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It is recommended that you consult a doctor or therapist for assistance in developing
safe and effective techniques for using this wheelchair in accordance with your daily
activities and physical capabilities.
3.1 Safety tips
Getting off the wheelchair, reaching and bending while in the wheelchair will cause a
change in weight distribution and in the centre of gravity of the user and the wheelchair.
The advice below will help the user to safely carry out these movements.
Transferring
Transfers to and from a wheelchair can be difficult. We recommend consulting your
physical therapist to develop a suitable technique. If you have sufficient body strength,
we recommend the following technique for safe transfers:
To get out of the wheelchair:
Make sure the wheelchair is as close as possible to the place you want to transfer
to. Face the castors forward and engage the brakes. Swing away the footrests and
place your feet flat on the ground. Shift your weight to the front of the wheelchair,
using the armrests for support if you need to. You can now carry out the transfer.
(You can also use a transfer board for safe and comfortable transfers.)
To get in the wheelchair:
Reverse the instructions above to safely get in your wheelchair.
Reaching:
We recommend asking for assistance to pick something up, as reaching can cause
an extreme change in weight distribution and centre of gravity.
3. USER INSTRUCTIONS
