Tips for Setting Up Lateral Supports on a Wheelchair From a Wheelchair Expert

"𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓?" ♿
An #OT messaged me, asking this very question. I linked her a video I made previous about where to put laterals (which I will link below) but there is a little more to it. So I figured I would make a video on it.
𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬:
🟠 Ideally you want to have at least a 2 finger gap between the laterals support hardware and the wheelchair users axilla (armpit) nerves.
🟠 If the client has recline, set the laterals up in the most reclined position you're in. This is because the laterals may rise up higher in relation to your body and then impinge those nerves.
🟠 If you know their seating is quite complex and carers may not position them perfectly each time, you might want to consider lowering the support to again avoid the impinged nerve. Life's all about choices.
#Wheelchair experts, do you have any other thoughts or considerations when setting up laterals supports?
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Link to video on Pelvic Oblquity and Scoliosis
instagram.com/reel/Co8YkwHu1Dc/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==