Archive for March, 2013

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

Happy Easter 2013

 

Once upon a time… Green Easter 1973 ;-)

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks XXX

Saturday, March 16th, 2013

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During my last stay in the wheelchair hotel Mar y Sol in Tenerife (see older blogposts) I wanted to do some physical training when I met the Scotswoman Mary.

On her wheelchair two aluminium tubes were fixed with hose clamps which made me a bit curious.

Even I didn’t know what to do with this construction!!!

On my enquiry it turned out that you put those sticks into the tubes with which you push the rocks at wheelchair Curling. Curling is a very common sport in Scotland. If the term Curling doesn’t mean anything to some of you, it is a sport similar to ice stock sport, but Olympic.

When she took out a black bandage glove which looked a little as if she wanted to enter the boxing ring with me for twelve rounds instead of spreading the ping-pong balls broadly in the gym she started to scare me.

With this special velcro tape glove type Hand Grip she is holding the stick at wheelchair curling with which the rock is pushed, a ping-pong or badminton racket or hockey stick tight in her hand. This is working excellently even though she is quadriplegic like me and has very limited finger functions.

You can use the glove especially well for working out with weights, or supposedly for playing with the “Wii”.

Maybe I should start with a 500 gram weight first, but I do everything for a good shot ;-)

The glove is from the English company active hands, who are specialised in gripping aids for handicapped (as well for kids).

www.activehands.com

I have ordered such a glove in England. It was delivered within a week. The price is quite high with 65 €, but justified.

When you order the glove online beware that the check mark is set for “left glove”. But you can put the left glove on the right hand without problems ;-)

The English have always been a little “twisted”, this is probably because the genetic pool of the islanders is exhausted ;-)

Now I can finally hold a little hammer when I urgently need to consult my piggy bank.

Translator BL

European Wheelchair-Basketball Championship 2013

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

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From June 28th until July 7th the

European Wheelchair Basketball Championship 2013 of women & man

is taking place in Frankfurt.

More information at: www.eurobasketball-2013.net

In my opinion one shouldn’t miss such an event.

It is unbelievable for me how it is possible to move a wheelchair so fast and controlled and then still hit the basket.

Wheelchair basketball is a most attractive sport which you should have seen live once. I have already purchased a seasonal ticket for all games.

Yesterday an advertising spot for the Eurobasket2013, which is the official name of the tournament was shot in a sports hall in Frankfurt, and they were looking for extras.

I couldn’t resist and showed up with my yellow t-shirt as

Rolling-and-Cheering-Extra

Maybe you can see me in the background of the spot, look out for the tennis ball.

I have found myself in the online photo album of the shot in FB ;-)

Translator BL

Technical Aids for Quadriplegics Part XII

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

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It doesn’t always have to be the expensive aids from the medical supply stores which make one’s life easier.

If you have finger motor functions as if you are wearing boxing gloves the little metal clip on the toast packaging becomes your object of hate.

These clips are “Newton’s” best friend.

For some time, I am only using re-usable

plastic fasteners


for plastic bags.

Simply great, these little clips.

They are available in some supermarkets or for little money at the yellow Swedes!

Translator BL

Wheelchair Tuning Part XXXIII

Saturday, March 9th, 2013

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Strictly speaking, a wheelchair is nothing else than a shoe!!!

It is not owned by yourself, but by your medical supply store.

Refurbishment and reconstruction are only allowed to be done by the medical supply store for insurance reasons ;-) ;-) ;-)

Except for cleaning you are not allowed to do anything officially…!!!

However I also recommend regular greasing and oiling (see older blogpost).

With a newly prescribed wheelchair you are usually allowed to select the colour, but this is the utmost individuality you can get.

Of course a wheelchair has to fit primarily from a medical point of view, but where is it written that it should not look stylish as well.

The look of the wheelchair reflects the soul of its owner… ommm…

I really have to work on my meditation… eh, medication, well, this is a little bit right however…!!!

The easiest way to change the appearance of your wheelchair is to fix spoke protector discs with motif on the running wheels.

The original reason for spoke protector discs is that such a “buckled finger” like me doesn’t clamp his fingers in the spokes.

Children get these quite expensive discs with logos from football clubs or motifs from Princess Lilifee and other kids characters paid by the health insurance, and the kids are very proud how great their wheelchair is looking.

As old guy you have to pay the discs yourself or drive around with the original health insurance shopper look.

Depending on the company, you have a choice of dozens of motifs “ready-made”, but you can get almost every picture printed on the discs as well.
Believe me, I have seen quite weird things.

You can let your creativity “run wild“.

I have now got my own discs produced, in fact according to my own design with personal reference:

With such an eye-catcher the wheelchair is not so much seen as medical device anymore and can even ease some situations. Especially kids react unbiased to the motif and don’t have any fear of contact.

I have got the discs produced at an innovative family company (contact on request at rollinator@eigude.de).

If you are on 25.-27. April 2013 visiting the REHAB in Karlsruhe, keep the eyes open if you discover my motif at one of the booths ;-)

A physiotherapist noticed once with expert’s eye that the lion is an above-knee amputee…
I was just in this moment in the swimming pool, forgot to move the arms and was almost drowning.

Translator BL

Technical Aids for Quadriplegics Part XI

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

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Around 30 years ago I tried to learn to play guitar.

The success was so limited that I put the career aspiration to be a professional musician on hold for an indefinite period.

As mentioned already several times, my finger function is very limited since my accident so that playing the guitar was not necessarily on my priority list.

Many quadriplegics like me with our cervical spine injuries have difficulties with gripping.

Therefore it was so much surprising when Mary from Scotland (quadriplegic as well) showed me her self-constructed

guitar plectrum holder.

When she told me that in spite of her handicap she is able again to strum around on her guitar her eyes were sparkling.

A really great idea, we need more of these.

Tips as usual to contact: rollinator@eigude.de

Click here on “Quadriplegic Tips”, to read other tips!!!

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks XXIX

Friday, March 1st, 2013

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Flying with a wheelchair!!!

It is actually no big secret, but I am asked again and again how I make it into the plane, because as is known I am neither able to walk, jump nor hop.

The answer is very easy, with a plane wheelchair and two strong guys!!

When the plane has docked at the gate I move with my own wheelchair to the plane door.

If you have an outside position you drive to the plane with a normal bus.
From there you move upwards to the height of the plane with a

plane lifting bus

If this “Beam me up Scotty Bus” is even working properly you should be the first at the upper door (the other passengers are coming from the other side of the plane).
I have already experienced this differently, (see older blogpost).

In this bus two kind airport employees help you with the transfer from your own wheelchair to the worldwide similar

plane wheelchair (model on the left)

On this piece of equipment you are pulled through the plane until you arrive at a special seat row where you can fold up the armrest to the aisle.

Then the famous “dwarf tossing” to the window seat can start…!!!

Don’t be afraid, the guys know what they are doing!!! ;-)

This time we have set a new record on the return flight, only 1 hour 40 minutes from landing until leaving the airport building. :-(

Click here on “Flying” to read stories all about “Flying with a wheelchair”.

Many years ago, I have worked at a beverage wholesaler, and the plane wheelchair always reminds me a bit of a sack truck with chair.

Translator BL