When preparing for wheelchair transportation, it’s easy to focus on the larger safety features: the wheelchair itself, the vehicle lift, securement equipment, and seat belts. But one smaller piece of equipment can also play an important role in a passenger’s safety and comfort: wheelchair footrests, also commonly called footplates or foot pedals.
Footrests aren’t simply a place to put your feet. They help keep a passenger’s feet and lower legs properly positioned while seated in the wheelchair. This becomes especially important during transportation, when turns, bumps, acceleration, and braking can cause the passenger’s body and legs to move.
Keeping Feet Safely Supported
Without proper foot support, a passenger’s feet may hang, slip backward, move underneath the wheelchair, or come into contact with parts of the chair or vehicle. For passengers who have limited strength, sensation, or control of their lower extremities, they may not be able to quickly reposition their feet on their own.
Properly positioned footrests help keep the passenger’s feet supported and reduce the risk of them dragging or moving into an unsafe position while the wheelchair is being moved or while the vehicle is in transit.
Added Protection During Vehicle Movement
Even a smooth medical transportation ride involves movement. The vehicle accelerates, slows down, turns, travels over uneven pavement, and occasionally must stop unexpectedly.
When a passenger’s feet are properly supported, their lower extremities have a more stable position during these movements. Footrests can help prevent feet and legs from swinging or shifting into the wheelchair frame or other nearby surfaces.
This can be particularly important for passengers who experience muscle weakness, involuntary movements, spasms, or reduced control of their legs.
Supporting Proper Positioning and Posture
Footrests can also contribute to proper seated positioning. When the feet have a stable surface for support, it can help the passenger maintain better alignment in the wheelchair rather than gradually sliding forward or shifting position.
Proper positioning may also help distribute the passenger’s weight more appropriately and provide a more stable base while traveling.
Every wheelchair user has different positioning needs, however, so footrests should always be properly adjusted for the individual and used according to the wheelchair manufacturer’s instructions and any guidance provided by the passenger’s healthcare or mobility professional.
Footrests Matter Before the Vehicle Starts Moving
Wheelchair transportation safety begins before the passenger is inside the vehicle. Foot positioning is important while moving a wheelchair through hallways, across parking lots, over thresholds, and onto a wheelchair lift or ramp.
A foot that slips from its support could potentially come into contact with the ground, a doorway, lift equipment, or another obstacle. Checking that the passenger’s feet are properly positioned before moving the wheelchair is a simple but important safety step.
Preparing for Your Wheelchair Transportation
If you use a wheelchair and are preparing for a medical transportation appointment, make sure the wheelchair has the footrests, footplates, and other positioning components that you normally use.
Before the trip, it is also a good idea to check that:
- Both feet can rest securely on the footplates.
- Footrests are properly attached to the wheelchair.
- Footplates are adjusted appropriately for the passenger.
- Nothing is loose, damaged, or interfering with the passenger’s feet or legs.
- Any other positioning equipment normally used by the passenger is available for the trip.
If you’re unsure whether your wheelchair is properly configured for transportation, speak with your healthcare provider, therapist, wheelchair supplier, or mobility professional before your scheduled ride.
Small Details Are an Important Part of Wheelchair Transportation Safety
At Reliable Medical Transportation, safe wheelchair transportation involves paying attention to the details. From assisting passengers to and from their appointments to properly securing wheelchairs inside our vehicles, our goal is to provide transportation that is safe, comfortable, respectful, and dependable.
Wheelchair footrests may seem like a small piece of equipment, but they can play an important role in keeping a passenger’s feet supported and properly positioned throughout the transportation process.
For more information about wheelchair-accessible transportation and the other transportation options we provide, explore our medical transportation services or contact Reliable Medical Transportation to discuss the needs of yourself, a loved one, or a patient.
