Custom Wheelchair Seat, Cushion & Back
Choosing the right wheelchair seat solution is essential for comfort, posture, and long-term health.
At Conval-Aid, Ottawa’s trusted mobility specialists since 1976, we provide expert guidance and high-quality custom seating solutions tailored to each individual.
Whether you need pressure relief, postural support, or a fully custom system, our team works closely with you and your therapist to find the right fit.
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We’ll help you find the right equipment quickly, saving you time and money.
You can also call us at 613-738-2721 or 1-800-267-8883 (toll -free in the Ottawa Valley).
Wheelchair Seating Products
Not all wheelchair seating is created equal. Depending on your mobility level, how long you spend in your chair, and any specific postural or skincare needs, the right seating system may include a cushion, back support, or a fully moulded seat.
Here is an overview of the three main categories.
A wheelchair seat cushion is the foundation of a good seating system. It distributes your weight across the seating surface, reduces pressure at bony prominences like your sitting bones, and helps maintain pelvic alignment.
Cushions are available in foam, gel, air, hybrid, and specialty configurations, each suited to different levels of activity, skin risk, and comfort preference.
A properly fitted wheelchair back provides essential trunk support and stabilizes your pelvis on the cushion. This reduces fatigue and improves posture during extended sitting.
Back supports range from simple tension-adjustable slings to fully custom-moulded shells that match the contours of your spine. The right back support also contributes to better skin outcomes by reducing shear forces on your cushion.
For individuals with complex postural needs, moulded seating offers the most precise level of support available.
These systems are built from a digital scan or physical impression of your body and are carved from multiple foam densities, soft where pressure relief is needed and firm where positioning control is required.
Moulded seating is often recommended when off-the-shelf cushions and backs cannot adequately address asymmetry, fixed deformities, or high skin risk.
Recommended Custom Wheelchair Seating Brands
Conval-Aid works with industry-leading seating manufacturers to provide solutions across the full spectrum of needs, from everyday comfort to the most complex clinical presentations.
Precision Rehab Manufacturing
For the most complex seating challenges, we turn to Precision Rehab Manufacturing (PRM).
They specialize in custom-moulded and custom-measured wheelchair cushions and backs, using 3D scanning technology to capture an exact digital image of each individual.
Their Signature-Fit line uses multiple foam firmnesses within a single cushion, providing soft surfaces at high-risk areas and firm support where positioning control is essential.
PRM also offers growth-accommodating designs, making them an excellent option for children and adolescents.
Ride Designs
Ride Designs creates wheelchair cushions and backs that focus on protecting skin, enhancing mobility, and optimizing posture.
Their Custom 2 Cushion, weighing roughly 1.8 pounds and measuring 16 x 16 inches on average, uses a patented support mechanism that reduces pressure and shear at bony prominences while providing a stable base.
The Ride Custom Back pairs with any Ride cushion to deliver accurate trunk support in a thin, lightweight profile that doesn’t compromise seat depth or wheelchair performance.
Types of Wheelchair Seat Cushions
Wheelchair cushions are generally grouped into five categories based on construction and materials.
Each type offers different strengths in pressure relief, stability, heat management, and maintenance.
| Best For | Pressure Relief | Stability | Weight | Maintenance | Cost | |
| Foam | Light Use (1-4 hrs/day) | Low-Moderate | Moderate | Light | Low | $ |
| Gel | Moderate Use (4-8 hrs/day) | Moderate | Moderate | Heavy | Low | $$ |
| Air | Heavy Use (8+ hrs/day) | Excellent | Low | Light | High (air checks) | $$-$$$ |
| Hybrid | Mixed Needs | Moderate-Excellent | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | $$-$$$ |
Note: Specialty cushions are excluded from the table above because they vary widely, from honeycomb designs and alternating pressure systems to custom-moulded cushions, and more.
The most common and affordable option. They provide good stability and are available in flat or contoured shapes.
Contoured foam cushions offer better pelvic positioning than flat models. The trade-off is that foam compresses over time and will need replacing sooner than other types.
Typically feature a gel bladder or gel insert layered over a foam base. The gel conforms to your body under pressure, providing effective pressure distribution and a natural cooling effect.
They are heavier than foam cushions, which can be a consideration for transport and transfers.
Consist of interconnected, inflatable cells that conform to your shape and redistribute pressure across the entire seating surface. They are adjustable, lightweight, and provide excellent airflow.
However, they require regular maintenance to check air levels and can feel less stable than foam or gel options.
Combine two or more materials, such as foam with gel inserts or foam with air cells, to balance the benefits of each.
They are a popular choice for users who need both postural support and pressure relief without committing to a single material.
Advanced seating solutions such as honeycomb-style designs, alternating pressure systems, and fully custom-moulded cushions are designed for more complex needs.
These options target specific clinical concerns and typically require a professional assessment to ensure proper fit and effectiveness.
Unsure which type is right for you? Our seating specialists can help. A professional seating assessment considers your body shape, sitting habits, skin history, and the wheelchair you use.
About Conval-Aid
Conval-Aid has been helping Ottawa families and individuals maintain independence, adapt to change, and make everyday life easier since 1976.
We have grown from a small office on Boyd Avenue to a full-service mobility and home care provider. Our team works closely with Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to assess posture, pressure risk, and seating requirements before recommending a solution.
Every product we offer is backed by manufacturer-certified service and ongoing support, ensuring long-term performance and comfort.
If you have questions about wheelchair seating or would like to book an assessment, call us at 613-738-2721, contact us online, or visit our showroom.
When I developed physical problems and required medical equipment. I went to Conval-Aid and I was not disappointed.
Each time I gone to Conval-Aid, I am met with friendly knowledgeable staff.
Conval-Aid stand behind their products and provide excellent after sale maintenance.
I have been a costumer since the early 90’s and will go nowhere else. I continue to refer others to Conval-Aid. I feel Conval-Aid is the best because they are family owned and care.
If you require medical equipment go to Conval-Aid you won’t be disappointed!
– Carol Diane Chantal
June 27, 2020