If you follow me on social media, you’ll probably know that I picked up my new active user wheelchair on the 10th September. While I’ve still got quite a few more posts to come in this series, I planned to finish with a comparison of my old Kushcall K-Series specification, compared to my new. However, things didn’t go to plan when I picked up my new K-Series. While it sucks that my new wheelchair has arrived different to what was ordered, I thought it would be helpful for me to talk you through what’s different (wrong) and the difference between my active user wheelchair prescription is different to the final product delivered.
There are three things that weren’t as ordered on my prescription:
- Backrest height
- Footplate
- Front seat to floor measurement
It’s worth noting that, during my pick up appointment, I was told the chairs are checked to make sure they’re as prescribed. So I’m not sure how these three things were missed.
Active User Wheelchair Prescription Vs Product: Backrest Height
As soon as I sat in my new chair, I could tell that the backrest height was too low. When I compared the new chair to the height I’d created using bag straps on my old chair, I could see that it was too low as well. The wheelchair therapist got her tape measure out and, sure enough, the backrest was too low.
On my prescription, the backrest height has been specified as 285mm. Yet the backrest height of my new wheelchair measured at 270mm. 1.5cm might not seem like a lot, but when it comes to backrest heights, it can make such a big difference.
Luckily, this was easily rectified. The Kuschall K-Series, along with some other active user wheelchairs, allows for several backrest heights within the same backrest posts. I’m not sure I’ve explained that very well – partly because it isn’t highlighted as a feature on the order form so I don’t know how many settings each backrest post allows for, so I can’t give examples. What I can say with certainty is that it was possible for the wheelchair technician to raise the 270mm backrest height up to the 285mm I needed with minimal effort.
My concern here is that, had I not realised, raised my concerns and trusted my instinct that the backrest height was too low, I’d have been left without the back support I needed.
You can find out more about backrest heights in my Active User Wheelchair Backrest Height Options post.
Active User Wheelchair Prescription Vs Product: Footplate
When I saw my new wheelchair, my heart sank – it had arrived with an upmounted footplate. I’ve shared some of the challenges I’ve faced with my old wheelchair footplate over on Instagram. In summary; my old wheelchair’s footplate was too low, meaning my ankles wobbled about. Wheelchair service created an upmounted footplate for me (see photo), but this didn’t work with my need to be able to use my FreeWheel for difficult pavements, grass and other challenging terrain that’s difficult to tackle with small caster wheels.
My understanding was that the footplate issues I faced with my old chair were an important factor in me being assessed as needing a new wheelchair.
When ordering my new wheelchair, I had a whole conversation with the wheelchair therapist and wheelchair technician about measurements and how an upmounted footplate didn’t work for me. Although my leg measurement is 385mm, we decided that a leg length of 390mm would be the best option for my prescription, as it’s the highest option available with the footplate still within the main frame of the wheelchair (i.e. not upmounted).
When I raised my concerns about the upmounted footplate, I was told that the prescription form was ambiguous.
I took a look at the prescription form, including the Compatibility Table (page 9 of 10 on the order form) that refers specifically to which specifications will result in a wheelchair be made with an upmounted footplate. This can be found on Invacare’s website.
The prescription form says that “Lower leg lengths of less than 390mm in certain configurations could be delivered with an upmounted footplate.”
My footplate prescription was 390mm from the cushion base to the footplate.
The compatibility table states that “any measurements outside of this table may result in the chair being delivered with an upmounted footplate.” For my size wheels (24 inch), a 90 degree standard frame and a floor to seat measurement of 500mm, the compatibility table shows that the knee to heel length for a standard footplate will be standard mounted between 390-460mm.
390mm is not outside of the measurements in the table so the footrest should not have come upmounted.
Because an upmounted footplate isn’t suitable for me, it was swapped out with the footplate from my old chair in the interim, while a suitable solution is found. Unfortunately, the solution wheelchair service proposed won’t work with my FreeWheel…
Active User Wheelchair Prescription Vs Product: Front Seat-To-Floor Measurement
Most active user wheelchairs are prescribed/ordered with a bucket. This is where the seat is angled downwards, rather than being perfectly horizontal. A bucket is created by having different front and back seat-to-floor measurements. They can be slight, deep or inbetween. Having a bucket can provide additional stability for a wheelchair user and can increase support on the back and hips.
My new wheelchair was ordered with a front seat-to-floor measurement of 500mm and a back seat-to-floor measurement of 460mm. However, this was not what was arrived. The front floor-to-seat measures at 485mm – 15mm less than was prescribed. This makes the bucket of my wheelchair shallower and doesn’t provide the hip and, by extension, back support that I need.
When I first sat in my new wheelchair, the footplate had already been changed. As a result, I wasn’t able to identify that the issues I was experiencing with my hip and back positioning were partly due to not having a deep enough bucket, rather than just having my feet dangling, unsupported.
The front seat-to-floor height is something that should be fixable, but it’s not a job I can do myself. So until I’m able to get my new wheelchair looked at, I just have to manage as best I can.
Active User Wheelchair Prescription Vs Product: Impact
The impact this is having on my life is significant. My new SmartDrive (to replace the one my old wheelchair broke), is ready to be delivered, but without a suitable active user wheelchair to attach it to, this has needed to be put on hold. So I’m stuck managing as best I can with a powerchair for the foreseeable future. As my new wheelchair doesn’t have push handles, I can’t have someone push me. So I’m only able to use it round the house. This means that family journeys requiring the car aren’t possible right now. Despite having a new wheelchair, I’m not in a worse position than I was when I had my broken wheelchair that had push handles.
I’ve lost the independence that my active user wheelchair/SmartDrive combination gave me and it sucks. It’s not fair on me, it’s not fair on Elise and it’s not fair on all of the amazing people who supported our SmartDrive fundraiser.
Despite being referred to wheelchair service in January 2016, I still don’t have a properly fitting wheelchair. To be completely honest, I’m having a difficult time getting my head around this.
Find me on:
Bloglovin’ | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube
You can also check out the Accessible Babywearing Facebook page!
