Lumbar support cushions play a pivotal role in eliminating the incidence of back pain by promoting the right posture and providing the right support to your back. The material composition, firmness, and design of these seat cushions have a significant role in preventing lumbar back pain. Working professionals, students, the elderly or those who use wheelchairs due to health issues or accidents should always use good quality seat cushions to keep their back upright and distribute the vertical pressure from their sit bones evenly. The catch in this whole situation is to choose an efficient lumbar support cushion, which is versatile, economical, and easy to use. Those who are looking for the best cushion for wheelchair should first understand how a good quality cushion aids them in everyday activities.
Here are a few snippets that would help you understand the importance of a wheelchair cushion.
Positioning: When a person is spending more than 8 hrs in a wheelchair, it is imperative to have the right position to ensure comfort. While most wheelchairs have a flat surface, additional cushioning, and using a seat cushion would definitely add to the comfort level.
Ulcers/Pressure Sores Prevention: Pressure sores are common among people who are bedridden or have been using wheelchairs for years. Due to sustained pressure on a particular body part, the blood supply is interrupted, which often results in soreness. Other factors like friction with clothing or bedding can lead to this issue. An ergonomic mobility wheelchair cushion would resolve all these issues by providing the right cushioning.
Promotes the Right Posture: The best wheelchair cushion would support your back and fills the gap between the chair and the natural S-curve of your spine. Due to this gap, it is difficult to sit upright for a long time, this is the main reason why most people slouch while sitting for long hours. For a wheelchair user, it is essential to maintain the right balance of comfort and the right posture to prevent any health issues.
The industry’s best wheelchair cushion fulfills all these requirements and enhances the comfort level. The three main seat cushions that rule the market are gel cushions, memory foam cushions, and air cushions. While these lumbar back support cushions have been ruling the industry for years, cushions with advanced technology and user-friendly features are taking over. Let’s unveil the pros and cons of each one of them to understand which cushion suits our requirements.
Air Cushions for Lumbar Support– Pros and Cons
These seat cushions are light in weight and can be deflated easily. While these cushions are easy to carry while traveling, it is quite difficult to maintain them. Filling the air in these cushions is quite a task and may take a long time if you are not an expert! Also, getting the right firmness is a big issue. If you have chronic back pain problems like sciatica, degenerated discs, coccydynia, or compressed discs, you need to think twice before choosing an air cushion. People who use wheelchairs have to test these air wheelchair cushions before buying.
Are Gel Cushions a Good Option for Lumbar Support?
As compared to air cushions, gel cushions are better at distributing the pressure evenly while reducing the pain in your body. Gel-infused seat cushions contour your body and offer the right firmness, which is not achieved in the case of an air cushion. However, gel cushions need to be redistributed time and again by kneading. A step ahead of the regular foam cushions, the gel-infused cushions are highly comforting and have a cooling effect, which is a plus point for people who are confined to a wheelchair.
Memory Foam Cushions – Yay or Nay?
Over time, memory foam cushions gained huge popularity among wheelchair uses due to their firmness and ease of care and maintenance. These are considered one of the best wheelchair cushions because of their structure and stability. These cushions are light in weight and cost-effective; you can choose from a wide variety of sizes and weight options. If you don’t have any chronic issues like coccydynia or degenerated disc, these memory foam pillows would serve the purpose. You can use them in your office, at home, or while travelling. The best thing about these cushions is that you can get these in different thicknesses and densities, which is a plus point as you can get the right cushion for your wheelchair irrespective of the model of the chair.
Honeycomb Cushion – A Promising Solution
Designed in a honeycomb structure, these seat cushions are highly effective in distributing pressure evenly. The different cells in the structure conform to the shape of the body and offer superior cushioning. This reduces the strain on your spine and makes it easy to sit for long hours. These cushions are easy to clean and maintain and are a step ahead of the classic memory foam and gel cushion.
Mobility Wheelchair Cushion with Advanced Technology
If you have a chronic back issue, chiropractors would advise you to opt for an ergonomic wheelchair cushion, which has state-of-the-art technologies to ensure great relief! The Ergo21 wheelchair cushions are designed using LiquiCell technology, which features four water-filled membranes. These membranes are hand stitched on the foam, which ensures a solid base. These membranes distribute the pressure evenly and reduce the shear stress from the thigh and hip bones. The best thing about these cushions is that your sit bones are relaxed and have improved blood flow circulation, hence, no numbness, fidgeting, or pain.
Choosing the best wheelchair cushion is an important task if you are a wheelchair user as comfort is the priority. Analyse different options and see if they are fulfilling your criteria. Versatility, material, and cushioning are three main factors, which should be considered before making a purchase.
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