All About Wheelchair Cushions

Just because you are permanently confined to a wheelchair, or you need to use a wheelchair due to medical reasons, does not mean that you have to get used to an uncomfortable life. Although sitting in a wheelchair for long hours can be quite a hardship, there are many products that you can use to make life easier for yourself, not to mention more comfy and less painful. One such product that we are referring to is a wheelchair cushion.

Simply put, a wheelchair cushion is a cushion designed to be used with a wheelchair. By using a cushion, you can give some much needed support to your hips, back, spinal cord, and your tender bottom (does get tender after sitting for so long, doesn’t it!)

A wheel chair cushion will absorb all the shocks and bumps that are natural with using a wheelchair. It will also ensure that you do not suffer from painful bed sores or pressure spots by giving you a soft seat to sit on and relieving the constant pressure on various parts of your body.

Wheelchair Seat Cushion Types

It is typically classified according to the material used in making the cushion. Thus you have the following types:

1. Air wheelchair cushions: These cushions have to be inflated before use. Air cushions are very light in weight and can be inflated as much or as little, depending on your special needs. They allow for even distribution of pressure but are quite expensive and difficult to maintain.
2. Foam wheelchair seat cushions: These cushions are made from foam and are the cheapest kind of wheelchair cushions, which is not indicative of their quality. However, these cushions are not very durable as they tend to wear out quickly and also lose their original shape.
3. Gel wheelchair cushions: These cushions are made from a gel like material and are great for giving your body support. These cushions are the utmost in comfort but there is a slight worry about the gel leaking out from these wheelchair cushions.