Vermeiren Neo-Flex U78 User manual

Trunk stabilization
O p e n i n g u p n e w h o r i z o n s i n m o b i l i t y
POSTURE
CORRECTION
AND SUPPORT
SYSTEM
NEO-FLEX
N.V. Vermeiren N.V. Vermeirenplein 1-15 B-2920 Kalmthout Belgium Tel. : [phone] Fax: [phone] www.vermeiren.be [email protected]
QUALITY
EUROPE

NEO-FLEX
POSTURE
CORRECTION
AND SUPPORT
SYSTEM
Good body posture is the one which ensures optimal stability,
requires minimal muscle effort to hold the body upright and
promotes optimal arrangement of internal organs.
Good posture is characterised by:
straight position of head,
physiological curvatures of sagittal plane and straight spine in
coronal plane,
 well-formed chest,
 shoulders slightly backward in relation to pelvis,
symmetrical alignment of pelvis.
Sitting puts the most stress and strain on the spine. Thus it is very
important that a person sitting in a wheelchair has proper back
support. There are three primary support surfaces: buttocks, back,
and lower extremities.
PREVENTION METHODS
 Wheelchair fitted to the individual user.
 Solid backrest and seat.
 Correct backrest height depends on the desired amount of
trunk support.
 Seat depth – allows up to 2,5 cm from back of knee to front of
seat.
 Seat width – allows 1.3 cm from the outside line of thigh and
armrest on either side.
 Correct lateral support for the trunk.
 Correct armrest height to allow for 30° shoulder flexion and
60° elbow flexion.
 Footplate position – allows 5 cm clearance from footplate to
floor, feet positioned parallel to seat.
 Stable cushion.
 Achieve balance between support and function.
 Use correct support belts.
N.V. Vermeiren N.V. Vermeirenplein 1-15 B-2920 Kalmthout Belgium Tel. : [phone] Fax: [phone] www.vermeiren.be [email protected]

Uncorrected posture Corrected posture – harness U79 type “H”
or shoulder belts U78. Must be used with
a two-point hip belt.
kyphosis
“H” harness
ASSESSMENT
 forward flexion of thoracic spine,
 lumbar flexion most often with posterior
pelvic tilt,
 little contact with backrest,
 hyperextended neck to see straight ahead.
incorrect breathing.
CAUSES
Wheelchair: seat to backrest angle too small and inadequate
trunk support to prevent trunk collapse.
Causes related to physical conditions: fixed pathological
kyphosis of spine, posterior pelvic tilt, tendon tension, tight hip
flexor, low trunk muscle tone, weak and deteriorated muscles.
WHY TO USE THE BELT
 extended trunk and retracted shoulder blades,
 reduced kyphosis,
 natural trunk alignment over pelvis,
 improved respiratory capacity,
 increased head control,
 better line of sight.
“Reins” type harness
Crisscross fastening does not restrict arm movement.
Independent fastening for each shoulder encourages
shoulder retraction and promotes respiration.

lordosis
Uncorrected position.
Swivel buckles ensure free pivoting and
smooth adjustment of an angle between
attachment straps and the vest, straps do
not twist or chafe.
ASSESSMENT
 concave curvature of spine,
 hyper-extended lumbar spine,
 anterior pelvic tilt,
 retracted shoulder blades,
 limited contact with backrest.
Corrected position – a vest U74
without zipper or U73 with zipper.
Must be used with a four-point hip
belt U75.
CAUSES
Wheelchair: seat to backrest angle to small and
inadequate trunk support to prevent trunk collapse.
Causes related to physical conditions: fixed
pathological lordosis of spine, anterior pelvic tilt,
tendon tension, tight hip flexor, low trunk muscle
tone, weak and deteriorated muscles.
WHY TO USE THE VEST
 primary support of sternum,
 reduced lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt,
 natural alignment of trunk over pelvis and
reduced shoulder blades retraction,
 improved respiratory volume,
 for users capable of active trunk flexion, a
neoprene vest may allow more freedom of
movement, while providing posture stabilization and
correction,
 some users will require additional support at
lower ribs and abdomen to reduce lordosis.
U74- vest without zipper. Vest
available in two versions, wide and
narrow designed especially for
women.
U73- vest with zipper. Vest available
in two versions, wide and narrow
designed especially for women.
Vest is made from high
quality LYCRA coated
neoprene. It ensures
proper flexibility and
stabilization.
Middle part of the vest is made from
It’s makes that part strong what
improve the stability of the trunk ,
breathing l and control of movement
.as well
®
BRAND
F A B R I C
Normally upper stabilization vests are delivered
with rear pull
which allows a seated
person to adjust the pull. .
when is not recommended that the
patient may adjust the pull , vests may be also
delivered with front pull

Scoliosis
Uncorrected posture.
Longitudinal axis rotation of vertebrae, i.e.
trunk rotation
Uncorrected posture
Corrected posture – shoulder belts U78.
Use together with a two-point hip belt U76.
Corrected posture – shoulder belts U78.
Must be used with a two-point hip belt U76
Sometimes only one wide neoprene
chest belt is needed to stabilize a person
as it perfectly holds the trunk in
a midline position and ensures
greater freedom of movement for
active persons.
U80 wide neoprene chest belt
Very often only one belt is
required to pull the forward
shoulder back.
ASSESSMENT
 lateral flexion of spine, usually in thoracic area to the
right,
 one shoulder protruding forward and upward,
 one hip upward and forward – pelvic obliquity,
 one side of chest protruding backward (a rib hump);
seen especially when bending forward,
shoulders not level.
CAUSES
Wheelchair: inadequate trunk support, in particular
lateral support. Uneven seating surface, seat too wide for
the user.
Causes related to physical conditions: flexible or fixed
pathological scoliosis of spine, pelvic obliquity,
asymmetrical muscle tone shortening one side of trunk,
hip joint contracture.
WHY TO USE THE BELT
Appropriate trunk support which in conjunction with hip
belt and lateral support will promote an upright position
of the trunk and correct alignment of the head.
ASSESSMENT
 lateral flexion of spine in the horizontal plane,
 forward ribs on one side - a rib hump,
forward shoulder blade,
one shoulder is forward,
often in conjunction with pelvic rotation.
CAUSES
Wheelchair: inadequate stabilization to prevent pelvic
rotation,
Causes related to physical conditions: pelvic rotation,
increased and asymmetrical muscle tone shortening one side
of trunk.
WHY TO USE THE BELT
to pull the forward shoulder back to backrest to align the
trunk in the sagittal plane.

Vests and shoulder belts – Selection Guide
S (28cm–33cm)
M (33cm–41cm)
L (41cm–48cm)
A B C D
S
M
L
XS
XL
(24cm–28cm)
(48cm–56cm)
E
XS
XL
22 cm
23 cm
30 cm
38 cm
46 cm
13 cm
14 cm
18 cm
21 cm
25 cm
13 cm
16 cm
20 cm
23 cm
27 cm
4 cm
4 cm
4 cm
6 cm
6cm
9 cm
12 cm
13 cm
13 cm
16 cm
C
B
A
E
D
A B C D
M
L
E
XL
30,5 cm
38 cm
46 cm
18 cm
21,5 cm
25,5 cm
20,5 cm
23 cm
27 cm
4 cm
6 cm
6cm
9 cm
10 cm
10 cm
Narrow version U74.N and U73.N
S 39,7cm
M 47,6cm
L 55,6cm
XS
XL
31,8 cm
63,5cm
A
B
Dane techniczne szerokiego
pasa piersiowego U80.
7,6 cm
8,9 cm
10,3 cm
11,4 cm
12,7 cm
AB
S 31cm
M 34cm
L 41cm
XL 47cm
Technical specification of shoulder belts. .
“H” Belts U79
neoprene length
S 24 cm
M 29 cm
L 34 cm
shoulder belts U78
neoprene length
How to select a proper size of a chest belt
Measure the length around the trunk from the
front where the belt will be used.
S 46 - 55 cm
M 56 - 65cm
L 66 - 75 cm
XS
XL
36 - 45 cm
76 - 85 cm
d³ugoœæ zmierzona
123
NEO-FLEX
POSTURE
CORRECTION
AND SUPPORT
SYSTEM
4
How to select a vest and shoulder belts:
Measure shoulder width, consider also weight
changes, height, and clothing.
Technical specification of vests with and without zipper:
Wide version U74.W and U73.W
Tightening the straps
Always keep the belt tightened at adjustment straps during
daily use to ensure correct placement, adequate stabilization,
to allow movement and correct respiratory volume.
Attaching to the frame
An easy fastening system allows fitting and adjustment of strap
in length.
Clip buckles on each end of the strap allows quick and easy
attachment and removal of belts and vests. It also allows
precise positioning of anchoring points on the frame. This
system does not require readjustment of the pull after taking
the straps off and fastening them again as attachment ends
always stay in the chair.
Special buckle. Makes much easer
adjust the belt tension in the case of
rear pull version. It’s applys to the
backrests based on wood and ERGO
type. Just screw in to the base of
backrest.
Normally upper stabilization belts are delivered with
front pull which allows a seated person to adjust the pull.
Belts may be also delivered with rear pull when is not
recommended that the patient may adjust the pull.
N.V. Vermeiren N.V. Vermeirenplein 1-15 B-2920 Kalmthout Belgium Tel. : [phone] Fax: [phone] www.vermeiren.be [email protected]

O p e n i n g u p n e w h o r i z o n s i n m o b i l i t y
NEO-FLEX
POSTURE
CORRECTION
AND SUPPORT
SYSTEM
For more information, contact your local dealer
N.V. Vermeiren N.V.
Vermeirenplein 1-15
B-2920 Kalmthout
Belgium
Tel. : [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.vermeiren.com
[email protected]
QUALITY
EUROPE