http://agingsuite.com/2010/01/the-benefits-of-exercise/ Tips and tools for aging in place Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://agingsuite.com/2010/01/the-benefits-of-exercise/comment-page-1/#comment-297 agingsuite Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:45:09 +0000 http://agingsuite.com/?p=1842#comment-297 Hi, <br>Thanks so much for your question. Because I don’t know your mom’s diagnosis, I can’t give you specifics about her case. However, it’s a good idea to consult with an occupational or physical therapist before getting a power wheelchair and you may want to speak with one in person now to state your specific concerns. There are a lot of things to consider when considering getting a power chair including where the person will be using the chair, their diagnosis, muscle strength, range of motion, and posture. Other things to consider include the type of seat that works best for the individual, the type of leg rests and arm rest that best serves them, as well as if the person has visual deficits. Here’s a great link to find out more information: <a href="http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofapowerwheelchair.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofa...</a> Hi,
Thanks so much for your question. Because I don’t know your mom’s diagnosis, I can’t give you specifics about her case. However, it’s a good idea to consult with an occupational or physical therapist before getting a power wheelchair and you may want to speak with one in person now to state your specific concerns. There are a lot of things to consider when considering getting a power chair including where the person will be using the chair, their diagnosis, muscle strength, range of motion, and posture. Other things to consider include the type of seat that works best for the individual, the type of leg rests and arm rest that best serves them, as well as if the person has visual deficits. Here’s a great link to find out more information: http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofa...

]]> http://agingsuite.com/2010/01/the-benefits-of-exercise/comment-page-1/#comment-185 agingsuite Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:45:09 +0000 http://agingsuite.com/?p=1842#comment-185 Hi, <br>Thanks so much for your question. Because I don’t know your mom’s diagnosis, I can’t give you specifics about her case. However, it’s a good idea to consult with an occupational or physical therapist before getting a power wheelchair and you may want to speak with one in person now to state your specific concerns. There are a lot of things to consider when considering getting a power chair including where the person will be using the chair, their diagnosis, muscle strength, range of motion, and posture. Other things to consider include the type of seat that works best for the individual, the type of leg rests and arm rest that best serves them, as well as if the person has visual deficits. Here’s a great link to find out more information: <a href="http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofapowerwheelchair.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofa...</a> Hi,
Thanks so much for your question. Because I don’t know your mom’s diagnosis, I can’t give you specifics about her case. However, it’s a good idea to consult with an occupational or physical therapist before getting a power wheelchair and you may want to speak with one in person now to state your specific concerns. There are a lot of things to consider when considering getting a power chair including where the person will be using the chair, their diagnosis, muscle strength, range of motion, and posture. Other things to consider include the type of seat that works best for the individual, the type of leg rests and arm rest that best serves them, as well as if the person has visual deficits. Here’s a great link to find out more information: http://www.alsironhorse.org/images/selectionofa...

]]> http://agingsuite.com/2010/01/the-benefits-of-exercise/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Monte Martin Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:01:18 +0000 http://agingsuite.com/?p=1842#comment-184 I observed a precipitous decline in my late mother's health when she began using a power chair in place of her walker and began scoffing physical therapy sessions at the assisted living center where she was living. Obviously, she didn't have to use the chair, but a well-meaning sibling thought it would be something that would increase her mobility. I reluctantly went along. An acquaintance said he saw the same phenomena with his mother, whose muscle atrophy also made her too weak a candidate for heart surgery in her waning years. My question is: Should power chairs possibly come with a consumer warning label? I don't doubt that they are a valuable piece of equipment for many people who truly need them, but the easy availability certainly doesn't seem to do any favors for those elderly who would be better served by a treadmill. Is there anyone else who has observed these types of declines and are there any studies about the deleterious effects of chairs? I know the power chair industry isn't going away and it's not my intention to wreck it, but I would hope there are some physicians and physical therapists who are concerned about what I would think is a growing health issue. I observed a precipitous decline in my late mother's health when she began using a power chair in place of her walker and began scoffing physical therapy sessions at the assisted living center where she was living. Obviously, she didn't have to use the chair, but a well-meaning sibling thought it would be something that would increase her mobility. I reluctantly went along. An acquaintance said he saw the same phenomena with his mother, whose muscle atrophy also made her too weak a candidate for heart surgery in her waning years. My question is: Should power chairs possibly come with a consumer warning label? I don't doubt that they are a valuable piece of equipment for many people who truly need them, but the easy availability certainly doesn't seem to do any favors for those elderly who would be better served by a treadmill. Is there anyone else who has observed these types of declines and are there any studies about the deleterious effects of chairs? I know the power chair industry isn't going away and it's not my intention to wreck it, but I would hope there are some physicians and physical therapists who are concerned about what I would think is a growing health issue.

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