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Justin Boulos | Wheelchair and Seating Coach for OTs ♿

@wheelieworx

7.2K

followers

2011

following

Prescribe complex wheelchairs with confidence.
A clear, structured system for OTs and physios. Less guesswork, less risk.
Seating Simplified™ ↓

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Guys... scripting an expensive chair doesn't make it GOOD.

Quick notes:
1. Wheelchair prescription is complex - it’s not just “pick a chair and order it.”
2. The assessment and setup are important. More money doesnt equal more better.
3. If you don’t know what’s wrong with the current chair, you risk replicating the same mistakes.

Relying solely on others (who sometimes don’t know either) can lead to the 'blind leading the blind'. Which mean higher costs, poorer outcomes.

This OT did the right thing:
She hit pause, asked for help, and referred it to someone experienced.
That single decision will save money AND get a better result for the client.

🛑 The takeaway:
Not everyone should be scripting $50k+ wheelchairs without training.
The cost of getting it wrong is huge - not just financially, or legally but for the client’s safety and comfort.

If you’re an OT who wants to build confidence in wheelchair prescription...
- Get training.
- Get mentoring.
- Your clients (and your stress levels) will thank you.

****

What do you think? Does the uni degree qualify you to prescribe someones wheelchair? by @wheelieworx

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7

a year ago

🚫✋ Read this if you prescribe padded belts

If you're using a padded belt to stop someone into a slouched position, you're on the right path. So many times in the community I see a belt being mounted on a 45° angle. Mainly because it's the easiest place to mount them. Or good intentions misplaced.

Check out this video explain the best place to mount a two point and a four point padded hip belt to stop a posterior pelvic tilt, as advised by the Director of Clinical Education from @bodypoint_inc . And me, the guy who's scripted a wheelchair once or twice.

Enjoy!

#WheelchairLifeHacks #OccupationalTherapy #Wheelchair #AssistiveTechnology #WheelchairLife #Education #Disability #Disabled #Quadriplegic #Paraplegic #Paralyzed #MultipleSclerosis #CerebralPalsy #WheelchairUser #Physiotherapy #NDIS by @wheelieworx

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3 years ago

Alright, picture this. You're slouching in a wheelchair but can't reposition....

Have no fear. @permobil is here. All of their chairs have this super cool trick up its sleeve called the "Independent Repositioning Mode" (IRM). With this, you can show gravity who's boss and pull yourself back up into your chair without calling for backup from your caregivers. So, next time you or a client is feeling like a melted marshmallow, just hit that magic button (once it's set up), and voila! You're back in the game, all upright and comfy.

And if they don't have a Permobil, you can still do this trick - just need to do it manually. And you have to go into more tilt than you think, which can make some users uncomfortable. Give it a try though!

#Independence #Permobil #WheelchairLifeHacks #OccupationalTherapy #Wheelchair #AssistiveTechnology #Innovation #Wheelchair #WheelchairLife #Education #Disability #Disabled #Quadriplegic #Paraplegic #Paralyzed #MultipleSclerosis #CerebralPalsy #WheelchairUser #Physiotherapy #NDIS@permobilapac by @wheelieworx

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3 years ago

ONE WEEK TO GO CORK! 🙌

Sit Happens is almost here and we’re getting ready to welcome Justin Boulos to Ireland!

📍 Cork – Tues 13 Oct

Registered? Make sure you’ve confirmed your place — we can’t wait to see you.

Missed out? 👀
Places may become available through cancellations. Email marketing@mmsmedical.ie your name and we’ll be in touch if a space opens up.

Three cities. Three days. Lots of practical learning.

See you next week! by @wheelieworx

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1

19 hours ago

When should we start standing kids with disabilities?

Probably earlier than you think.

One of the big takeaways from our #WheelChat conversation with Ginny Paleg and Ros Livingstone was how early we should be thinking about standing and physical intervention.

Early intervention matters.

In this clip, we unpack when clinicians should actually start thinking about standing and when to start other physical therapy.

🎧 Full episode: Standing (When, Why, How)

Listen to the #WheelChat podcast on all your favourite platforms

Watch the episode on YouTube

#Standing #PaediatricTherapy #EarlyIntervention #WheelchairPrescription #OccupationalTherapy #Physiotherapy by @wheelieworx

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1

a day ago

Can you stand someone if their alignment isn’t perfect?

It seems like a reason not to stand someone. "It's not appropriate".

We can get so focused on achieving a textbook position that we forget the bigger question:

Is standing still safe, useful and achievable for this person?

In this #WheelChat clip, Ginny Paleg and Ros Livingstone discuss when asymmetry matters, when it doesn’t, and why “perfect” alignment shouldn’t automatically be the barrier to standing.

🎧 Full episode: Standing (When, Why, How)

Listen to the episode now on all your favourite platforms

Watch the episode on YouTube

#Standing #Seating #PaediatricTherapy #WheelchairPrescription #OccupationalTherapy #Physiotherapy by @wheelieworx

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2

6 days ago

IRELAND 🇮🇪... Some final seats still available

We are nearly SOLD OUT from each venue for the # Sit happens tour on #WheelchairAndSeating education.

If you're an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist prescribing chairs... You cannot miss this.

If I'm taking three planes and a bus to get to you, you're taking the day off (and night)

Can't wait to meet you all!

Huge thank you for MMS Medical and BLAKE MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION for putting on a show like no other. Sharing education throughout the world.

#ComplexSeating #Education #OccupationalTherapy #Ireland by @wheelieworx

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3

10 days ago

Do power standing wheelchairs provide the same benefits as dedicated standing devices?

A lot of the research on standing for wheelchair users comes from dedicated standing devices, where the person is fully upright and taking significant weight through their legs.

So what happens when standing is built into the wheelchair?

In this clip from #WheelChat, Ginny Paleg and Ros Livingstone unpack what we know, what we don’t and what clinicians should actually be thinking about.

🎧 Full episode: Standing (When, Why, How)

Listen to #WheelChat podcast now on all your favourite platforms.

Full video available on YouTube

#WheelchairPrescription #Standing #AssistiveTechnology #OccupationalTherapy #Physiotherapy by @wheelieworx

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13 days ago

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5

13 days ago

I go on about this a lot...

Because it's important. And commonly done. If I am out in public...or scrolling through LinkedIn...I see it. I want to see it less. So here's me sharing.

Keep in mind. I'm not judging. I used to mount belts at a 45 degree angle before I was shown otherwise. We all do what is intuitive. And yes, 45 degrees is intuitive. Doesn't mean it's correct

Note: This position is specifically looking at preventing a posterior pelvic tilt (when people slide forward). There may be times you need to mount it differently depending on the client's needs.

Credit: @bodypoint_inc for creating these images on the slides and for doing their advocacy for belt placement (where I first learnt this).

Reference: ISO Standards on positioning belts can be found at ISO/TS 16840-15

#Physiotherapy #AssistiveTechnology #WheelchairPrescription #OccupationalTherapy #ComplexSeating by @wheelieworx

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1

22 days ago

Save this post for when you need to explain this...

REDUCIBLE VS NON-REDUCIBLE

Not every wheelchair user is going to sit “straight”.

Before trying, work out:

Can you bring that body segment towards neutral without throwing something else out?

If yes, it’s reducible.
If no, it’s non-reducible.

And that changes what you do in their wheelchair set up.

In this video I break down how to assess this through the legs, pelvis, torso and head, and why chasing a perfect-looking posture can sometimes make the seating worse.

#WheelchairSeating #OccupationalTherapy #AssistiveTechnology #SeatingAndPositioning by @wheelieworx

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0

a month ago

Save this post for when it comes up next with a client.

VIBRATION & MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS

Sometimes you just need a quick reference guide to go through the options to achieve a certain outcome.

I want to say this.

The biggest change you'll see is using a front attachment.

Lifting the front castors off the ground is the highest amount of impact you can have on a manual wheelchair. Even better if the wheel is powered (like a Batec or Klaxton) because it pulls the chair over an obstacle (less abrupt).

Share it with anyone who will find it beneficial

#ComplexSeating #ManualWheelchairPrescription #Physiotherapy #WheelchairPrescription #OccupationalTherapy #AssistiveTechnology by @wheelieworx

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5

a month ago