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Wheelchair life is by no means easy, but I hope that these things can help out a bit!
Here’s a list of few things that were really useful to me after my injury and things that I use every day to make things easier. Hopefully they will be helpful to you or a loved one as well!
1. Cup Holders : You can find clamp on cup holders online, or at some dollar stores as well. These attach on to the frame of the wheelchair and make it easier to enjoy a drink on the go and have a place for your water so you stay hydrated.
Most of the cup holders are made of hard plastic which can get caught on things, or get in the way of your legs when you are transferring, so some people swear by the cloth style cupholders. These are great since they sit flat against the wheelchair frame when not in use, and they won’t get caught on, or rub against anything.
2. Grabber Sticks: Not all grabber sticks are created equal! This is personal preference of course, but I find the “suction cup style end” grabber sticks to be pretty useless. They are good for picking up laundry or clothes on the floor, but other than that they don’t have enough grip or finesse.
I like the grabber sticks with the “pincer style end” and find this style to be much more useful for day to day tasks. For compactness and portability, I love the collapsing grabber sticks the best, it folds in half ( think similar to a tent pole) and can be kept in my backpack, the middle console of my car, or in a drawer. I literally have one for several different rooms in the house to save myself from rolling back and forth a million times.
3. Backpack: A backpack for the back of the chair is essential to keep extra supplies, gloves, extra layers, a mini wheelchair repair kit, or whatever else you need when you are out and about. Regular backpack work just fine, but they can end up sitting a bit low to the ground.
My favourite backpack is this one, it is great because it is specifically designed for wheelchairs and sits flat against the backrest, and high off the ground. It also has designated loops to sit on the push handles, as well as regular backpack straps, so you can use whatever works best for your chair set up. It has several different zippered pockets for organization, and is waterproof to keep your belongings dry. It is also very spacious, but well organized so you can still find everything easily.
4. Honeycomb Gel Cushion: This is not a replacement for a proper wheelchair cushion, but it can be a great and portable extra layer to help protect your butt from pressure sores. I use one in my car when driving for some extra cushioning, and it can be used on top of any hard surface you have to transfer to to give you piece of mind. For example if you are going kayaking, or at the pool and the shower bench is not padded, or want to transfer to a picnic bench, or sit in the ground. It is nice that it is durable, waterproof and washable. But make sure to do a skin check after using to be sure it is providing adequate support for your needs.
5. Comfy Cotton Sweat Style Pants: Comfort is key with a spinal cord injury. Wearing clothes that are too tight can cause pressure sores, and inadequate airflow can lead to moisture and this can lead to quicker skin breakdown. It is also a lot easier to put on pants that have a bit of stretch and give rather than trying to squeeze into leggings. Don’t get me wrong, leggings have their time and place, but for everyday wear around the house I would recommend either light, breathable cotton style pants or athletic style moisture wicking fabrics.
6. Bolsters or Roll Pillows: Bolsters or roll pillows are great for protecting the heels when lying down. Pillows under your calves/ankles and your knees help to float the back of the feet up so that the bony part of the heel doesn’t create a pressure point while relaxing or sleeping. This pillow arrangement can also help to elevate your feet and legs to reduce swelling due to edema. If you are lying on your stomach, a bolster pillow under your chest or neck can help you feel supported while stretching out the front side of your body. This is the half bolster I use for under my knees when lying down, and I use this round bolster under my ankles to float my heels.
7. Alexa and Smart Plug-ins: It can be super annoying to forget to turn the lights off before you get into bed. Having your lights on a voice command switch can help to alleviate this stress. You can also use it to automate other tasks such as playing music, or guiding you though a daily meditation, check the weather, or set timers or alarms.
8. Electric Heating Pad: A spinal cord injury can complicate the body’s temperature regulation so it can be hard to warm up at times. Having an electric heating pad can help you feel warm and cozy, and the various levels allow you to optimize the degree of heating. It has an auto off feature so you don’t have to worry if you fall asleep while using it. I find it has really helped when I experience back pain, and it helps take the edge off of nerve pain as well. You can get the microwaveable bean bag style heating pads as well, but these have to be constantly reheated, and have a less consistent temperature profile, so you have to be careful there are no hot spots that may cause unintentional burns on areas of decreased sensation.
9. Fanny Pack: Fanny packs are a great way to keep your essentials close and accessible. I really like this running belt style one. It is bright neon, with reflectors for extra visibility, and it lays fairly flat so it doesn’t jut out super far when I am wearing it. It also has dividers inside to organize cards and keep everything its place.
I prefer wearing a fanny pack when going out and about since I don’t have to worry about anything accidently bouncing off of my lap. Plus it keeps all my belongings accessible and organized on the go.
You can also attach a fanny pack in between the wheelchair frame so that it sits behind your knee area, and gives you a secure and accessible place to keep valuables (just make sure it is well attached!). There are also designated wheelchair bags that attach under the seat behind your legs.
10. Hands Free Phone Clasp: This can be great to hold your phone for you when you are wheeling around, working on a project, or watching videos on your phone. It is adjustable and can rotate various angles. You can clamp it directly to your chair, on your desk, or on your night table.
11. Lap Desk: I love my lap desks! I have two separate ones that were gifted to me by friends when I was in the hospital. I use one primarily for painting/crafts, and the other for snacking or cooking. They are great to create a mobile workspace on your lap when you are doing crafts or working on a project. They also offer protection to your legs if you are handling something hot, like cookware or splashes when cooking.
12. Cooling Pillow Case: Every side of your pillow is always the cool side with a cooling pillow. It can be hard to sleep if you feel like you are over heating. It can also feel claustrophobic and suffocating if you are overheating and can’t easily move or reposition to cool down. I find that it personally makes a huge difference for sleeping comfortably and drastically improves my quality of sleep. It is made of moisture wicking fabric that is also antibacterial for an added bonus.
13. Mini Clip on Fan or Spritzing Fan: My biggest issue after my surgeries was not being able to cool down or feel comfortable. To help overheating issues it can also be helpful to have a chargeable clip on fan which you can position to provide handsfree airflow. A combination misting/spritzing fan can make a huge difference by providing evaporative cooling.
14. Notebook: Dealing with a spinal cord injury is a huge life change. It can be therapeutic to record your thoughts, vent out frustrations, but also to chart progress, set goals and celebrate milestones for motivation. Healing and progression after a spinal cord injury can be very slow, so it can be helpful to be able to look back and see how far you have come and all the changes that have added up over time.
15. Art Supplies: These can go along with a notebook or used separately. Art is very therapeutic and can help to deal with the aftermath of a spinal cord injury, whether it is painting, drawing or filling in a colouring book it can help to take the mind off of stresses and focus on something meditative and relaxing.
16. Wheel Socks/Wheel Covers: These are a must have if you live in a snowy climate. It is basically like a scrunchie or a sock that stretches to fit over your wheel to absorb any melting snow or dirt. This protects your floors from puddles and water trails, and saves you time from having to wait until your wheels dry or are completely brushed off before wheeling around your house.
17. Yoga Straps: This is another great multi-purpose item. You can use it for stretching your upper or lower body. Or looped to create a handle so you have something to grab onto to make transfers easier. It is also handy to help with repositioning your legs. If you have an issue of your feet falling off the footplate, you can also you a yoga strap to lash around them and keep them in place while you are rolling around.
18. Abdominal Binder: An abdominal binder is basically like a corset with velcro. It can help provide core and back support, especially when doing exercises with weights or sitting up for extended periods of time. It can also help to regulate blood pressure and prevent lightheadedness as well.
19. Gloves: Gloves, gloves and more gloves. You can never have too many pairs of gloves as a wheelchair user! The more the merrier, you can keep a set in your backpack, a set in your car, or have different ones for different outfits. Everyone has their own preference, but I go for gloves that are full finger, with reinforced palms. I also like to go for brightly coloured or unique gloves, and have been really happy with these “bmx” or “motocross” style gloves. the reinforced palm ensures the glove lasts for a long time when wheeling through rough terrain, and the full finger keeps your hands cleaner if you push directly on the wheel for more traction. They are not as waterproof as advertised, but in a pinch you can wear a pair of medical gloves inside of your gloves to keep your hands dry. If you are looking for something more plain, Costco also has multipacks of black gloves with grips that work great and you can switch out if one gets soaked through.
20. Exercise Gear: It can be harder to find cardio options as a wheelchair user. It is important to cross train muscles so you don’t overuse your propelling muscles used to push yourself around. Some popular options are a tabletop handcycle, a weighted cordless “jump rope” or set of small weights that can be used for light boxing drills and building upper body muscles.
21. Tire Repair Kit: Hopefully you never need to use this. But it can be an extremely helpful piece of equipment to have in an emergency. Generally it will come with a mini pump, some tire keys, and some patches. It can also be helpful to have an allen key and some bearing lubricant as well.
22. Wheelchair Rain Jacket: This is another in case of emergency item. But it can be helpful if you are caught in a sudden downpour when out and about. Unlike a regular rain jacket, this has a longer section that protects your legs and cushion from getting soaked, which could lead to skin breakdown.
23. Fuzzy Socks or Slippers with Grips: A spinal cord injury can cause decreased circulation resulting in cold extremities. A pair of fuzzy socks or slippers can help keep feet warm. Having soft style slip on footwear helps prevent pressure points that may form wearing tight fitting footwear, especially if feet become swollen throughout the day. Having socks or slippers with grippies on the bottom are essential to stop feet from sliding off of the footplate by accident.
24. Carry Transfer Sling: This can be a helpful piece of equipment to have when navigating terrain that is not wheelchair friendly and provides a safer alternative to being carried. It is basically a harness that turns you into a human backpack and allows the person carrying you to have their hands free for safety and stability. This is more of an emergency or special use piece of equipment to use for short periods of time, but it could be helpful for navigating stairs or inaccessible terrain.
25. Cooling Towel: Another cooling item. Seriously overheating is no joke when you have a spinal cord injury. This can be a great on the go alternative, all you have to do is add a bit of water to dampen the towel and bam insta cool. You can wrap the towel around your neck scarf style or apply to a specific area if need be.
26. Mesh Net for Underneath Wheelchair: I am all about storage solutions. This meshed net velcros underneath the seat of your chair and can be great to carry odds and ends that you want quick access to. Or for carrying items that you may not want “dirtying up” the inside of your backpack. It also had a small zippered pouch for keeping smaller items secure so they don’t accidently bounce out.
27. Compression Socks: Fluid retention or edema is part of living with a spinal cord injury, especially if you don’t have leg muscles to contract and pump blood back to your heart. Compression socks can help support the legs and stop fluids from making the legs and feet look puffy. The light pressure can also help relieve nerve pain for some people, so that is an extra bonus to help keep in mind.
28.Small Plant: There is a healing power to watching something grow and taking care of it, and a low maintenance plant is a great way to reap this benefit. Warning, it may evolve into a full fledged plant addiction before you know it. Some popular easy to take care of plants include: succulents such as aloe, spider plants, bromeliads, or orchids. Therapeutic and stylish, a winning combo!
29.Pill Organizer: If you take various medications an supplements throughout the day, it can be handy to have a weekly pill organizer that you fill up once a week and can use to keep track of medications throughout the day. The weekly organizer is ideal since you an fill it up and you are set for the week without dealing with a bunch of different bottles and pill containers.
30. Reflective Clothing: If you plan on going out and about after dark or during early morning hours, wearing reflective clothing can help increase your visibility and keep you safe. Often if people are driving they are not necessarily “looking out” for someone at wheelchair height, especially if it is dark out. Wearing a reflective jacket, or reflective gloves, or having reflective tape on your chair frame can help make you more visible and keep you safe (and stylish)!
And for a final bonus note.. every manual wheelchair user should get an electric motor attachment. It allows you to easily take your wheelchair across a variety of terrain, from hills, to grass, to off-road paths, gravel and more. Most importantly, it allows for freedom and enables you to enjoy recreational activities with family and friends. Check out my review of several different options that are available to see which is best for you.
For a more portable, but slower option. I would also highly recommend a moving booster push assist attachment.
Hopefully you have found something that will make your life, or loved ones life easier!
Thanks for reading.
