This is actually a double instructable on how to improve a typical wheelchair footrest by adding footpads and bumpers. The typical wheelchair footrest consist of either two rectangular pieces of metal or hard plastic to hold a person's foot off the ground. They almost never have any sort of padding, and are strictly utilitarian. If you've ever had the experience of being picked up by someone to be sat into a wheelchair, the first thing one will realize is just how hard plastic or metal can be as one's feet drop hard onto the footrest. Caregivers are usually careful to ensure one's seat lands on the seat of the wheelchair, but they will just drop the feet once the person's seat has landed. This can cause bruises on the feet, which with the compromised circulation in the feet of an individual with a disability can be quite serious. Slippers are usually a must, first thing in the morning as wheelchair footrest, especially metal ones, are very cold for bare feet, but they will often fall off one's feet when being sat into a chair.
Another common problem with wheelchair footrest is that the corners of the footrest are often quite sharp. As modern power wheelchair's are quite powerful, I've had the experience of actually tearing a large hole right through a dry-wall when one of the corners of my footrest hit the wall while I was attempting to make a turn. Feet are given little protection, and I've sprained and injured my feet as a result of hitting the walls with my feet as the feet extend beyond the footrest. In addition, for quite some time, we had a number of walls with large scratches resulting from the footrest clipping the walls in areas where the wheelchair has had to make sharp turns to get through the narrow halls of our house.
To solve these problems, I've added footpads to my footrest that both cushion my feet when I am placed in the chair and protect my feet from the cold. I have also added bumpers to the corners of the footrest that offer some protection to my feet as well as prevent scratches to walls and furniture.
The first half of this instructable is the footpads, the second half is the bumpers.
For the footpads, you will need the following materials:
1 roll of rubber shelf liner mat (available at most dollar stores in a variety of colors)
Hook and Loop or Velcro brand fasteners with and without sticky back
Scissors
Paper
Marker (permanent or sharpie brand)
Hot glue gun and glue
Optional Needle and thread
For the footrest bumpers you will need:
2 wheels off of an old pair of rollerskates or skateboard (Can find very cheap at flea market or yard sale)
Spray paint (optional)
2 bolts
2 nuts for bolts
4 washers
Drill gun
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Signing UpStep 1: Footpad design
This foot pad design is actually my third version after two failed attempts. My first attempt at making footpads for my wheelchair, I simply cut two flat pieces of rubber and attempted to use spray glue to affix the pads to the footrest. This worked well for about one week. Just as footrest get very cold overnight, in the sun, they can get extremely hot. My particular footrest (a brilliant design for sure) are made of black metal that conducts heat like a frying pan. So, after one day in the sun, the glue melted and the rubber mat would not stick to the footrest. Instead, dirt and dust stuck to the glue on the footrest making quite a mess. I had to remove the footpads and the glue using alcohol to get rid of the sticky residue.
My second footpad design was very similar to this current version. I used one layer of the rubber shelf liner, cut it to the size of my footrest, then used sticky back hook and loop (Velcro) to attach it to the footrest. This worked well for two weeks. The sticky glue on the hook and loop stuck to the footrest fine, but it pealed off the rubber shelf liner.
This final version I have been using now for several months. It is made with the idea that it will wear out eventually. It still uses hook and loop fasteners (velcro) to attach to the footrest so that it can be easily removed.
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You've inspired me to do something similar to my arm rests (and do an instructable too :P)
I'll send you a link when I'm done!
Thanks so much for this, will try it out soon.
How well does average dry wall fare against them?
Question: would it make a difference to grind the outside corner of the footrest so it's slightly rounded? Would it make the footrests less useful, comfortable, etc?