As with many useful implements, the required size of the product is dependent on the size of the person. Take, for example, a bicycle, tennis racket or a golf stick. There has to be optimum compatibility between the size of the product and the size of the person to ensure the best use. This is also true of wheelchairs and therefore the size of their wheels.
How do you ensure more balance in a wheelchair?
The balance in a wheelchair is determined by the distribution of pressure between the front and rear wheels. Many people ride in wheelchairs with high pressure on the front wheels without tilt safety. Leaning forward can place unnecessary pressure on your intestines and will cause curving of the spine. The wheelchair will also become heavier to manoeuvre and this may damage your shoulders when twisting and turning.
How do you find the correct balance?
The centre of gravity of a seated person lies three centimetres above the navel. It is, therefore, important to have a wheelchair that can be set up and balanced correctly. If the seat can be adjusted relative to the chassis, the wheelchair can be set up so that the majority of the weight is placed on the rear wheels.What is the best posture in a wheelchair?
There is no such thing as the perfect posture. Your next position is the best one. It is healthier to keep changing your position. We call this 'dynamic sitting'. Dynamic sitting is based on plenty of variation, avoiding long periods of sitting and using every opportunity to vary your posture. To achieve this, you should look for a wheelchair that supports the shape of your body at all times.
What impact does light riding of my wheelchair have on my body?
O4 wheelchairs and weight
At O4, the weight services functionality, adjustability, a light ride and a healthy sitting posture. Extra functions such as permanent backrest adjustment and suspension/shock absorption help to prevent injuries and permanent damage through long sitting.O4 wheelchairs have the lowest weight whereby injury-free sitting and riding is still possible. In addition to the wheelchair’s riding function, sitting is just as important. The less functions, the lighter the wheelchair, which makes it very handy to transport. But you also want some support, be able to live and work and, in particular, remain full of vitality.
Why is the energy consumption of O4 wheelchairs so low?
O4 wheelchairs have an extremely low energy consumption in their class. This is primarily due to the energy-efficient fixed frame with fixed rear axle. This means that the wheelchair is unable to be folded widthways. Folding wheelchairs lose a lot of energy, your energy, due to the folding mechanism.
In addition, a good balance setting ensures that little energy is required to ride the wheelchair. The seating system slides backwards relative to the chassis, thereby removing as much pressure on the front wheels as possible. Front wheels create eight times more rolling resistance than rear wheels when equally loaded. Minimum load on the front wheels makes manoeuvrability effortless.How do you ensure continuous innovation in wheelchairs?
Innovation is paramount at O4 Wheelchairs. Our aim is to make sitting and riding in a wheelchair a more pleasant experience and to increase the quality of life and vitality of the user. Daily contact with customers, suppliers and care professionals provides input that enables us to continue improving and innovating our wheelchairs. To find out what we can improve and which requirements wheelchair users have, we ask various questions such as:
- What is the best place to sit for you?
- How long can you sit up straight?
- How do you maintain your balance?
- When do you experience pain in the wheelchair?
- How much energy does it cost you riding in the wheelchair?We use the input that we receive from these questions for further development of our wheelchairs.
Why is a customised wheelchair important?
A wheelchair that has been adapted to your body can provide many benefits. The right wheelchair can provide quality of life, more autonomy and more self-direction. You can live more independently. A good wheelchair can also ensure faster recovery and better preservation of your bodily functions.
In addition, with a correctly fitted wheelchair you can take better care of yourself. The right wheelchair reduces your need of help because you are more mobile. It even makes it easier to work and, because you can remain seated in your wheelchair for longer periods, it increases your performance at work.