Wheelchair with Lying Board

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HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 66: Designs for 6 Basic Wheelchairs > Wheel Chair with Lying Board

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

This is useful for an active child who must lie face down to heal pressure sores or to stretch hip and knee contractures.

The board is sloped so that the child can play, look ahead, and move about more easily. If necessary, you can make the lying board adjustable so that the child can rest lying flat. This helps to improve circulation and to prevent swelling of the feet.

After the pressure sores heal, the lying board can be removed and the frame is easily adapted to form a lightweight wheelchair.

The design we show uses a simple, non-folding steel tube wheelchair frame with a wooden lying board mounted on top. However, many other designs are possible. (See, for example, this photo of a lying and standing wood wheelchair.)

WITH LYING BOARD

Lying board should be well padded with thick foam rubber. If necessary, cut out a hole for urine to pass through (line hole with thin plastic so the foam rubber stays dry).

angle iron

footrest (height and angle adjustable)

bicycle wheels

6” casters

For tall persons, place the casters farther from the big wheels to help prevent tipping.
WITHOUT LYING BOARD and with other additions

removable handle for pushing

¾" round thin-wall tubing (or 1" tubing for adults) or use square tubing

shopping or book basket

heel strap

front bar forms footrest

¾" square tubing. Use 1" for persons over 150 lbs (70 kg).

THE LYING BOARD

SIDE VIEW
Attach thin wood or plywood boards with small screws so that they can be easily adjusted to leave open spaces under bony parts or sores.	strong wood pole (or 1” square tubing) rack to hold urine pot (if needed) adjustable footrest

TOP VIEW

Make the board and wheelchair just a little wider than the child’s hips.

urine hole

height adjustment pin

angle adjustment pin

footrest

The board attaches to the chair with angle irons or wing bolts. You can make wing bolts by brazing a stiff bent wire to a bolt.

wire

bolt

FOOTREST

Use thin wood or plywood. (Pad sides and bottom well to prevent sores. Examine feet daily.)

REMOVABLE HANDLE

cloth or woven plastic seat and back book basket

pieces that fit into side tubes

FRONT CASTER WHEEL

¾" square tubing ½" round tubing ⅝" bolt shopping cart wheel with holes drilled for lighter weight

You should now have enough information to make a wheelchair with a lying board without step-by-step instructions. Adapt it, and make it the size to fit the child that needs it.

Wheelchair with lying board. A wide strap holds the child in place (but take care it does not press on sores).	Wheelchair without lying board.

A variation of the wheelchair with lying board adapted for a child with paraplegia with both contractures and pressure sores of his hips and knees. Urine is collected in a plastic container. The wheelchair seat has been converted into a basket.

CAUTION! Remember that a child who has some pressure sores can easily get new ones. Be sure the child lies and sits so that there is little or no pressure over bony places. Examine her whole body at least once a day and try to keep her dry.

This page was updated:25 Nov 2024