386 chapter 42
EXERCISES AND POSITIONS TO HELP AVOID
PRESSURE SORES AND CONTRACTURES
EXERCISE
SHEET
Children who spend a lot of time lying or sitting, or have lost feeling
4
in their butts, should NOT SPEND ALL DAY SITTING DOWN. This can
cause pressure sores, contractures of the hips and knees, and back deformities.
PREVENT THIS
PREVENT THIS
Contractures
Pressure sores
When you spend time sitting
in a wheelchair (or any
chair) lift yourself up with
your arms like this and
count to 25 every 15 or 20
minutes.
Be sure to use
a soft cushion.
Hips and knees are contracted
(cannot be straightened) from
sitting too much.
Lifting up often is
especially important for
people who do not have
feeling in their butt, so
that they do not get
sores on their bottom.
Spend a part of the day lying down
with your shoulders up like this.
(For other designs see p. 199
and 500.)
You can do schoolwork lying down.
Try to arrange things with the
teacher so that you can spend
part of your day lying down.
cushions or
foam rubber
wedges
BE CAREFUL:  To avoid sores,
it is important to put foam
rubber cushions to protect the
body where bones press against
skin—especially if you cannot feel
in parts of your body.
If the child cannot straighten
enough to lie on the floor, he
can lie on a table, and work
or play with his hands at a
lower level, as shown here.
Disabled village Children