Measuring and Selecting Your Wheelchair

• 1). Sit upright in a firm chair with no armrests while your assistant measures your body. Keeping your feet flat on the floor, measure the length from the bottom of your heel to the back of your knee. Subtract one inches from this amount to determine your floor to seat height of your wheelchair. Changing the frame type and wheel diameter can raise or lower your seat height from the standard 19 inches. Selecting your cushion will also affect the floor to seat height and you should adjust the floor to seat height according to the thickness of the cushion when you are sitting on it.
  
  
• 2). Measure the length of your thigh from the back of the knee to the most prominent part of your buttocks while sitting upright in your chair, taking care not to bend the tape measure, taking a horizontal measurement only. Subtract two inches from this amount to determine the seat depth and allow you to use your legs to propel your chair if you are able. Find the seat width by measuring the horizontal width from the most prominent part of each hip. Sitting on the tape measure may aid you in taking this measurement.
  
  
• 3). Take a measurement from the buttocks to the armpit of your arm while holding your arm in front of you. Use this measurement as your seat back height if your upper body and trunk strength is limited. Subtract four inches from the seat back height if you have a strong upper body and plan to use your arms for mobility in your wheelchair.