Did your first chair suck?

[Ashley]

mine was way too big...they expected me to gain a lot of weight and it never happened. Plus they had zero dump put in so i was hurting the front of my shoulders trying to push my chair sitting too tall.

[GL]

Dont laugh at me for growing up poor I was used to fabricating my own parts etc...

My Dad he worked at a hospital and they threw out a heavy silver No Frills folder chair that had no anything .

This was My first orig chair had no leg rests or parts for a set of leg foot rests and originally it weighed a ton my father and me ressurected it

I cut it apart shortened it welded it and modified everything even moved the rear wheels , welded my ideas

Then because it had no foot rests I fabricated my own Dead Drop down 0 to 90 degree adjustable foot rests to it and added very lightweight wheels changed my rear axle angle Camber for speed being back then I played basketball with my cousins
then added aluminum front castors which made such a difference .

It taught me alot about how to fabricate my own chair stuff ..

after I got done with it I probably lightened it up at least 14 lbs by getting rid of the excess bulky frame and out dated heavy steel wheels
lmao it became a fairly light weight folder

oddly I used it for a long time and I was very used to it because it was my thing
Then I donated it to someone more needy .

My point is I made do with what I had at hand .

Would I do it again ? yes only this time I know welders who weld aluminum and my friend owns a machine shop .

Gypsylady

Right now I just stick to my Gt it does the job

[Adrian]

My first chair was not perfect but it was very good. During rehab in hospital in Glasgow the physiotherapists were really helpful and had good links with the major manufacuterers, with access to a good supply of demo chairs for you to try for extended period of time. I had tried quite a few different demo chairs, for a week each, before deciding what to order. As a rsult, even though it was my first chair, I felt like I was making as informed a choice as possible for a newly injured para. Without this facility I probably would not have had a good first chair.

[jayslx1]

Got my first chair in 1991, a Quickie 2. Ordered through Spain Rehab and fit well. In December 1992 I ordered a Quickie Ti that I still use everyday. The Quickie 2 is still used, but only for bath purposes since the footrests swing. The Quickie 2 is a good chair, but I wanted a rigid and something that was easy for me to load/unload.

[SCI_OTR]

Although the publisher edited out the word "suck", this poll is referenced in an article I wrote that appears in this month's Rehab Management...

http://www.rehabpub.com/issues/articles/2011-03_02.asp

[Brianm]

Nice article Steve, I bookmarked it.

[JMS]

Thanks for sharing your article. Very well written.

[Canuck2]

Great article, should be required reading for all OT & OT students.

[Reed-edm]

Kuschall 1000 was my first chair. I remember when all my other quad buddies were getting Quickie Quadras folders (*With* the leather quickie backpack..That thing was like 10 pounds), I wanted a rigid.

The PT I had was against me getting it, but once she knew I wanted a rigid, we figured out ways for me to do transfers. Actually i think it was more for her learning experience.

Looking back, I think I should have had the front frame angle to an 80-85..I think it was at 75.. Everything else was good.

The only thing that has changed since '89 is my front angle, and chair width (15" to a 16"..I got wider..lol)

[cyfskid]

My first real chair(not a pediatric stroller) that I got when I was 12. I had asked for a rigid frame they gave me a folder. they moved the wheels back so could use them and forget to move the brakes. the footplate used to fall out of the hanger.its rigid back hurt. It was a http://www.alliedmedical.co.nz/medic...asp?s=87&id=16