The Game-Changing Features for Manual Tilt Wheelchairs | Legrests

In the selection of a tilting manual wheelchair frame, many factors of the seating and mobility evaluation must be considered. No two individuals are alike and therefore the recommendations for a complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) mobility base and all its parts require clinical reasoning to enhance performance, safety, sitting tolerance and functionality. Optimal outcomes are achieved by educating a user on how each aspect of the custom configured wheelchair and options are best suited for their needs.

Let’s take a closer look at how something as seemingly small as legrests actually plays a huge role in user comfort and function.  

PDG Easy-Out front riggings

These Easy-Out front riggings on a PDG chair provide a plug-in style legrest.  By squeezing the lever at the top of the legrest, removal is quick and simple. Once removed, no hardware or bracket remains on the frame. This provides a clean seat edge that eliminates the user from catching their lower extremity clothing or inflicting a skin abrasion. 

This feature also allows the user to functionally place both feet on the floor for a stand pivot transfer or foot propulsion without getting caught on a swing-away style bracket. The front of the wheelchair is open and may allow the user to get closer to a surface such as a bed, tub, toilet or table for completing transfers and activities of daily living.

Adjustability built in 

These Easy-Out front riggings are either Universal Angle Adjustable or Fixed. Each option features toolless adjustments. The Easy-Out Angle Adjustable option provides angles ranging from 0 (horizontal) to 110 (flexion) degrees. Clinically this may be useful to accommodate for a lower extremity contracture, tone or spasticity such as a person with hemiplegia.

The legrests can be adjusted in increments of 10 degrees by loosening the pivot bolt located under the cap cover, setting the desired angle, and re-tightening it. This provides flexibility to accommodate for lower extremity range of motion asymmetry and can be modified to change with the user’s condition.

These front riggings can accommodate for various range of motion settings without the use of swing-away standard elevating legrests. The traditional elevating legrests are heavy, difficult to raise and lower, and require the mounted swing-away bracket, which protrudes from the front of the seat frame when not in use.

A simple padded round knee pad can be screwed into the inside of the legrest for pressure management and skin protection, especially if the user sits in external rotation and rests his or her knee on the pivot joint. The Easy-Out Fixed front rigging provides a pre-determined set angle however increased durability for the harder user.

Designed for lasting support

Legrests can be the most tested and important components of a manual tilt-in-space wheelchair. It is clinically relevant not just for support, but also to protect the lower extremities. An end-user with severe spasticity, agitation, hypertonicity, and/or muscle contractures can apply exceedingly high forces in a variety of directions; combined with ankle straps, padding and supports which can put heavy stress on the footrest assembly.

Front view                                                               Side view

The lower assembly found on PDG chairs are solid forged aluminum lower hangers (not welded; see above). No plastic cover washers are used, which can be a common repair and reduce lifespan of footrests.

When selecting a manual tilt-in-space wheelchair, considering components like these is crucial for optimizing user comfort, independence, and overall well-being.