Wheelchair Gloves

The hands of a manual wheelchair owner hold tremendous power. They are the engine, the steering, and the brakes. They are the heart of a chair owner’s mobility. They also take a great deal of abuse.

A wheelchair owner’s hands are exposed to constant friction and heat generated by pushing, stopping and turning. They are numbed and desensitized in cold and wet weather.

At least 18% of all wheelchair users experience blisters, abrasions, and lacerations. Many more develop thick, rough calluses.

Dr. Emmer’s company has recently introduced a special line of gloves to meet the unique needs of active wheelchair users -- RehaDesign Wheelchair gloves.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Wheelchair User's Enemy
According to studies performed by Dr H. Gellman and his team from Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in California, 49% of paraplegic patients showed signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a potentially debilitating condition.

Dr. Coopers and Dr. Robertson of California State University reported that research in this area suggests carpal tunnel syndrome may be the result of nerve compression that occurs during forceful exertions with the hand and wrist in hyperflexion or hyperextension.

This is explains why repetitive strikes of the heel of the hand against the push rim may cause pain and numbness of the thumb and fingers.

Hands were simply not designed to withstand the repetitive impact and constant contact with wheelchair push rims. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the effects of constant stress and exposure to the hands. Many researchers strongly recommend the use of properly designed wheelchair gloves to minimize hand injury.

Wheelchair Gloves Can Provide Relief
Properly designed gloves can provide:

Unfortunately, many gloves marketed as “wheelchair gloves” fail. They fall apart under intense usage, or worse, are inappropriate for the lifestyles of their owners. The requirements of an athlete can be different from a moderately active person who is using a wheelchair in cold weather, while the needs of a person with limited hand function are different from those of a person who is experiencing a great deal of vibration or impact to the hand.

To meet the unique needs of active wheelchair users RehaDesign Wheelchair Gloves are made from durable top-quality materials and are specially designed to meet the diverse needs of different types of wheelchair owners. Following are the different types of gloves in the product line.

RehaDesign Gel-Palm Wheelchair Gloves have a high-tech design with ultra-light gel padded palms created to diminish impact force to the hand. These gloves are made from quality soft leather with gel padding built into the palm. They have a sweat-wipe backing to wipe forehead when on the go.

RehaDesign Flexi-Fit Wheelchair Gloves allow maximum hand freedom. Convenient for people with limited hand-function or those who prefer a lightweight glove, they are easy to put on and take off, very light and flexible. Made from quality neoprene with a grip palm.

RehaDesign Aktiv Wheelchair Gloves are designed for all-around use. They are made from quality padded leather on the palm side and breathable stretch material on the back side.

More information and photos can be found by clicking here. Med Services Europe also will launch RehaDesign Winter Wheels full-fingered wheelchair gloves, as well as a line of gloves specially designed for children.

Med Services Europe GmbH is a Zurich, Switzerland registered company. In addition to RehaDesign Wheelchair Gloves, the company also represents Colours Wheelchairs in Europe and the Middle East.

Related Articles: