attributes for sport wheelchairs. Clearly, the direction of assistive technology is towards designs that fit the unique needs of individuals. This includes specialized models that recline in space in racing wheelchairs that can reach speeds in excess of 30mph (about 30mph).
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