Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs)

Examples of poor and improved positioning in a wheelchair:

Poor positioning

These pictures shows Mr McTavish who has left-sided hemiplegia and is unable to maintain a good sitting position in his wheelchair due to a lack of support.

side-on view of Mr McTavish sitting in wheelchair with bullet points labelled 1 to 7
frontal view of Mr McTavish siting in wheelchair with bullet points labelled 1 to 6

Specific points to note:

  1. Hips – not central and too far forward in wheelchair
  2. Head – orientated to the right with eye/gaze deviation to the right
  3. Left upper limb – increased tone
  4. Right upper limb – required to help maintain his balance
  5. Footplates in left hand photo are too high, causing increased pressure on sacral regions, in the right hand photo there are no footplates causing the patient to slip down in the wheelchair putting increased pressure on the thighs
  6. Inadequate pressure relieving cushion
  7. Back of wheelchair sagging

Page last reviewed: 25 Feb 2021