Wheel Chat - Your Go-To Mobility Podcast

Alternating air works well on a mattress. So we assume it works the same on a seat cushion.

Here's the problem. Sitting gives you about a third of the surface area of lying down. You're carrying way more than a third of the load. And your ITs aren't your thighs.

Randomly deflating cells means air pressing up into someone's ITs at random. Tim from Kalogon found in their own in-house testing that blood flow could end up lower than on a good immersive foam.

What they did instead: start with posture. Place each air cell where it makes sense for the pelvis. Offload one area at a time with closed-loop control.

The benefit? A cushion you can adjust live for an obliquity or even a pair of boots. And a founder honest enough to say it still doesn't replace a pressure relief.

Full chat with Tim on the latest WheelChat. Worth a listen before your next cushion trial.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

New wheelchairs are landing around REHACARE and your feed is full of launch posts. So which ones are actually new and which ones are just a new colour? Justin and Anton go through the latest releases with zero product training. Just brochures, websites and a lot of years in seating. They're upfront about that. It's first impressions only and they want the manufacturers to tell them where they got it wrong.

You'll hear why Justin thinks compact bases are overdone unless your client is 16 inches or under. And why the armrests, not the base, usually decide whether a chair gets through a doorway. Justin breaks down shear in recline using two pivot points and his hands. They dig into a 39 cm seat-to-floor height on the new Permobil and the questions to ask before you get excited. Then there's the paediatric chair with flip-around casters that took Justin from a six to a ten. Plus the three questions to ask any rep about a folding rigid chair: weight, how it folds and durability. It wraps up with scores out of ten and one very honest disclaimer.

Hosted by Justin Boulos (OT trained educator and Founder, Wheelieworx and Anton Mitchell, director at Independence Mobility. Have a listen, then tell us where we're wrong.

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We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

In this episode of WheelChat, Justin and Anton sit down with Ginny Paleg and Roslyn Livingstone to unpack a deceptively simple question: when, why and how should we be getting children and wheelchair users upright? The conversation moves from early standing and hip development through to powered standing, asymmetry, risk and the real-world decisions clinicians have to make.

You will hear why upright positioning matters from early childhood, why powered standing may support function but does not always replace a separate standing frame, and why “not perfectly aligned” does not automatically mean “do not stand”. The episode also covers practical setup checks including colour, oxygen saturation, breathing, pelvis and trunk alignment, foot stability, knee support, AFOs, firm footwear, knee immobilizers and cervical collar use when clinically appropriate.

Ginny and Roslyn are introduced in the episode as experienced PT and OT clinicians, researchers and lead authors in standing, stepping and power mobility. Listen for the practical clinical reasoning, the myth-busting, and Justin’s plain-language summary at the end.

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We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

Episode 2 of Season 2 is here! 

This episode of Wheel Chat answers a deceptively simple clinical question: how do we use standards to make better wheelchair seating decisions, especially when the common default is not necessarily the best clinical option?

Justin speaks with Barend about ISO standards, pelvic belt positioning, four-point belt use, wheelchair transport tie-downs, cushion testing and pressure injury prevention. 

The practical takeaways are clear: wheelchair belts are positioning devices, not car seatbelts; cushion choice should consider tissue viability, positioning and function; and pressure injury prevention is far easier than treatment.

Barend has decades of experience in wheelchair seating and standards development. Listen in for a practical, clinician-friendly conversation that turns standards into everyday prescription decisions.

Subscribe, leave us a review and share this episode with every clinician and wheelchair rep you know!

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

We are back for Season 2 — and we are kicking things off in a big way.

I'll be honest with you. Hip abduction in non-ambulant children is one of those topics that every clinician I know has wrestled with at some point. How much abduction is enough? Are we helping or are we making things worse? Should every non-ambulant child be sitting in abduction? And what on earth do we do with a windswept deformity?

I've been hearing Dr. Mathias Axt's name out in the traps for years whenever these questions come up — and now I finally got him on the pod. Dr. Axt is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in children's hospitals, specialising in hip development, surgical management, and long-term outcomes in non-ambulant children. The man knows his stuff, and he does not hold back.

This episode is for you whether you're a clinician, a wheelchair rep, or a parent or end user trying to make sense of what you've been told about seating and hips. We cut through the confusion and get into the real clinical principles that should be driving these decisions.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why hips migrate in children with cerebral palsy — and why they're normal at birth
• The role of muscle imbalance, Coxa Valga, and antetorsion in hip displacement
• Why abduction is a tool, not a rule — and what the 20-degree principle actually means
• The danger of forcefully abducting an already subluxed hip
• Windswept deformity — what it is, why it matters, and how to seat around it
• Why frog leg positioning is something we want to avoid and what to do instead
• The problem with standard contoured cushions and why flat cushions with adjustable pommels may serve these kids better
• Why pelvis rotation is more important than leg symmetry
• The call for better collaboration between clinicians, wheelchair reps, and manufacturers

This one genuinely changed the way I'm thinking about how we seat these kids. Subscribe, leave us a review, and share this with every clinician and wheelchair rep you know because this conversation needs to keep going.

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We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

In this follow-up to their popular appearance on Episode 16, Cathy Harries and Andrea Hinckley from Second Skin return to Wheel Chat for a deep dive into cerebral palsy—covering early intervention, postural care across the lifespan, and how dynamic splinting can change the game for function, comfort, and quality of life.

From toddlers learning to sit, to teenagers building independence, to adults managing pain and postural changes—this episode is packed with clinical insights, practical strategies, and honest conversations about what’s possible with the right goals, tools, and timing.

What’s in this episode:

• When to consider dynamic splints for children with CP (and what to look for)
• Why “low function” never means “no function”
• The truth about splints: soft, dynamic, and made for real-life wear
• Real-world case stories: from walking trails in Cairns to managing pain at work
• Managing transitions to adulthood: posture, pain, and long-term planning
• Setting goals, managing expectations, and getting buy-in from teens
• How to fund and fit Second Skin into a client’s broader care plan

Whether you're new to cerebral palsy care or supporting long-term clients, this episode offers a realistic, hopeful, and clinically grounded look at supporting posture and participation at every stage of life.

Connect with Andrea:

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hinckley-891677223/

Find out more about Second Skin: https://www.secondskin.com.au/

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

In this episode of Wheel Chat, Anton and Justin are joined by Cathy Harries and Andrea Hinckley from Second Skin, an Australian-based team of OTs specialising in custom dynamic splints and compression garments. Together, they dig deep into tone management after stroke, the clinical realities of spasticity, and why slings might be doing more harm than good.

With decades of experience and a passion for client-centred innovation, Cathy and Andrea share expert insights on early intervention, splinting strategies, and the critical role of comfort, posture, and pain reduction in long-term outcomes.

What’s in this episode:

• What tone really is—and why it's more complex than “high” or “low”
• Rethinking shoulder slings: when they help, when they harm
• Post-stroke splinting: timing, goals, and who it’s right for
• Neuroplasticity, function, and why “late” isn’t too late
• Seating, transfers, and pain management as essential goals
• Powerful real-world stories that show the impact of the right intervention
• How to manage expectations without losing hope

This conversation is full of practical takeaways for therapists, rehab teams, and anyone working with post-stroke clients—and we’re hoping to continue it in a future episode.

Connect with Andrea:

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hinckley-891677223/

Find out more about Second Skin: https://www.secondskin.com.au/

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wheelchat_podcast/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

Back by popular demand, Alex Chesney returns to Wheel Chat! In this episode, Anton and Justin sit down once again with the brilliant neurological OT and clinical education lead from Quantum Rehab for a deep dive into power wheelchair technology, product design, and real-world performance.

From the evolution of the Quantum Stretto and Edge 3 to navigating aesthetic vs. functional needs, crash testing realities, and what actually matters to users this conversation covers it all, with the usual mix of humour, insight, and honesty.

What’s in this episode:

• Why aesthetics, performance, and power base layout all matter
• The evolution of Quantum’s Stretto and how it compares to the Edge 3
• Front-wheel drive for bariatric clients and oedema: clinical benefits and limitations
• Crash testing, transport tie-down myths, and international funding frustrations
• Global wheelchair wish lists: what the “dream chair” really looks like
• Why innovation often stalls and how funding systems play a role
• Alex’s inspiring work with RSVP Texas and what it takes to build grassroots access

This one is packed with product insights, practical takeaways, and a few unexpected laughs. Whether you're a clinician, ATP, or just a power chair enthusiast, you won’t want to miss it.

https://www.rsvptexas.org/

https://quantumrehab.co.uk/

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

In this episode of Wheel Chat, Anton Mitchell and Justin Boulos catch up to unpack a few standout cases from their week—including a powerful moment of first-time independent mobility for a young client with complex cerebral palsy needs.

From clever adaptations and growth planning to the value of simplicity and knowing when not to start from scratch, this conversation is packed with practical strategies, clinical insights, and those feel-good moments that remind us why we do what we do.

What’s in this episode:

• Power wheelchair trial success: driving down fear and up a steep Blue Mountains driveway
• Smart scripting for abduction, post-op spinal supports, and custom footrests
• Simple tips for supporting safe learning in first-time power mobility users
• Growth management in children’s wheelchairs: depth, width, and practical workarounds
• Knowing when to refurbish vs. replace—and why a small fix can make a big difference
• Why reps (yes, reps!) need to write better notes
• The importance of celebrating small wins in the assessment and delivery process

Whether you're a therapist, rep, parent, or AT enthusiast, this episode is full of the real-world reflections and relatable wins that make Wheel Chat what it is.

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.

In this episode of Wheel Chat, hosts Anton Mitchell and Justin Boulos are joined by Michiel Van Der Bauwhede from CoMoveIT to explore breakthrough thinking in alternative wheelchair controls - specifically for individuals with complex movement disorders such as cerebral palsy.

Michiel shares the story behind CoMoveIT’s head and foot steering system - an adaptive control solution born out of university research and driven by a mission to restore confidence and mobility for users who are often overlooked by conventional joystick or switch options.

What’s in this episode:

• Why traditional switches and joysticks don’t work for many people with cerebral palsy
• How adaptive algorithms can “learn” a user’s movement patterns for smoother control
• The importance of closed-chain positioning in reducing tone and increasing function
• When to consider head and foot control systems - and what signs to look for
• The difference between switch, proportional, and adaptive controls
• Gaming, independence, and access to digital worlds through alternative drive methods
• The role of posture, support, and tone management in enabling safe powered mobility

Whether you're a clinician, assistive tech provider, or someone supporting a user with complex physical needs, this episode offers a detailed, practical, and inspiring look into what's possible when technology adapts to the user - not the other way around.

https://comoveit.com/en/

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wheelchat_podcast/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.