Active User Wheelchair Seating Settings

As you’ve probably figured out if you’ve seen other posts in my active user wheelchair series, there are LOTS of things to consider when choosing and configuring and active user wheelchair. My previous post looked at the different Active User Wheelchair Seating Options, including backrest height, upholstery and side guards. This post will be looking at the different active user wheelchair seating settings, specifically seating measurements – what they mean and why they are important.

Active User Wheelchair Seating Settings: Seat Height

You might be wondering what seat height refers to. I know I certainly did when I saw the phrase. After all, surely the thin piece of canvas that the wheelchair cushion is placed on is negligible in terms of height?! And you would be right!

Seat height refers to the height of the seat from the floor.

This measurement takes into consideration the size of the rear wheels that you’ve chosen for your wheelchair (discussed in a future post). It should also take into account your torso and arm length. This is to allow you to reach the optimum hand position for manoeuvrability on your hand rims. Ideally, your hands should reach the centre of your wheels. This is a generalisation, to talk to your wheelchair therapist and or rep to determine what is right for you.

Generally, two measurements will be taken for your seat height. These are front seat-to-floor and rear seat-to-floor. You might be wondering why two measurements are taken. Well, if you look at the angle between an active user wheelchair’s backrest (seen more easily with a canvas backrest) and the seat, this is called a ‘bucket’.

Active User Wheelchair Seating Settings: Bucket

A bucket has a number of functions in wheelchair seating. As with babywearing, the optimum position to sit in an active user wheelchair for most people is with their knees above their bottom. This creates a good posture and can distribute a person’s weight more into the seat of the wheelchair. As a result, making the wheelchair less tippy and can help the user to feel more secure. There is no one-size-fit’s all with a bucket. Some people like the feeling of a deep seat, others find it doesn’t suit them.

I have the deepest bucket that the Kuschall K-Series allows. More by accident than design. When deciding on my new wheelchair (another K-Series or the Quickie Argon2), one of the specification options that I looked at was how deep of a bucket each chair could offer. The Argon2 didn’t offer as deep a bucket as I had and wanted, so this (along with the seat height options and weight) was one of the main reasons I opted for another K-Series.

If you have a strong preference, it’s worth looking at the specifications of each chair that you’re considering to make sure that the bucket you need is available.

Active User Wheelchair Seating Settings: Seat Position

As I’ve said already in this series of posts, one of the big advantages of having an active user wheelchair is how customisable they are. And seating is no exception.

The seat position refers to where the rear wheels are positioned in relation to your wheelchair frame and it’s seat. In practical terms, your seat position affects where your centre of gravity is. This in terms will have a bearing on how easily manoeuvrable your wheelchair will be and how easy it will be to pull a wheelie (or tip backwards – you have bee warned!).

Some active user wheelchairs, such as the Kuschall K-Series, allow for repositioning of the wheels. The K-Series has five options, making it a good first active user wheelchair. This allows for new users to get to grips with the benefits of an active user wheelchair in position 5, the most stable position, while not limiting you to having to stay with the same seat position for the entirety of your active user wheelchair’s life.

It is worth noting though, that moving the rear wheels, thus changing the seat position, can have an impact on other aspects of your wheelchair.

When I got my rigid, hard shell backrest, it was set up in the furthest forward position. This effectively made my seat shorted as the rigid backrest was further forward than my canvas one. Unfortunately, this meant that my hands didn’t fall in the right position on my rear wheel’s hand rims, making moving a nightmare.

To ‘fix’ this issue, wheelchair service moved my rear wheels forward to position 1, the most active (and most tippy) position. But, in doing this, they had to reposition my anti-tip. This involved drilling a new hole into my wheelchair. So, while changes can be made on some active user wheelchairs (not all, so check!), they aren’t always easy. Wherever possible, do the research and try different wheelchairs to give you the best chance of getting it right first time – this is important for all aspects of your wheelchair.

What do you look for in your active user wheelchair seating settings?