In my 58 years as a paraplegic, I’ve owned a boatload of cushions, however none have been as eccentric, distinctive and shocking because the one I’m now trialing — the Vicair AllRounder O2.

Headquartered within the Netherlands, Vicair makes a number of wheelchair cushions. All have in frequent a novel system of small air-filled packets known as “sensible cells” that fill 5 related sections of the cushion. Every part is fashioned to guard a selected space — one for the coccyx, one for every ischial space, and one for every trochanter — 5 sections stuffed with a complete of about 435 air-filled, pyramidlike packets. You possibly can maintain a number of within the palm of your hand. You possibly can set one on a desk and transfer it by blowing. The 4 recommendations on every sensible cell really feel pointy in your hand, so my first impression was that they might not be comfy to sit down on, however the suggestions fold over with only a minimal quantity of drive and there’s no discomfort. If you cram greater than 400 of those into 5 strategically positioned compartments and sit on it, they conform with each other to create a seating floor that’s comparatively light-weight, supportive and but not strong, with simply sufficient area between packets to permit for motion. You possibly can add or take away sensible cells to regulate for the texture and safety you need.

The floor of the cushion is a meshlike materials that permits air and liquid by, and is machine cleanable. The opens in a brand new windowAllRounder is aimed toward energetic wheelchair customers who need to get out of their chairs and sit on noncushioned or minimally cushioned surfaces, particularly for sports activities and leisure actions corresponding to crusing, handcycling, kayaking, mountain biking, and so forth., however the cushion works for something that requires sitting on a comparatively laborious floor.

Now right here’s one of the best half: The five-part cushion zips right into a sturdy, surrounding material cowl with adjustable straps that match round your waist and thighs, so that you strap the cushion in your butt. It’s virtually like carrying customized shorts which might be open on high and have padding that covers solely your weight-bearing pores and skin surfaces. Wherever you go, your cushion goes with you, like your personal private bucket seat, minus arms and again.

The AllRounder just isn’t meant to exchange your common wheelchair cushion, so it’s endorsed that you simply switch into it after which strap it on. At 78, I can not do pivot transfers safely by lifting and swinging my butt over the goal floor after which letting myself down. I now use a two-piece sliding board known as the opens in a brand new windowBuckingham Glideboard, which is what I used when trialing the AllRounder.

The Trial

I needed to drive an previous adaptive golf cart I nonetheless have from my {golfing} days, however there isn’t a padding left within the seat. Somewhat than go to the expense and bother of eradicating it and having it repadded and lined, I ordered the AllRounder from Vicair within the Netherlands, which ended up costing about the identical — $282 — shipped to my door. Hooking up was simple with adjustable waist strap and thigh straps, which have loops for straightforward tightening. I used to be in a position to slide into the golf cart and land simply on my AllRounder. My preliminary worry of not with the ability to slide into the seat with out pushing the cushion off on the bottom was unfounded.

I used to be off to the races, my course a three-acre piece of farmland with rows of hops towering 15-20 ft overhead, sort of like driving down lanes flanked by skinny bushes. The bottom was grassy and tough with divots and small hills, so I went sluggish. To my shock, the experience was comfy regardless of being uneven. As I tooled round inside and out of doors the hops subject, my confidence grew. I felt protected and secure strapped into my cushion and secured to the motive force’s seat with a seat belt. My butt was protected. I used to be in a position to make small changes to sit down straighter through the use of the fold-down arms of the golf cart seat.

I stayed within the cart for about an hour-and-a-half as I inspected a crop within the subject, one thing I’ve not been in a position to do for the final seven years — a interval with opens in a brand new windowa number of stress sores and infections. It felt like I reclaimed an vital a part of my independence. I could tinker round with eradicating a number of sensible cells to get deeper immersion, however the AllRounder works tremendous as is.

To my shock, when my subject inspection was carried out, I used to be in a position to switch again into my chair utilizing the slide board with the AllRounder nonetheless strapped on. It was simpler than I had anticipated. I landed on my chair cushion, a JAY Union, so I used to be significantly taller than regular, which made the chair a bit tippy. I needed to be cautious when wheeling. Earlier than going up a ramp into my home, I unstrapped and my spouse was in a position to pull the AllRounder out from beneath me. Now I do know I can take away my common chair cushion and slide safely onto the sling of my chair with the AllRounder strapped on.

For me, this was a proof-of-concept trial. I can envision any variety of prospects for carrying my AllRounder in on a regular basis conditions, corresponding to getting right into a nonpadded bathe chair, an airplane seat, a automobile, if wanted, or presumably an accessible examination desk.

Security and Buying Data

Vicair cushions can be found in 45 nations and will be supplied to vets by the Division of Veterans Affairs. A para-vet, T12-L1, whom I’ve identified for greater than 30 years, has used Vicair cushions and likes the steadiness they provide when being energetic. The Vicair web site has posted 10 “scientific instances” of their cushions that declare to supply particular advantages. Nonetheless, only a few contain wheelchair customers with spinal twine accidents, and the descriptions of the instances don’t learn like scientific case research. It’s advisable, particularly for normal sport or aggressive makes use of, to pressure-test any cushion and routinely do pores and skin checks. For extra data or to buy, go to vicair.com. Permobil additionally sells a number of Vicair cushions, however doesn’t at present record the AllRounder O2 on its web site.