As we mentioned in our last blog, personalized seating and positioning solution is about more than just comfort—it's a crucial step towards a healthier and more independent life. Finding the right fit can have profound benefits for your health and well-being, but with so many options available, how do you know which one is right for you?
A wheelchair cushion is more than just a comfort accessory; it is a vital tool that enhances the health, positioning and overall mobility of wheelchair users. By providing pressure relief, supporting proper posture and offering stability, a high-quality cushion can significantly improve one’s independence.
Since every individual is unique, we’ve developed the concept of individual ‘thumbprints’ to help guide you when selecting your seating solution.
When choosing your cushion, consider these six categories.
*International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Based on your own preference and needs, how important each one is to you will determine if it is a low, typical, or high priority.
Since cushions can be made of different “mediums” or materials including foam, air, or a combination, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to making a selection. It is important to work with a clinician or therapist that will listen to your individual priorities and help you match those to the product and features that are available. Let’s look at the different materials that make up cushions.
Foam
Not all foam is alike! Different types of foam used in wheelchair cushions, such as memory foam, high-density foam, and gel-infused foam, vary in their support, durability, and pressure relief properties, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of users.
Strategically layering different types of High Resiliency (HR) quality foam, Comfort cushions provide a stable base, have the ability to withstand compression over time and provide immersion for the individual’s body.
Air: Flowing
Flowing air technology in wheelchair cushions ensures continuous pressure redistribution and enhanced comfort by dynamically adjusting air levels to the user's movements, significantly reducing the risk of pressure sores.
ROHO® offers a unique air cell design that allows air to flow between the cells providing pressure redistribution and stability. The concept of DRY FLOATATION® is the capability of the cushion to conform and adapt to the body’s shape, mimicking the pressure redistribution properties of water. ROHO cushions let you in, match your shape, move with you and work with you (not against you).
Air: Non-flowing
Non-flowing air cells used in wheelchair cushions, provide stable, adaptive support by utilizing multiple air-filled compartments, which offer consistent pressure distribution and enhanced comfort without the need for constant adjustments.
Vicair® technology uses tetrahedron shaped SmartCells® that are filled with non-flowing air. Each Vicair cushion is filled with hundreds of these SmartCells that are virtually indestructible, require few adjustments, conform to the body's contours and provide pressure redistribution. Stability is achieved as the cells do not migrate from the cushion’s compartments, move with minimal friction, resemble viscous fluid, and allow the cushion to adapt to the body.
Hybrid: Foam + air or Foam + gel
Hybrid cushions are a combination of either foam and air or foam and gel. Typically, a High Resiliency (HR) foam base is used as the foundation, providing the shape and contours of the cushion. Then flowing air, non-flowing air or gel packs are placed in high risk areas for skin breakdown.
Sometimes, all the cushion options that have been tried still don’t meet your individual needs. Custom fabricated seat cushions are also available as they allow you to customize materials, shapes and features that are not available in standard or ‘off the shelf’ cushions. Permobil proudly offers multiple custom cushion options, including the Comfort Inception, ROHO custom and TruShape.
Want to learn more about cushions as the base of your seating system solution and individual seating thumbprints? Click here.
Join us for parts 3 and 4 of this blog series to dive into the other components of the seating Solution: back supports and positioning accessories!
Nicole LaBerge, PT, ATPCommercial Product Manager - Permobil Americas
Nicole B. LaBerge, PT, ATP is a Physical Therapist with 18 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings. She currently works for Permobil as a Commercial Product Manager of Seating and Positioning products. Her past clinical practice has included seating and mobility for adult and pediatric populations, with a focus in neurological rehabilitation, power standing and wound care. Nicole has presented at the State and International Levels, has multiple publications in peer reviewed journals and enjoys sharing her passion for patient advocacy, efficiency, and clinical outcomes. She served as an Executive Board Member for the Clinician Task Force for 3 years and is currently an active member in the CTF.