Re: More info @ Aase's electric Wheelchair Seating Functions Was:Re Synergy Seat

[Guest guest]

Hi dear ,

He-he... You're making me blush here... It is

just great if we can share these things, because

there are so many things to think about and

consider when you are getting your wheelchair. It

is not easy to know what to ask for when you have

no idea how these things work... I mean, even

many OT's don't think about many of these

things...

I could not agree with you more , it is

really important that you get the chair properly

adapted to YOU, but luckily we have a lot in

common too... I can not agree more with you

on that you should not take NO for answer re.

functions you need. Keep on asking, and make sure

that you find a vendor that is willing to work

with you with the goal of getting it perfect for

you. Because if there is a feature you need which

they don't have, they can easily a) Adapt this

feature from another brand to work on your chair.

Get a workshop to make it from scratch.

So, if they just are interested in working with

you in getting it right, they should be able to

do things, with a few exceptions. E.g. it

wouldn't be easy to get a good, working footrest

on a scooter, because it would be in the way of

the steering column... Such things. Besides that,

my starting point would be that anything is

possible, if you just want it to be... (read: if

the vendor wants it to be). Of course custom made

solutions do cost money, but... For that reason

it is of course best to find a model to begin

with that has most of the features you need. I

would not hesitate to tell a vendor that I would

be happy to take my business elsewhere if I need

to... Hey, maybe you drive them a bit crazy, but

in reality you are really doing them a favor,

they learn how to do things better. Nobody but

the end-users themselves can do that. So, if

things were right, you should really get paid by

them for that, he-he...

, you reminded me about a few things I

forgot... So here are a few additions...

Footrests: The footrests on my chair, goes really

far in, and the plates themselves fold up easily,

so it is easy to get out of the chair.

Fold-up armrests: The armrests fold up easily,

which sometimes is nice when you sit by a table.

Most of the time I don't need it though. I think

it is important though that they are long enough

to provide sufficient support for your wrist

while you use the joystick. Also with the fold-up

armrests, you can easily transfer sideways if

needed.

Swing away joystick: The joystick on mine swings

out so you get that out of the way, but I want to

get that change so that it swings out and back

along the side of the armrest. Then you have full

use of it even if it is folded back. So much

nicer, especially since my joystick is programmed

the opposite way (backwards make the chair go

forwards), because of the joystick in my car

being that way. It is now allowed to have it the

ordinary way in a car because if you accidently

hit it, the car will drive forwards, with it the

opposite way, you will instead hit the break.

They always matches the wheelchair to the car, it

is confusing to have both systems.

Thigh supports: I used to have some problems with

my hips subluxing if I hit a bump while driving

and also in general feel that I didn't sit as

stabile as I would like to. So when I go the

Chairman, they suggested I got thigh supports.

They are padded rectangular pieces which goes on

at the sides of the seat. You commonly see these

on the chairs of very severely handicapped

people, but they can do a lot for us too. I have

found them very useful, I sit much better with

these. You can easily pull them up and off if you

need to transfer sideways, no problem.

Cushion: If the chair comes with e.g. a " car seat

like " foam cushion and back, they can easily take

the cover off and cut it to make place for e.g. a

Jay gel cushion and then take the cover back on.

Preferably they will also cut out part of the

cover (where your butt is) and sew on a jersey

fabric instead of the original non-strech fabric.

That way you get both alternatives in one, you

get your favorite gel cushion and the chair

design is still the same. I also love the Jay

cushions, I have Jay Extreme gel cushions in both

manual chairs. I also have a ROHO, but I prefer

the Jay for that use. I went for the Permobil

pressure relief one in the power one though,

because it is adapted to the " car seat " type

seat. And it is not that different from the Jay

one in every day use, it is very comfy and at the

same time gives the support you need, something I

don't think the ROHO does. But I know some swear

by the ROHO's, so we are all different.

Wheelchair cushions are a whole field of it's

own, there are so many different ones on the

market now and they develop all the time...

Pressure sore prevention is a whole industry,

that is for sure. And it is very important too!!!

Color and design: Make demands in that

department. It really means a lot. They may not

realize it, but... It sure does make you feel

better with a chair that you feel good in, one

that matches your clothing etc. My Trax is bright

yellow and very cool looking. So when I was

getting the Chairman, I felt for a much more

" quiet " design, so I got it in a black, but a

cool black carbon pattern with some silver in it.

Then there's grey checked fabric and some

aluminum/steel. So it looks quite sleek, I guess.

The manual ones I actually have in black. Next

time I may get it in steel or silver. But that is

a lot because I wear a lot of black clothing and

also when I wear more bright colors, the chair

always blends in nicely.

Carrying groceries etc.: I mentioned small bags

on the armrests. But you need more than that. I

had two hooks screwed on to the back of the

chair, which I use to hang shopping bags on. If

the bag is heavy, I just ask somebody to hang it

on there for me. Also on the back of the chair,

on top of the base of the chair itself, I have a

big basket/bag. It has a plastic basket base,

with a fabric bag with compartments on top.

Before this one came on the market, I had an

ordinary rectangular bag which I managed to

attach to the back by fastening with some straps

to the back of the armrests. I found a bag which

was the exact same width as the chair.

Unfortunately it did not last long. I got it on

Lanzarote, and it was pricey enough, but of poor

quality That bag was so great, took a lot more

stuff than the one I have now. It didn't look as

neat, I guess, but it was really functional... I

could have gotten an open ordinary basket back

there, but I am not too happy about that

solution. I like to have a zipper and a way to

stash away things you bought and such, safety

wise the back of the chair is not the best place.

So when they got the new basket/bag combo, I got

that. It is not big enough though, so I have

thought about just getting some bag fabric and

make it higher than it is, so that the bag part

becomes bigger... Wouldn't be too difficult to do.

BTW, I just wrote the company that sells the

E-Motion help motor wheels for manual chairs

here, and requested information. Maybe I can go

with these to the US this summer? Sure is an easy

alternative for travelling, as the batteries,

motor and all is built into the wheels. No

joystick, you push and it helps you. I hope it

will be quite OK to vary between those and the

ordinary wheels, because when you drive manually,

it does after all give you a lot of extra weight

to push... I can't remember, but I think around

20 lbs or a bit more.

, I am a bit curious here.... How much does

your new chair weigh? How do you manage

loading/unloading from the trunk of the car

yourself? You have no kind of lift or help

device? Is it quick to take apart and

re-assemble? Is it one of the Quickie ones? When

you are taking it apart like that, could you get

a full height back and neck rest? Sometimes it is

not that easy to get everything... There's so

many things to consider. My chair is around 370

lbs, so lifting it is out of the question... I

have been travelling with it though, I had it

with me to Lanzarote, and it was great there. I

needed a special van to get to and from the

hotel, which was a complete adventure by itself

since they had told me that I could just order a

cab from the airport, no problem. He-he... After

4 hours I finally got somebody to be nice to me

and drive me, from a Norwegian institution there.

Had I known, I had just driven it and let the

others take my luggage, had taken a lot less

time. When I was going back I had a whole bus

with a lift by myself... I learned that there is

no such thing as wheelchair taxi's on Lanzarote.

But the travelling itself is a breeze with it,

they don't have to disconnect the batteries or

anything, it is just a switch to use. On the way

back home they didn't even use that, because not

many airports in the world actually handles as

much wheelchairs as Lanzarote because of some

rehab. facilities there. The airport personell

are very used to the chairs and they even let you

drive your power wheelchair all the way into the

plane. They drive you out in one of those lift

trucks and then they just lift it back down into

the luggage compartment after you went into the

plane. I was ready to give the chair to them at

the check-in as they do other places, but the

lady looked at me with big, sad eyes, asking

PULEAAAAZE, can't you take it all the way for us,

it is so much easier for us... I didn't believe

my ears... Travelling in a wheelchair is always

an adventure, one way or another... He-he... I

will never forget the Tampa conference where more

people had their chairs destroyed than not...

A year later, Tamar's chair was still not

completely fixed...

I am sure that I still have forgot something,

he-he... There's so many things to consider...

And we learn all the time, especially by talking

to each other. So it would be great if all you

that has power chairs or manual chairs could post

about what works for you and why...

Take care everybody!!!

, I am getting excited already... I can't

wait to see you and the others again!!!!

hugs,

Aase Marit

>I personally did all of this research about a year ago, when I needed an

>electric chair for myself & there sure are a lot

>of new things out, just in this

>short amount of time, that were not available just a year ago! Deb, I'm so

>happy you asked Aase Marit! Thanks.

>

>As Aase had said in a prior email, one fabulous thing about livng in

>countries like Norway, is that you can get the

>best of the best & as a rule, you

>personally don't have to pay for it. They pay

>for it in different ways, through

>the government, taxes & an entire different way of practicing medicine for

>providing medical care, medical assistance & assistive devices.

>

>As many of you have been hearing, it's not uncommon, due to the type of

>health insurance (or even if you don't have

>any), it can be very difficult to get

>any type of chair, in the U.S.. But the options

>are significantly improved, in

>the U.S., now, if you can manage to get it paid for.

>

>It's really hard to add anything to what Aase has already said, though I did

>have a couple of things that I ran into when I was looking.

>- At times when I asked about different things that I needed and wanted, I

>was told by the vendor(s),

> " No one makes that " .

> " That option isn't available " .

> " You can't do that " .

> " You can't have this option, if you want that option " .

>And responses similar to that. Well, I may have driven them a bit crazy, but

>each time, I never took " No " as an answer. I always said things like.

> " Call the distibutor & tell them you have to have it made that way " .

> " Talk to someone other than a regular sales person, ask for a

> supervisor & then their supervisor " .

> " Check with another company " . And when I was told that the

> companies that they dealt with could not do what I needed, I

> said that they should start doing business with other companies.

> They did!

>And ultimately if they came back to me and said that they tried

> everything and STILL couldn't get what I needed and wanted,

> then I thanked them very much for trying to help me, but then

> told THEM, that I would have to go to another place to get the

> help that I needed, because it wasn't just that I " WANTED "

>the options that I was asking for, I NEEDED them.

>

>You would be surprised how quickly they suddenly found another way to try to

>help me get what I wanted & needed, because they didn't want to lose the

>business. And if they don't do that for you,

>then chances are,that you may not

>want to use them anyway, if they weren't going

>to do their best for you and you

>may really want to consider going elsewhere.

>The only other things that I would add to what Aase Marit said & please know

>that these were things that worked for me personally and my not be for

>everyone.

>One thing was the cushion that you actually sit on. Aase Marit said a lot

>about that & it really is very important. Personally, I had previously used a

> " Jay " cushion, which is a gel cusion and I had been very happy with that one &

>had tried several others. I found that when all was said & done, it still was

>the most comfortable for ME & I purchased another one.

>Another idea was the arm rests. As Aase Marit said, get them cushioned, but

>there was also another option that has worked well for me. That is getting

>the shorter ones, which gives you the ability to pull up to a regular dining

>table, either at home or out in a restaurant & you will be able to get close

>enough to get right up to the table, just as you would in a regular seat that

>everyone else is sitting at. The arms literally

>fit under the table. It has made

>a big difference for me, personally. You may also consider another option

>that I got on my arms. They very, very easily pull straight up & out of the

>chair, so that if you want to transfer to a bed

>or a tub seat, directly from the

>chair & you can't stand up at the time, you can, with proper assistance, just

>slide from your chair, right onto the bed or tub seat.

>About the only other thing that I can think of right now, is again, As Aase

>Marit said, get leg rests & calf pads with nice padding & on mine, the legs

>themselves, swing way out to the side with the

>push of a little button, giving me

>the ability to stand up, directly from a sitting position, & put my feet

>right onto the floor in front of me & walk

>straight away from the chair, without

>having to step over the foot rests. A nice safety feature, but always

>remember to have your brakes on and/or the power turned off when you get up.

>Again, all I've said are things that worked for me personally & may not be

>right for everyone. We are all individual &

>have different needs. I personally

>needed an electric chair that would come apart & fit into the trunk of a

>regular car, which does limit your options, but

>it's doable. And ultimately, if

>you want a pretty color, GO FOR IT! Again, I was first told that they only

>came in an ugly black (Yuk) & I said forget it.

>And then they sent one of those

>ugly institutional looking dull grey, even uglier one. But on my insistance,

>what do you know?? They asked again & had a choice of a few different colors

> & have a pretty blue metallic shiny one! It's your chair, be comfortable,

>make it safe & accessible & be happy with it. Don't settle! Happy Hunting.

>

> Schoenberg

>

>

>

>

>ge dated 2/19/2004 7:37:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, aase.m@...

>writes:

>Hi Debbi and others who are interested,

>

>I did a web search for Synergy Seat. There is

>something called the Quantum Synergy Seat. Seems

>like a seat with a manual reclining function, so

>you can lay the back down. I would really have

>an electrically reclining function though. Manual

>ones are not that good for an EDS'er. Below I am

>pasting a document about Pride's New Synergy

>Seating System.

>

>I think you should in general take a look around

>at the http://www.pridemobility.com website. Look

>at all the scooters and wheelchairs...

>

>But there are some important questions you need

>to ask before even attempting to pick a certain

>model. They may all look very much alike, but I

>promise you, the differences are huge. Compare

>them...

>

>- Where will you use it (inside malls, on even

>ground, going over high curbs, going out in

>nature, high hills, etc. etc.). If the answer is

>yes to all these, it is important that you get

>one with a good motor, big wheels, high

>underneath (you can easily catch it underneath

>and you will be STUCK)....

>

>- Seating needs. What kind of seat do you really

>need? In my not so humble opinion... All

>EDS'ers need the very best in seating. Compare

>with the seats they give really severely

>handicapped people. Minus things like 4 point

>safety belts and blocks of foam between the

>thighs and such...

>

>The Cushion: Remember to focus on the EDS

>fragility issues, we can get problems much easier

>than others, and many of us react very negative

>to pressure on our connective tissues (see all

>EDS'ers sitting like Ants on their chairs? Not

>only because of all the painful joints, but we

>often get such Pain in the Butt by sitting (!)

>Many get red and sore from sitting, not even that

>long. We should be considered as High Risk for

>pressure sores, even if we don't sit all the

>time. We need the relief of a good cushion. So

>you should really have one with not only foam, if

>you ask me (go to the best alternative the first

>time!). You need one with either gel/foam combo,

>air, air/foam combo, one of the new ones that

>works like the air ones but they are filled with

>some foamy stuff instead of air... Something " up

>that alley " , if you understand what I mean.

>On my Chairman, I have the following: Under the

>seat the base is not solid metal, but has wide,

>elastic bands providing some cushioning in

>itself. The cushion is a special foam with the

> " butt area " filled with " balls " with some

>gel-foamy stuff which works like sitting on an

>air cushion like Roho, only it is more stabile.

>Some EDSers don't like the air cushions that much

>because it is not stabile, the air moves around.

>But you can get newer type ones with lots of

>independent chambers, so that the air can't move

>around too much. In my Chairman, the combo of

>the special base and the seat cushion with the

>pressure relief system, makes it so much easier

>to sit, and I don't feel the need to move around

>all the time. The seat cushion is not one of

>those square ones, it is a proper car seat like

>cushion with the pressure relief system built in.

>It is covered with the same velour as the rest of

>the seat and the back, but where your butt is,

>the seat has elastic jersey fabric, which is

>important in order to let the seat conform to

>your body.

>The back of the chair: It is high, but has been

>cut to fit my body length. This is important,

>because it lets you get full use of the neck

>rest. Behind the padded cover, it is built up to

>follow the contours of my body. They have pieces

>of Styro-foam (?) and things like that they use

>for this. Since my back is... what do you call

>it? Sway-backed / hollow-backed or something like

>that? Hyper-lordosis? Anyway, I have a real hard

>time getting enough support. So the back of my

>chair is built up by these hard foam pieces as

>well as a rectangular cushion (like the ones they

>have on the air planes), all this hidden behind

>the padded seat cover (the back of the chair has

>a hard plastic backing which has lots of velcro's

>on the inside which you can use to attach

>different supports). A good option here is also

>to have an air lower back support, so that you

>can let the air out when you lay the back down,

>as the sway gets more flat when you lay down. We

>managed to find just the right support by

>building it up though, and I am very happy with

>it. Also it has pieces which provide side

>support, which I also find important in order to

>sit comfortably. The seat I have looks a lot like

>a car seat, but it is sort of neater, not that

>huge. Here they often use Recaro car seats on

>wheelchairs too, but hey are huge... This back I

>have, you can also get in two parts. Then when

>you take the chair into a car and your car is

>low, you just pop it apart. Very easy, nothing

>fancy at all.

>Neck rest: At the top of the back, I think it is

>important to get a good neck rest. But of course

>it depends on your individual need. Anyway... So

>many of us have a hard time with our backs and

>necks, and then the neck rest is important. To

>look for options, it is a good idea to look at

>the Jazzy accessories, they have a lot of great

>neck/head rests. They have a lot of good seating

>options in general. Also have a look at their

>back which has an extra " joint " high up, so that

>you can tilt it forwards to talk to people while

>laying down, watch TV etc. That back is GREAT!

>But back to neck rests. I think it is important

>to find one that at the same time supports your

>neck properly and also supports the head side

>wise (it has a bend at each side, so that your

>head can't slide to the side). That function I

>associate the most with multi-handicapped people

>who can't hold their head at all. But when your

>neck is super painful, this is really useful

>because you don't have to have your muscles

>super-toned at all times to prevent painful

>movements when you e.g. drive over a little stone

>or hole in the ground. So it is really useful.

>Even if you don't get a Jazzy chair, a good

>technician can adapt a Jazzy neckrest to another

>chair so that you can get the proper neck rest.

>Too many neck rests are not useful at all, they

>only keeps your head from swinging backwards. Of

>course that is important, but for us it is not

>enough at all. A completely flat neck rest is not

>enough for us, if you ask me.

>Arm rest: Of course the seat should have

>armrests. These should also be padded. Also ask

>for small bags attached on each side to carry

>necessities... It is often better to get the ones

>from that company, rather than some generic ones.

>E.g. Permobil has bags that attaches under the

>arm rest, so that you won't have any annoying

>straps on the padding....

>Foot rests: This applies only to power chairs,

>not scooters. I have foot rests which goes up and

>down electrical, both to make it easy to get out

>of the chair and to let you have your feet up

>high if you need that. i often use them up high

>if my knees act up. I have separate foot plates

>at the bottom, but they could just as well have

>been one wide plate. To me it doesn't matter. One

>thing that does matter though, which many forget,

>are the calf rests. These are important when you

>are laying down in your chair. Without these you

>won't be able to rest your legs properly. They

>should be padded.

>

>Seat functions:

>I have all seat functions electrical, no manual

>ones at all. This was chosen for me because joint

>protection is important, so it is not only a

>question about whether you can do it manually or

>not.

>

>Reclining: To be able to recline the seat is very

>important for an EDSer with back and neck issues.

>That way you can get the weight off your spine

>whereever you are. My seat reclines only to 45

>degrees, but I find that to be enough. Why? Read

>further down.

>Tilt: Together with the reclining function, this

>is really important, I think. It helps you shift

>the distribution of weight and strain, which is

>really, really useful. Many prefer having a

>slight tilt when they sit upright and maybe drive

>quite fast, you sit better and more safely back

>in your seat, it is not that easy to fall out of

>the chair in case of a sudden stop... But it is

>also a fantastic way of shifting the weight from

> " down your spine " to your " back plate " if you

>understand what I mean. The tilt function lets

>the seat itself change angle. Mine only goes

>backwards. But even with a seat back that

>reclines a bit, together with the tilt you can

>get a wonderful resting position. It is like

>having your good recliner from your living room

>with you all places. That is just wonderful for

>an EDSer, no doubt about that... With a recliner

>back that goes to 45 degrees, and using the tilt

>at the same time, I can lay flat down with my

>back, but with an angle in my hips and my feet up

>high. That is the best resting position I can

>get... Safe for my SI joints too because of the

>angle in the hips and knees. So I really can't

>recommend tilt enough...

> " Lift " : You can get a seat base which takes the

>seat up higher. Very useful while shopping, you

>can reach things on the highest shelf in the

>stores. I also use this when I am out, to get up

>to bar level. So many bar's and pub's have not

>only the bar itself up high, but also tables with

>bar stools. So when I use this function, I get up

>to the level of the others. I also use it when I

>am talking to really tall people, to reach their

>eye level. This is really useful and also helps a

>lot if you feel self consious (sp?) about sitting

> " down there " while others are standing. You can't

>drive around like this though, the chair will

>automatically go slower because the chair can tip

>over much easier... So it is something you use

>while standing there or just to get something and

>take it down again. I find it especially useful

>when I shop, because I will normally have a

>basket on my lap. If I was to get up, which I

>normally can do, I would have to lift the heavy

>basket down on the floor and up again. Now that

>is not good...

>

>Safety belt: A rolling safety belt should be on

>all such chairs, if you ask me... Especially if

>you don't have any tilt, this can be really

>important. Should you hit a small stone while

>driving quite fast, it could easily send you

>flying out of the chair... On my Trax I always

>use the belt (no tilt on the seat), on my

>Chairman I don't use it that often...

>

>Oh well... I am sure I forgot something...

>

>I had a look at the Jazzy chairs at

>pridemobility.com, and got a bit confused because

>they looked a bit different from the Jazzy's I am

>used to seeing here. Especially did I notice

>that none of them had real leg rests, which I

>find important for us, because we often need to

>get our feet up, let the knees get a rest etc. If

>my knees are especially bad, often when I am

>travelling and can't get the good rest I get in

>my electrical lift recliner I have at home, I use

>an extra pillow under my knees in the chair. I

>have never seen any wheelchairs have a function

>which can meet that need. But a pillow does the

>trick. Often when I travel, I have a round one

>which the PT's often use (got it from my OT

>friend), with me. That one is really neat for

>that. Or I take one of the pillows from the hotel

>bed. The round ones and triangular foam ones, you

>can get in stores which carry foam mattresses

>etc. They cut it to the length you prefer. For

>use in a wheelchair or scooter it would be the

>same width as the chair seat.

>

>I went to the Norwegian web site for the dealer

>of Jazzy chairs, and noticed that they just

>called the most common one MC Jazzy, with no

>numbers after it. I do know they carry different

>models though, that I have seen in their showroom

>and catalogue. But as I could see from the

>picture, they can probably attach leg rests on

>the ones in the US, it just doesn't come with it

>as standard. The ones the one I saw had, was

>fastened on each side of the seat base. The one I

>have on my Permobil is neater, i think, because

>it is not so obvious and huge, as it is fastened

>in the middle, with the calf rests sticking out

>on each side of the middle steel base. That way

>the chair is much neater and not that bulky in

>the front, and it looks sort of sportier, I

>think... But I think things like that much boils

>down to your own preferences and good, old

>taste... Just like with clothing... We like

>different things...

>

>But for you, Debbi, I really think you should

>look into getting the very best seating on the

>scooter. Also maybe you could ask the

>manufacturer if they could think out a solution

>for giving your feet better resting options,

>since these chairs have no leg rests (neither has

>my Trax, those chairs just don't have that)...

>Ooops, note that I use the word chair a lot. I am

>not differing between chairs and scooters all the

>time. I consider them all as different variants

>of wheelchairs... If you took a look also at the

>Jazzy chairs at the web site I mentioned. Imagine

>one of those with a sleek, sporty looking, good

>seat. Not those boring grey pleather ones...

>Don't you think they look less " handicapped " than

>many of the power wheelchairs? At the conference

>in W-S, somebody had the Jazzy in a pretty, dark

>green metallic paint. It was so neat and good

>looking...

>

>I have been a bit curious. I am sure you US guys

>can answer my question... The past few years it

>seems like a lot has happened in the " wheelchair

>department " in the US. The first conference I

>went to, in 1998 everybody except one from

>Canada, had power wheelchairs that were more like

>old fashioned manual ones with batteries and

>joysticks. With velcro backs and ordinary

>wheelchair cushions. Or they had scooters. In

>2002 several had more " funky ones " , with better

>seating systems... Is it getting more common to

>get more advanced wheelchairs now than it used

>to? Has the insurance companies and such gotten

>better in covering things? I really hope so,

>because it sure makes a difference in your every

>day life. I can't imagine sitting in a chair with

>a " stretched velcro back " all day...

>

>I wish I could have brought my power wheelchair

>when I go to the US, but that won't work. My

>power chair is very heavy and requires a van. I

>can't afford having to rent special cars while

>there. Also after the conference I am going to

>visit people and things would not work with that

>chair. But my manual chair is neat and really

>good to sit in, but there's no options of resting

>while using it. But for me that chair is a whole

>lot better than e.g. a power chair with a seating

>system like I mentioned above with a velcro back

>and such. Because even if it is a small, manual

>one, the Jay Extreme back it has, really supports

>my back well. But you have to sit up straight and

>all that... For a manual chair that kind of chair

>is my only option though. I could never push

>myself at all in another one. I have thought a

>bit about maybe looking into getting the E-Motion

>help motor where everything is built into the

>wheels. The only problem is that it can't be used

>with a camber angle on the wheels (where the

>wheels " go inwards " ) more than 5 degrees. My

>chairs have 6 and 8 degrees... Maybe I could give

>it a try with the one that has 6 degrees...

>Hmmm... If I should consider that for this trip,

>I sure have to think about it really fast... I

>will be travelling a lot this year, even to South

>Africa... Will be travelling a lot these next

>three years because of the presidency in the

>NPA... Hey, Debbi, look what you did... You got

>me thinking here!!! I have thought of it before,

>but haven't gotten to it. But when you start

>thinking things through like I did now, things

>start spinning, he-he... I tell you what, I think

>I will contact my new OT. I talked to him on the

>phone a while ago, but I haven't met him yet....

>

>Remember, under the sig line is the Synergy Seating info...

>

>

>hugs,

>Aase Marit

>

>At pridemobility.com I also found the following

>text which I hope answers your question:

>

><<Pride's New Synergy Seating System

>The Most Versatile Seating System Available

>

>EXETER, PA - Pride Mobility Products Corp.,

>Exeter, PA, is proud to introduce its new

>Synergy Seating Systems.

>

>The Synergy seating system from Quantum Rehab

>provides unrivaled flexibility and versatility

>that can grow with the client.

>

>The Quantum Synergy seating allows easy

>adjustments of the seat height, width, and depth,

>as well as back and set angles. Several width

>and depth adjustment packages range from 10 " to

>24 " , adjustable in a 4 " range with no need for a

>new seat pan. The back height is available from

>14 " to 24 " , while the back angle adjustment is up

>to 12 degrees

>

>The seating has a weight capacity of 500 pounds

>and is available with flip-up, removable quick

>adjustable or heavy-duty armrests.

>

>With a removable solid seat pan base that

>provides a stable surface, the Synergy Seat

>easily accepts a broad range of specialty seat

>and back cushions for the individual's comfort,

>positioning, and pressure management.

>

>The seat is available on all Quantum Blast,

>Jazzy®, and Dynamo® power chairs.>>

>

>

>>Does anyone out there know that Synergy Seat means?

>>

>>

>>Debbi

>>

>>

>>