UI HydroFlex. iss4 01/11
UI HydroFlex. iss4 01/11
5h. Adjustable Laterals
The turn buckles hold the headrest straps in place
on the
fi
xed cover version of the chair.
On the
fi
xed cover version of the HydroFlex, the headrest
is positioned on ‘turn buckles’. These are
fi
ttings attached
to the back of the headboard over which eyelets in the
headrest strap are hooked.
Turn the buckles so that they are lined up vertically to
un-hook the eyelets and adjust the strap. Fit the eyelets
back on to the turn-buckles so that the headrest is held
at the appropriate height and turn the buckles through
a quater turn to hold the straps in place.
The adjustable laterals should be used to counter any
tendency for a client to lean to one side. They are not
suitable for more active clients who are able to manage
their own posture or who tend to rock backwards and
forwards or who are ataxic.
Two types of pad are available for the HydroFlex
adjustable lateral system.; regular pads and kidney pads.
The regular pads have a regular, deep ‘D’ with an angled
face at the back to
fi
t around the chest to provide a
large support area. The regular pads can be
fi
tted either
side of the chair.
Kidney pads come as a left and right hand pair. These
have a tear drop pro
fi
le and a larger, angled contact
surface which gives less prescriptive support. To discern
left from right, position the kidney pad laterals as if they
were on a chair. The more pointed end should be towards
the top of the pad with the rounded end indicating the
bottom of the pad.
The adjustable laterals can be adjusted up and down and
in and out to provide the necessary support. They adjust
individually and so can be set up to suit an asymmetric
posture such as scoliosis.
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5g. Headrest Positioning-
Fixed
Cover
Lateral supports are intended
to provide
fi
rm support for the
client’s trunk. They may not be
appropriate for those clients
who are susceptible to pressure
damage around their ribs. If
the client is susceptible to
pressure damage the laterally
contoured back option may be
more appropriate.
Kidney pad adjustable laterals, more pointed end
upwards to make a handed pair.
left
right
Lateral supports are usually adjusted so that they are
supporting the client’s thorax (upper chest). The laterals
must be adjusted so that the majority of the lateral is
above the client’s lower rib. There is no point in
fi
tting
the laterals against the sides of the client’s abdomen or
just above their waist as these areas are
fl
exible and
the client will end up leaning over the pad. For comfort
leave a three
fi
nger gap between the top of the lateral
and the client’s armpit.
Before transferring the client into the HydroFlex take a
measurement of the height of any lateral support they
have
fi
tted to a wheelchair or activity chair. Otherwise,
try to measure from seat to mid chest height. The
laterals can then be adjusted to this height prior to
transferring the client to the chair.
Similarly, measure the distance between the lateral
supports on the client’s wheelchair or across their chest
so that the width between the laterals can be set up
before transfer.
To adjust lateral height, pull out the lower knob on the
adjustment block
fi
tted to the back of the chair back.
This knob controls the indexing pin which locks into the
holes in the height adjuster. Raise or lower the lateral
pad to the desired height and release the knob. Push the
lateral down until the indexing pin is felt to lock in place.
Width is controlled by the clamp plate on the adjustment
block. Turn the handwheel on the adjustment block until
the lateral is free to slide sideways. Once in the desired
position tighten the handwheel to lock the pad in place.
If the HydroFlex is to be used without the adjustable
laterals undo the handwheel controlling the width
adjustment and slide the laterals completely out of the
adjustment blocks. Keep the laterals in a safe place for
future use.
Please refer to the later instructions to retro-
fi
t the
Adjustable Lateral System.
Turn the handwheel to adjust lateral width and
tighten the handwheel to hold the setting.
Pull out the lower knob to adjust lateral height.
Fit the lateral armature into the adjustment block.
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