For All Disabilities by MD

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a physician who had actively cared for the disabled for many years and I understand the needs and requirements of their special care. I am writing to you in reference to (Your Name).

Many disabled patients, particularly those who are unable to come to a standing position independently, are subject to medical complications some of which are life-threatening. Among these are the formation of decubitus ulcers, particularly in-patients who have lessened or absent skin sensations. Decubitus ulcers form very rapidly. The patient may forget to shift his weight, and his insensitive skin does not warn him that he has exceeded the time his tissues can tolerate being cut off from the circulating blood that vitalizes the tissues. The tissues so deprived will die, and a decubitus ulcer is formed. Healing a decubitus ulcer is time consuming and costly in terms of hospitalization and time away from productive work. Several of my patients have required hospitalization for 8 to 10 months undergoing several plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery procedures in order to recover from decubitus ulcers. Total costs range from $300,000 to $500,000. There is also psychological trauma of being kept bedfast 3 months or more while the ulcer is healing. Previously, we had no way of preventing further ulcer formation beyond alerting the patient to remember to shift his body weight. The LifeStand (line of seated to standing wheelchairs) Classic manual wheelchair alleviates this problem by allowing the disabled to assume many different positions. This prevents sitting posture from being concentrated over the same pressure points. The various positions can be achieved electronically for a quadriplegic and without assistance for a paraplegic. To stand, a quadriplegic normally requires two attendants and the patient must be strapped into a standing frame in order to maintain a standing position.

A second factor is the pathophysiology of disabled patients that affects the rapid demineralization of bones due to lack of muscle pull and weight bearing on the paralyzed lower extremities. Many patientsí bones are in such a weakened state that fractures have occurred just in moving the patient and in the course of normal activity. These fractures, although of less significance than in the patient who uses the lower extremities in standing and walking, still requires medical care and immobilization in a cast or splint. Frequent standing using the LifeStand Wheelchair tends to decrease demineralization and maintain calcium levels in bones of the lower extremity.

A third consideration is in helping this patientís need to relieve her from developing contractures and back pain. The patientís main problem for seeing me was a pain for which no cause could be determined and with the use of this standing wheelchair the back pains that she had were relieved through stretching by assuming an upright posture and bringing the flexed hips and lower extremity joints to an extended position. Thus, stretching is achieved which prevents further contractures and affords relief of pain. This could save time and money for the caregiver in giving her physical therapy, as the patient would be encouraged to do it on her own.

A fourth consideration is the maintenance of cardiac tone. Many disabled patients who are wheelchair-bound have little opportunity to exercise or change position to improve the strength and endurance of the heart muscle. These patients demonstrate postural hypotension - a severe drop in their blood pressure when they sit or stand up after being in a prone or sitting position for long periods of time. The heart must suddenly increase its pumping pressure to supply blood to the head against the force of gravity when moving to the sitting or standing position. This increase in pumping pressure occurs less rapidly in-patients who have been bedfast or wheelchair-confined for long periods of time. Such patients show definite improvement in cardiac muscle tone when allowed to assume an upright position frequently as would be afforded by the LifeStand seated to standing wheelchair.

Sincerely,

Your Doctor