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Tilt-In-Space Wheelchair Rental

A wheelchair with the power tilt (tilt-in-space) feature allows the whole chair to tilt up to 30 or 60 degrees, depending on the model, while maintaining your hip and knee angles at 90 degrees. In most cases, this is done with the touch of a button, allowing you to move your body independently.

Let’s take a look at whether tilting is beneficial to the wheelchair user, particularly one with a neuromuscular disease. If so, when should those of us with progressive diseases start thinking about upgrading to a tilt-in-space wheelchair?

Is tilting for me?

It is said that almost everyone with muscular dystrophy could benefit from a tilt-in-space wheelchair at one time or another.

Sometimes you may need a combination tilt and recline. Reclining opens up the angle between the seat and the back to raise your legs higher than the heart, reducing edema (swelling caused by fluid accumulation) of your lower extremities. You can use elevating legrests for severe edema problems.

How do I know when it’s time to switch?

It is said that pain and discomfort are signs that you need an evaluation to determine whether a tilt-in-space chair is necessary.

Pain in the Rear

If you use a wheelchair because of a neuromuscular disease, then you probably have normal sensation in your lower body and “can feel just how uncomfortable you are” from long-term sitting.

You might consider a tilt-in-space power chair if you’ve started to have discomfort and you lack the musculature in your extremities to independently move yourself into a more comfortable position. The beauty of the tilt feature is that you can change your position as you need to throughout the day.

Not adjusting your position can cause painful and even deadly decubitus ulcers (pressure sores). Tilting helps prevent pressure sores by temporarily shifting the weight from your buttocks to your back.

When your spine makes you whine!

A tilt-in-space system can also help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by scoliosis (curvature of the spine), which is common in many neuromuscular conditions.

Sitting for long periods of time causes your spine to collapse, affecting your respiratory system and all of your organs. Expanding your trunk improves breathing capacity, blood circulation and organ function.

Fighting Fatigue

If your body has some weakness from a neuromuscular disease, you probably experience fatigue.

As your muscles atrophy, weaken and fatigue, you’ll have a tendency to sit on your tailbone or to “sacral sit,” which is extremely poor posture. Excessive sacral sitting causes pain in the spinal lumbar region and restricts blood circulation, leading to pressure sores.

Tilting also combats the effects of neck muscle weakness, allowing your neck a break from holding itself up. It helps with lower extremity positioning, benefits upper body support and reduces swelling in feet, ankles and calves.

Getting the Right Stuff

We have a certified ATP who can size you and get you the right chair that fits your needs! This assessment can be done over the phone or in the store by appointments only, or in-home for an additional fee.