For those of you who use wheelchairs fully

[peemagg]

I have a question for those of you who use wheelchairs full time, I was wondering what you do to help eleviate sweating from your cushions?

The cushion on my chair makes my legs sweat and I can't seem to find some sort of cover to make it more comfortable that way. Do you know where I can find a cushion cover? I am going to Disney soon and want a cover before I go.

I am not a full-time user, yet (knock on wood), but use my chair in places where I have to walk distances. Can you help me out?

 

[Bete]

I would honestly use loads of baby powder on my legs. If you need to reapply during the day you could go to the first aid center or a family, companion restroom to do it.

If you can walk some that might help, too. You could always use the wheelchair as if you are pushing it and it will give you support for walking. My logic here is you would be allowing the cushion to air out and your legs, too.

Would a towel work? I think you need material that has absorption power. Also, I saw on Amazon a seat cushion that has water in it. The idea being that the cushion would conform to your contour better and maybe that would help your legs. Another cushion I saw actually claims it's a cooling pad called cool seat cushion; it's only 12 x 12 but that might be enough for legs. I saw another one similar that was 19-1/2 x 15.

 

[Michigan]

My girls have never had that problem. The both have Supracor cushions. You can find cushions and covers a www.sportaid.com

 

[SueM in MN]

What kind of cover does your cushion have?

My DD's wheelchair has a Jay Deep Contour seat. It is foam with a gel insert in the 'sit bones' area. It comes with a black thin nylon knit cover and she has not had any problem with sweat. I was afraid the nylon would snag, so I made some covers from other fabric.
I mostly used either swimsuit material or stretchy material like would be used for dance/gymnastics costumes.

This picture shows one of her covers.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

The key really is to use at least a cover that is made of breathable absorbing material. Better yet; a combination of that for both cover and cushion itself. Now obviously the cushion can be a rather expensive route when not getting (full) coverage for that, but you can already do quite a lot with just the cover.

Problem is that the norm in this world is non-breathable, "easy to clean". Read; let's make it so that any fluids don't penetrate and can easily be wiped off". Nice and peachy when going down that route for incontinence needs (and even than one will want to add a layer for the sweating), but it's also a succes recepy for your body having no place for the sweat to go to. Yet when sitting down fulltime, the body tends to sweat more/more easily around your bumm and thighs. You will want the material beneath you to absord the sweat for you, yet also be breathable enough to dry out, not smell bad within no time, being washable etc.

Most "official" covers are expensive. As soon as anything is labeled as aid, medical etc. the price goes up. Yet it can be very very cheap to get yourself more than one cover if you buy the fabric you like that is breathable and absorbing and then make the cover yourself, have a crafty friend make it or even when paying a professional. Always have at least 2 covers! Accidents do happen like dropping a drink or finding yourself out in a monsoon like rain without an umbrella. Two allows you to alternate while one is drying out, being washed etc.

Now for some the Florida summer can be another thing. Some people sweat more than others and some folks will spent more time in the full blazing sun that others (which will also influence sweating etc.). No big issue either. Something as simple as a towel can do the trick. Yes indeed, the same one you would use drying off yourself after a shower. After all; very absorbing fabric.

You can also make it easier or more difficult on yourself with the choice of clothes. Wearing breathable 100% cotton stuff will give a very different result than wearing less breathable fabrics, even more so when combining that with tight fit. Again you will want the fabric to be breathable and somewhat absorbing to take the sweaty away from your body and into the clothes and/or cover.

 

[peemagg]

I have a Comfort Care cushion that has one of those covers for ease of cleaning, but no breathing.

If you were to have one made would you use a micro-suede type material or something different? I am thinking of something that had elastic around it to make it easy for taking on or off as needed.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

No experience here with micro-suede, since that is a material my skin doesn't deal well with and as such was never used or tried. My chair is lined in all 100% cotton fabrics, flat smooth ones. Also in the past have used towels on my first WDW trip (when I had to make due with an improper chair with that nasty "incontinence" fabric), which worked perfectly. I know from others with my syndrome and same sensitive skin that they've used different types of fabric and all come back positive as long as it's 100% cotton, most are also ok with >90%. Hopefully you wont have to deal with that skin factoring in, but it's the area I've seen most experiences in. I've seen fleece (cotton ones), towelmaterial (cover made from such fabrics, so not just putting down a towel), I've seen friends having made extras out of old bathrobes they loved, you name it. Seems like a bit thicker fabric helps absorb more and can be more comfy.


What type of cover you want to make really depends on you and your abilities. If you make most transfers by scooting, you will want to use stronger elastics if going that route to prevent the cover from moving while dragging your beautifull behind over is. If you are sensitive to friction; make sure the cover does not move easily by using strong elastics or making a full cover that opens/closes by use of a zipper or buttons or alike. Yet when you transfer simply by lifting your behind up; you can get away with a lot more with regards to elastics etc.

After thinking about how you transfer, think about your hand/armfunction. If you use very tight elastic, can your hands deal with that or would you need an easy take off option to be able to remove and replace it if you happen to find yourself in Florida downpoor before getting to your room? That might influence your choice for elastic or something else, strength of elastic, size of buttons or zipper etc. And beyond that; whatever fits your fancy and budget.