There are many advantages and disadvantages to both power and manual wheelchairs. For instance, power chairs can be used for longer distances than manual chairs but are often heavy and not as storage friendly. Whether you decide to get a manual chair or a power chair you should know what you are getting yourself into.
There are many good things that come with a power chair. Power chairs have the ability to climb uphill with the least amount of effort put forth by the driver. They can travel over a variety of terrain with minimal difficulty. Power chairs are often designed for easier use by patients with limited range of motion. They may be built to suit their driver with customizable seat and back cushions. This can be a huge advantage if the user requires assistance with trunk control. Power chairs can also come with a tilt or recline option. This is a good way to relieve pressure for patients with inability to reposition themselves in the chair. When deciding to get a power chair, wheel placement is very important. Power wheels can be placed either in the front, middle, or back of the chair’s base. Keep in mind that the middle placement of power wheels offers the highest maneuverability. Power chairs can give their owners a sense of freedom from the manual chair if they have a difficult time moving about.
Manual chairs also have a lot of advantages to bring to the table. They are generally more cost efficient than their power wheelchair cousin. They are lightweight and are getting lighter everyday with new designs and new metals being used in their construction. Manual chairs offer a coast option while traveling downhill, this offers a break in using upper or lower body strength. The manual chair user may be assisted by another person with built in handles for pushing. Manual chair users have the opportunity to build muscle strength while self propelling the chair, users also don’t need a designated hand to steer. They are more discreet by being smaller and quieter than most power chairs. Manual chairs are easier to be transported in a vehicle due to most of them being able to fold up and fit into an average trunk. They offer various seat positioning for the user to be able to self propel with either their arms or legs.
While using a power wheelchair can conserve personal energy, there is always a chance the battery could die. They are larger and heavier than manual chairs which has been noted to decrease the user’s personal image. Power wheelchairs often cost much more than manual and require a special mechanic to repair any problems, costing even more money. These chairs also do not offer any type of exercise for their users. Power chairs pose a problem in some inclement weather, often getting stuck in mud or snow and spinning out on ice. These chairs are large and sometimes awkward to fit through average sized doorways and into bathrooms. Power chairs pose problems with transportation in a vehicle, often requiring a mechanical lift and they must be tied down with special tie-downs.
Manual wheelchairs have a lot less disadvantages than power chairs. The largest disadvantage would be that they require a high endurance level from their users. The user may have a difficult time getting up inclines or ramps. This depends on the upper or lower body strength of the user and the level of incline present. A lot of people can exhaust themselves just by getting to where they need to go, with no energy left for the activity. There can be some negative long term health conditions such as shoulder injuries or back problems from poor posture that comes with the use of a manual chair over a long period of time. Despite these disadvantages, manual chairs are prevalent because of their cost effectiveness.
Wheelchairs are a good thing whether you choose a power or manual chair. If you don’t see much benefit in getting a power chair then I would recommend a manual chair because of the cost. All in all, if you need a wheelchair, either choice would be beneficial to you.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hockey in 2013
Hockey fans are overjoyed with an agreement that has been made that will end the 2012 Hockey Strike. The first games of the season are finally scheduled to be played on January 19, 2013. Teams all over the United States and Canada are preparing for the short season and have high hopes in preventing head injuries within the hockey community.
The first games of the season are scheduled to be played at 3pm and 8pm on Saturday January 19, 2013. It seems that almost every team will be playing, with a total of thirteen games to be completed by the end of the night. The team I declare my favorite, The Detroit Red Wings, will be playing at St. Louis against the Blues. The game is set to begin at 8pm eastern time. The Red Wings will be sporting a white jersey with red sleeves and a red "Red Wings" logo on the chest. With fifteen forwards, eight defensemen, and two goalies the Red Wings are ready for an amazing season.
According to BrainandSpinalcord.org in 2007, 5,483 persons presented at the hospital with head injuries due to hockey, this number has only been rising. This is quite alarming for anybody that plays such an aggressive sport. The leading cause of traumatic brain injury in hockey is recurring concussion. A concussion, despite the severity, is still a closed head injury. A head injury can occur anytime an outside force causes the brain to violently shift within the skull. This can lead to the bruising, bleeding, and/or tearing of the brain. This can cause a player to feel dazed, confused, or even to lose consciousness. Although symptoms of head injury may take hours or several days to develop they still need to be taken extremely seriously. Symptoms of head injury include headache, lightheadedness, confusion, dizziness, nausea, convulsions, the inability to move part of the body, blurred vision or speech, and possibly loss of balance. All symptoms may not appear to all, but if any present, you should head to the hospital for observation and testing.
As you may or may not know, Vladimir Konstantinov was a Red Wing defenseman over a decade ago. He was in a serious vehicle accident, after winning the Stanley Cup in 1997, which left him with a severe traumatic brain injury. He has made great progress in his recovery to this point. He is able to utilize painting and art to aid in his rehab. He even had an art show of over 40 of his own personal pieces on display in 2011. He is still attending therapy and progressing daily throughout his rehabilitation. Although Vladimir did not receive his injury while playing hockey, it is a reminder that Traumatic Brain Injury can occur to anybody at any time.
So what is the NHL doing to prevent future head injuries while playing hockey? They are researching and discussing rule changes to protect the players. One rule is to penalize a player for a blindside hit with a trip to the penalty box or possibly a high fine; it has yet to be decided. They are also discussing various rink sizes, and possibly regulating the rink size for NHL level games. One more stride to prevent head injury in the hockey community is to create a stronger helmet to absorb more shock and further protect the player’s heads.
Head and brain injuries are always bad, even if they are not from hockey. All the physical contact in hockey makes it a lot higher risk of a head or brain injury. This is why I’m so happy that the NHL is going to try and put a stop to some unneeded contact.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Our Trip to Chicago
Written by Bret K.
The weekend of December 7th was an exciting one for select Oakland and Wayne DTS clients. Four clients from each facility accompanied by two staff were able to drive to Chicago for the weekend. This trip was for pleasure, although a small amount of business did occur.
It took staff over four hours to make the drive from Detroit to Chicago. They listened to music, played various road trip games, and socialized to make the time pass faster. When they finally arrived, everyone was happy to get out of the vans and stretch their legs.
The group was able to stay at the Fairfield Inn located in the heart of Chicago. Once checked in and settled from the drive, the group set out to see the town. They were able to eat lunch and stop at the Shedd Aquarium for the afternoon. Seeing the different animals of the sea was a great experience for the group. A short stop at the gift store was all that was left to do before going to a nice dinner.
The group stayed together throughout the weekend, participating in the same activities, with the exception of the two bosses who visited the Rehab Institute of Chicago. The group was able to see the Field Museum for an afternoon along with doing some shopping, because what is a vacation without shopping? While in Chicago, the group visited the Sears Tower as well as the Navy Pier. They loved all of the sites that they were able to stop and see.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
DTS Invades The Palace
Written by Bret K.
The Wayne County Day Treatment Services Program of Special Tree attended a Detroit Pistons game in mid-November against the Orlando Magic. Upon arrival they were greeted with a pleasant surprise. Clients and staff alike were also able to enjoy a half-time show by a famous artist.
The program director, Joe, along with Neal and seven staff were able to orchestrate a flawless event. Several Special Tree Residential facilities were able to participate in the event totaling nearly 40 clients in attendance. Everyone gathered at the Wabash facility for pizza prior to leaving for the game. Staff then loaded the vans and headed to Auburn Hill in a lengthy caravan.
Upon arrival to the Palace, everyone received a gift from a Palace worker. He brought over an abundance of Pistons duffle bags for all DTS attendees to take home. The group was extremely thankful for the gift. Then everyone settled into their seats just in time for the game to begin at 7:30pm.
The first half of the game seemed to fly by, with the Detroit Pistons working hard for a big win. Soon enough, the lights dimmed as the players headed to the locker room. The half time show was under way and everyone was anxious to see who would be performing. As the smoke cleared, it became apparent to the group that Bobby Brown would be the one putting on the show. He sang a couple songs and had numerous dancers perform center stage with him. Although some of the DTS attendees did not particularly enjoy Bobby Brown’s performance, they still had a blast at the game.
The Pistons emerged from the locker room reenergized and ready to attempt to win this game. They put on a good show despite their loss to the Orlando Magic. All DTS attendees were glad that they came. As everyone was preparing to head home they were met with another great surprise. A group of the Piston’s cheerleaders had come up to their section to say hello. They took pictures and chit chatted with the clients about the game. If they weren’t already having the time of their life, they sure were now. After some time, staff politely said their goodbyes and loaded up the vans to head home.
It was about 11pm when the caravan returned to the Wabash facility. Everyone was in good spirits even though the Pistons lost the game. They were delighted with the new bags and photos they had acquired from the game. All in all, DTS had a good time at the game and plans to attend more events like this in the near future.
If you have any ideas of events or activities please feel free to comment below. We appreciate your thoughts and ideas!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Ceramics in Traverse City
Written by Bret K.
The Ceramics Studio at Special Tree’s Day Treatment Services program was on the move in early November. They received an invitation to attend a ceramics show in Traverse City to attempt to sell their goods. The staff was extremely delighted to attend the show, and began prepping immediately.
Every person involved in the Ceramic Studio worked hard every day to create the best pieces they could for the show. They spent time pouring molds, cleaning the pieces, firing them, painting the pieces, firing them again, and packaging them up for the trip. And let’s not forget the pricing part of the job. Sure it was a little stressful, but they all pulled together as a team and had the van loaded and ready to go on November 5, a day ahead of schedule.
Four clients along with two staff were able to travel to Traverse City for the weekend business trip. They drove the four hours and were able to bunk up for the night after setting up their tables and ceramic pieces. The next morning would be the beginning their chance to show off their work to the public, and boy were they excited!
The morning of the first day of the ceramic show, the group was slightly nervous to see if the public would like and purchase their goods. Needless to say, they had nothing to fear. They were able to sell over $500 worth of goods throughout the two day event.
The trip wasn’t all work and no play for the group of attendees. They were able to spend an evening out on the town. Starting with dinner at a restaurant and continuing through the night. They were full of fun and laughter, delighted that their hard work was paying off.
Upon returning home from the show, all attendees were anxious to share their good news with everyone at DTS. People liked their goods and purchased over half of the supplies they took with them. Everyone was able to enjoy themselves as well as get the job done while selling some ceramics!
All in all, this was a good trip for the group. They were able to sell some of their ceramics, as well as having a little bit of bonding time within the group. On top of it all, everyone enjoyed themselves!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Floats, Football, and Food
Written by Steph H.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with that comes older floats that are always a hit, new floats, including one designed by local eighth grader Robin Ryce, and of course, Santa Clause. Among the parade will be clowns, horses, the "big-heads", and local marching bands. Ashanti will make an appearance in the parade along with several actors and athletes, including Olympic soccer gold medalist Alex Morgan. There will be the turkey trot as there has been for the last 30 years.
The Thanksgiving day parade in Detroit is in its 86th year of making Thanksgiving morning fun, however we all know the highlights of the day are always the food and the football! This year the Lions will be playing the Houston Texans; this will be Houston's first Thanksgiving Day football game. Thanksgiving football has also been a tradition in Detroit since 1934. Dallas is another city where thanksgiving football games are a tradition; Dallas will be playing Washington in Dallas. Growing up I remember going to the Thanksgiving day games when the Lions played at the Silverdome in Pontiac.
After all is said and done, all the football is over, and all the food is gone, we can still look around and see all we should be thankful for. Our mother, our father, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and our grandparents. We should be thankful for our health and for even waking up this morning. We should be thankful for our lives just the way they are; remember, someone always has it worse. We need to be thankful for those men and women who are sacrificing their lives to fight for our freedom.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with that comes older floats that are always a hit, new floats, including one designed by local eighth grader Robin Ryce, and of course, Santa Clause. Among the parade will be clowns, horses, the "big-heads", and local marching bands. Ashanti will make an appearance in the parade along with several actors and athletes, including Olympic soccer gold medalist Alex Morgan. There will be the turkey trot as there has been for the last 30 years.
The Thanksgiving day parade in Detroit is in its 86th year of making Thanksgiving morning fun, however we all know the highlights of the day are always the food and the football! This year the Lions will be playing the Houston Texans; this will be Houston's first Thanksgiving Day football game. Thanksgiving football has also been a tradition in Detroit since 1934. Dallas is another city where thanksgiving football games are a tradition; Dallas will be playing Washington in Dallas. Growing up I remember going to the Thanksgiving day games when the Lions played at the Silverdome in Pontiac.
After all is said and done, all the football is over, and all the food is gone, we can still look around and see all we should be thankful for. Our mother, our father, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and our grandparents. We should be thankful for our health and for even waking up this morning. We should be thankful for our lives just the way they are; remember, someone always has it worse. We need to be thankful for those men and women who are sacrificing their lives to fight for our freedom.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
The Inner Workings...
Written by Steph H.
First day at a new "job"; writing is something I enjoy doing so one would think that it wouldn't be to hard to describe myself, yet I'm already at a wall.
December fourth of 1985 I graced my family with my stunning personality, weird, yet witty, sense of humor and sparkling blue eyes. I came into this world in only 45 minutes giving the doctors no time to give my mother an epidural or any pain medications thru her IV. Coming out as fast as I did caused one problem, but don't worry, I am not affected by the problem anymore. When one sees my baby picture that they take in the hospital I have a big head, no hair, and oh yeah, that broken collar bone from shooting out of my mother too fast. I am the middle child in my family between my older brother Jonathon and younger Benjamin.
On January 25, 2004 a drunk driver changed my life forever. A friend and I were walking home on the sidewalk area and from behind we were hit by a drunk driver who then fled the scene of the accident. My friend that I was with died instantly. I have no memory of the accident up until about Valentine's day when they told me I had to lose my leg because of infection. I remember waking up to my mom sitting next to me every day for about the first two months. After that she would come up and sit with me after work daily. Along with becoming an amputee I lost a kidney and the other one was very badly damaged. I have a T-12 level spinal cord injury, a mild TBI, was in surgery inititally for 18 hours just to get me semi-stable. The drunk driver eventually turned himself in only because the friend whose snow truck it was saw it on TV and noticed front end damage. My mother went to every day of his trial and he never looked at her or my friend's mother. At sentencing when he was given the opportunity to apologize, he just sat there with his head down. David Rumph was sentenced to 15 - 22.5 years in jail. His earliest parole date is in January of 2019.
In the more than eight years since my accident I've gone through ups and downs just like any other individual my age. I was too old to go back to high school to finish my last semester of high school in order to graduate so I took my GED and passed on the first try. From there I began Oakland Community College majoring in Biology and minoring in Italian. The hour or longer drive, depending on traffic, wasn't working out for me so I transferred to Henry Ford Community College. It may have taken longer than two years but I recently received my Associates in General Studies with honors. In January I will begin to work on my bachelors of Chemistry focusing on Pharmacy. It's a lot of schooling, but I will not give up my dream to become a doctor just because of this accident.
I've had a few relationships but my current relationship has lasted over four years. I can honestly say I was shocked when she looked at me and didn't see the wheelchair.
November 4th 2011 I got the call from the University of Michigan Hospital telling me to get there as soon as possible; they had a kidney for me!!! I was scared and ecstatic at the same time. I'm still having difficulties with it but it's working and that makes me happy.
Over the summer of 2012 I had open heart surgery to fix my mitral valve regurgitation. I kept getting pneumonia after the kidney transplant and they couldn't figure it out so they checked my heart and found it. One more surgery under my belt, one new scar to call my own. After a recent echo of the heart my cardiologist said it looks and sounds beautifully.
A week from today I am having another big surgery. I have to go in two days early and stay for at least a week after. I'm looking forward to the results but as soon as I get there I just know I'm going to be getting nervous just like I do with every procedure.
The worst thing that came from all of this is that I now watch my son grow up with my mom instead of me. I took care of Zacky until my accident. We always talk right after school and right before bed but I wish I was there so I could give him kisses and hugs all day long.
That snowy day in January changed my life and there are parts of it that I will never get back. They say that forgiving and forgetting is going to help me heal but I'm not ready to do either.
First day at a new "job"; writing is something I enjoy doing so one would think that it wouldn't be to hard to describe myself, yet I'm already at a wall.
December fourth of 1985 I graced my family with my stunning personality, weird, yet witty, sense of humor and sparkling blue eyes. I came into this world in only 45 minutes giving the doctors no time to give my mother an epidural or any pain medications thru her IV. Coming out as fast as I did caused one problem, but don't worry, I am not affected by the problem anymore. When one sees my baby picture that they take in the hospital I have a big head, no hair, and oh yeah, that broken collar bone from shooting out of my mother too fast. I am the middle child in my family between my older brother Jonathon and younger Benjamin.
On January 25, 2004 a drunk driver changed my life forever. A friend and I were walking home on the sidewalk area and from behind we were hit by a drunk driver who then fled the scene of the accident. My friend that I was with died instantly. I have no memory of the accident up until about Valentine's day when they told me I had to lose my leg because of infection. I remember waking up to my mom sitting next to me every day for about the first two months. After that she would come up and sit with me after work daily. Along with becoming an amputee I lost a kidney and the other one was very badly damaged. I have a T-12 level spinal cord injury, a mild TBI, was in surgery inititally for 18 hours just to get me semi-stable. The drunk driver eventually turned himself in only because the friend whose snow truck it was saw it on TV and noticed front end damage. My mother went to every day of his trial and he never looked at her or my friend's mother. At sentencing when he was given the opportunity to apologize, he just sat there with his head down. David Rumph was sentenced to 15 - 22.5 years in jail. His earliest parole date is in January of 2019.
In the more than eight years since my accident I've gone through ups and downs just like any other individual my age. I was too old to go back to high school to finish my last semester of high school in order to graduate so I took my GED and passed on the first try. From there I began Oakland Community College majoring in Biology and minoring in Italian. The hour or longer drive, depending on traffic, wasn't working out for me so I transferred to Henry Ford Community College. It may have taken longer than two years but I recently received my Associates in General Studies with honors. In January I will begin to work on my bachelors of Chemistry focusing on Pharmacy. It's a lot of schooling, but I will not give up my dream to become a doctor just because of this accident.
I've had a few relationships but my current relationship has lasted over four years. I can honestly say I was shocked when she looked at me and didn't see the wheelchair.
November 4th 2011 I got the call from the University of Michigan Hospital telling me to get there as soon as possible; they had a kidney for me!!! I was scared and ecstatic at the same time. I'm still having difficulties with it but it's working and that makes me happy.
Over the summer of 2012 I had open heart surgery to fix my mitral valve regurgitation. I kept getting pneumonia after the kidney transplant and they couldn't figure it out so they checked my heart and found it. One more surgery under my belt, one new scar to call my own. After a recent echo of the heart my cardiologist said it looks and sounds beautifully.
A week from today I am having another big surgery. I have to go in two days early and stay for at least a week after. I'm looking forward to the results but as soon as I get there I just know I'm going to be getting nervous just like I do with every procedure.
The worst thing that came from all of this is that I now watch my son grow up with my mom instead of me. I took care of Zacky until my accident. We always talk right after school and right before bed but I wish I was there so I could give him kisses and hugs all day long.
That snowy day in January changed my life and there are parts of it that I will never get back. They say that forgiving and forgetting is going to help me heal but I'm not ready to do either.
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