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One common problem created by hospital style wheelchairs is unsupported feet and legs. This problem is the direct result of the use of two cheap swing-away and removable footrests on folding wheelchairs. The footrest is angled forward in order to create clearance from the wheelchair’s large front caster wheels. The foot platform is typically a piece of plastic or metal that folds down.
1. The entire footrest support gets lost.
The footrest support attachment mechanism breaks.
The foot platform hinge loosens and the footplate sags downward or breaks completely.
The wheelchair user’s legs are too short to reach the footrests, and they hang down unsupported.
The wheelchair user’s feet fall off the footrest due to the forward/elevated position.
The wheelchair user’s ankles and knees rotate inward due to the sagging footplates creating permanent ligament and joint problems.
The forward/elevated position of the wheelchair user’s feet is uncomfortable and awkward.
The forward/elevated position of the wheelchair user’s feet increases the space needed to turn.
The forward/elevated position of the wheelchair user’s feet makes it difficult to open and close doors and get close to objects.
The forward position of the wheelchair user’s feet puts more weight on the front casters making the wheelchair harder to propel and less maneuverable.
When a wheelchair user’s feet are not properly supported, their legs and hips are also not properly positioned and supportive. This lack of lower body support creates seating posture problems and upper body instability. Wheelchair users are more likely to fall forward out of their wheelchair. They don’t have a stable or useful lap because their legs are splayed open. One or both feet are likely to fall off the footplate and incur an abrasion injury.
Given all the significant problems created by this type of foot support, the obvious question is “What are its benefits?”
This type of footrest is:
Cheap to make.
Easy to extend the length. Thus, (barely) accommodating a wide range of sizes of people with minimal adjustment (One-Size-Fits-All).
Can be converted to a Raised Elevation Foot Position for people with temporary foot/leg injuries and casts.
In other words, the footrest that is designed to be used by everyone actually fits almost nobody. But in particular, it doesn’t fit small people (children) or people with short legs (polio and other childhood onset disabilities).
I think it is safe to say that over 50% of the people using this (cheap) type of hospital wheelchair footrest have many of the problems that I have previously described.
The solution to the footrest design problem is already known. It involves using a more solid footrest platform that folds on one side and is supported on the other side. The reason that this footrest is not widely implemented is that it would:
Cost more to manufacture.
Reduce the universal One-Size-Fits-All use of the wheelchair model.
Not allow for the Raised Elevation Foot Position.
The reason for the widespread use of the poorly designed swing away footrest and the lack of popularity of the more appropriate folding footrest platform is due to economic considerations of reducing costs and saving money. Society has deemed that it doesn’t really matter. The general thinking is that since wheelchair users are not using their legs, so what difference does it make?
Given the widespread footrest problem and the lack of willingness and resources to implement a more permanent functional design, I created the DIY Foot Swing Platform as a “first aid” type solution.
The DIY Foot Swing Platform provides a center platform to support the wheelchair user’s feet. Therefore, their feet can rest together in a flat position with the user’s leg bent at about 90 degrees. This natural foot and leg position provides lower body stability. It is the position favored by pricy active wheelchairs.
In order to maintain the folding function of the wheelchair, the platform is supported by two fabric (flexible) straps on either side. The straps are attached to the horizontal crossbar of the existing swing-away style footrest. If this crossbar is not available, a substitute crossbar can be created by attaching a metal tube to the wheelchair’s horizontal seat frame. A fabric calf strap is used in the rear to prevent the person’s foot from falling off the backside of the platform.
While the DIY Foot Swing Platform is supportive, it is not completely solid. This is the trade-off created to maintaining the folding function and the ability to move the platform out of the way for certain transfers.
The DIY Foot Swing Platform is intended as an inexpensive and readily available (First Aid style) solution to a significant and widespread problem created by the use of ill-fitting hospital wheelchairs. Once the concept is understood, it can be easily made of different types of materials as determined by availability.