Why You Should Invest in a Wheelchair Cushion

When you spend long hours seated in one place, there are a host of issues that can crop up. Investing in a wheelchair cushion can alleviate many of these issues. Finding the proper wheelchair cushion is no small feat. There are a lot of options available. Read on for what you should look for in a cushion and why.

One of the reasons that wheelchairs are so uncomfortable is that they are made of vinyl or nylon and a thin foam that is designed to be compressed when the wheelchair is folded and put into a vehicle or other location. The seats do not offer a lot of support.

Support when you are seated is extremely important. The pelvis connects to the spine through the sacrum. The sacrum is actually five fused vertebrae that then connect to the coccyx or tailbone. At the top of the sacrum starts the L1-L5 vertebrae that make up the lumbar spine. This section of your skeleton bears the majority of the weight of your upper body, and when you are seated, it is unable to transfer that load to your lower body. 

Additionally, support is extremely important to help you keep your core muscles engaged and maintain good posture. The transverse abdominis muscles are your deep core muscles that act like a corset holding your entire midsection together. Your transverse abdominis are also referred to as your postural muscles. Poor posture can radiate all the way up your spine into your shoulders and neck causing excessive curvature and pain. Other issues that stem from poor posture include:

• Ligament strain

• Misalignment

• Hip pain

• Knee pain

• Fatigue

Want even more posture support? Consider a lumbar support cushion in addition to a seat cushion to support your transverse abdominis muscles and keep your core engaged. Maintaining the natural curvature of your spine will also improve your posture and alleviate pain further up your spine. It has even been shown that lumbar support cushions improve your posture even when you are not sitting down. They also improve circulation which will ensure you do not experience tingling and/or numbness in your extremities. 

To alleviate lower back pain, hip pain, and pelvic pain associated with staying in a seated position, it is invaluable to have your weight evenly distributed. Due to the viscous nature of memory foam, that is  exactly what it is designed to do. That is why having a cushion made with memory foam can be a much better option than other materials, such as air.

Another issue that a good cushion can prevent is pressure sores that can occur from staying seated for a long period of time. Over time, these sores can get infected. If you already have pressure sores, adding a cushion to your wheelchair or whichever location you spend most of your time sitting, can help control the sores and prevent them from getting worse. The cushion will also control infections by redistributing the pressure and allowing the sores to heal.

In addition to memory foam, you may want to consider gel-infused memory foam. The gel microbeads added to the memory foam provide cooling, moisture-wicking properties and assist with temperature regulation. Neither the nylon nor the vinyl that wheelchair seats are made with are known for their cooling properties. 

You will want a cushion that has a removable cover for ease of cleaning. And even with a removable cover, you will want to clean the cushion itself occasionally. You can remove the cover and wash the foam itself with lukewarm water and gentle soap, such as Dawn. You will then want to rinse the foam with clean water until it runs clear. Allow your cushion at least 24 hours to dry. You may want to ensure that you have a back-up for when you need to clean your cushion. 

Think you need to be in a wheelchair to get a wheelchair cushion? Think again. Seat cushions and lumbar cushions can increase your comfort and support anywhere you spend a long time seated. Consider investing in cushions for your vehicle, your office chair, and your favorite recliner.

Now that you know the importance of your posture on your health, you know why investing in cushions for your wheelchair, or any other seat, is also an investment in your long-term health and well-being. Ensuring you have good comfort and support is invaluable to not only your physical health but your mental health as well.