The earliest recorded mention of a wheel chair dates back to 6th century China from an inscription on a stone slate. No one really knows what it was made of - possibly wood or bamboo - but in all likelihood it wasn't the most comfortable contraption ever created for man to sit in, or at least not for long periods of time.
Since that rather inauspicious beginning, the art of mobility has come a long way. The advancements made in the technology geared toward the mobility-challenged during this past century are equal to, if not greater than, all the progress made in the long span of centuries that came between, from that early Chinese chair to the first truly modern wheel chair created by Harry Jennings and his disabled friend Herbert Everest in 1933.
Wheel chairs come in an astonishing variety of styles with many different features designed to aid their users in going about their everyday activities with as much independence as possible. From manual to electric powered, they truly run the gamut based on the needs of the users. And with the advent of the tilt-in-space technology, great strides have been made not only in mobility but in the comfort and the greater well-being of the user as well.
The Kanga TS Pediatric Folding Tilt-In-Space Wheelchair by Drive Medical has been designed especially for children, and is perfect for the child with less robust upper body strength or for children with other special needs, and it can be used into early adulthood, depending on weight considerations. It comes in three sizes, each of which sport bright, primary colors on the frame, and is adjustable in a great many ways.
There is a depth adjustable seat, depth adjustable abductor, height and angle adjustable flip-back armrests, angle adjustable plastic footplates and height adjustable footrests, plus the seat-to-back angle can be adjusted as well. The seat is also angled to prevent the user from sliding forward and possibly out of the chair. All of these adjustable features make for a more comfortable and customizable experience, which can be particularly important for the pediatric user as they grow and change.
The frame of the Kanga TS is aluminum, making it light weight, but also very strong. It has, in fact, been crash tested, so that users, as well as parents and/or caregivers, can feel safe utilizing the chair when travelling by bus. It also folds up for easy transport in the back of the family mini-van.
But the most important feature of this chair is the up to 35 degree tilt-in-space feature, which allows the user to tilt the seat back while keeping the angle of the torso and legs at 90 degrees. This tilt, which is not a full recline, provides a handful of critical health benefits. And all this happens at the push of a button - no straining or complicated, multi-handed manipulation required.
The first of these benefits is the prevention of pressure sores. Caregivers of people who are confined for long periods of time to a single position will tell you how painful and potentially dangerous these lesions can be. By shifting the weight of the user from the normal upright sitting position into the tilted position, the user of the chair can lessen the risk of getting these kinds of wounds.
The tilt also allows for pressure to be reduced on the spine, as gravity is constantly compressing the vertebrae when in an upright position for long periods of time. In addition, tilting helps to fight neck strain as well, by giving the wheel chair user, who may have weakened neck muscles, a break in the effort of keeping the head upright.
Furthermore, the tilt may provide relief from some of the fatigue experienced by people using wheel chairs for extended periods by lessening the amount of energy required to maintain a fully upright position all day long. For people with reduced muscle tone, this can be a huge boon and restore some lost energy levels. No caregiver wants to see their child worn out simply from the effort of trying to maintain a sometimes awkward upright position.
The Kanga TS, with its variety of adjustable features, its lightweight construction and portability, and its tilt-in-space functionality could make the difference in a mobility-challenged child's comfort, long term health and independence. From that early Chinese bamboo contraption to the Kanga TS by Drive Medical, we've certainly come a long way!
Nancy Sampson-Bach,
and
Hulet Smith, OT
