Stretching And Bending - Invacare Rea Spirea4 NG User Manual

Safety instructions/propelling techniques
We recommend that you get your wheelchair tested by a qualified person who will make the adjustments you
desire and also takes your build and needs into account. We also hope that you have received help with how
best to use the chair. Start by carefully practising until you are familiar with the wheelchair's possibilities and
limitations.
Moving to and from the wheelchair

Stretching and bending

Propelling up a slope
Propelling down a slope
Propel the wheelchair as close as possible to the seat you want to
move to. Apply the brakes. Remove/flip up the arm rests and detach
the leg rests/move them outwards. Do not put any of your weight on
the foot plates, as the chair may tip forwards.
When moving from the wheelchair do not place your fingers
between the frame tube and seat tube.
Position the wheelchair as close as possible. When you stretch and
bend, your back must always be in full contact with the beck rest,
otherwise the wheelchair may tip over. Stretching backwards over
the back rest is not recommended.
Many experienced users manage to propel up a slope by themselves.
In order not to lose control of the steering and to avoid tipping back-
wards, you should always lean forward while propelling up a slope.
Propel the wheelchair forwards using short and quick strokes to the
hand rims in order to maintain speed and steering control.
Generally help is needed when you come to steep slopes.
If you have to stop on a slope, it is particularly important that you
do not make any sudden or unexpected backward movement when
you start moving the wheelchair forwards again. As the wheelchair
is already leaning backwards, such a movement can cause the wheel-
chair to tip backwards.
Be careful not to trap your fingers between the brake shaft
and the tyre.
We recommend that you have one or more assistants when going
down steep and wet slopes.
First check the slope to see if there are any particular risks, such as
potholes, slippery sections, etc. Never use your block brake to slow
down. When you apply the brake on a downward slope, the wheels
lock and the wheelchair can suddenly pull to one side, tip sideways or
stop immediately, throwing you out of the chair. Always control the
speed with the hand rims. Remember that the hand rims may become
hot due to friction and this may cause injury to the hands. Try to
propel down the slope in a straight line as much as possible. Never
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