To test the hypothesis that, in comparison with a commercially available tilt-in-space (TIS) wheelchair, a manual wheelchair equipped with a new, rear anti-tip device (Arc-RAD) provides caregivers with improved performance, less exertion and greater satisfaction, we studied 19 able-bodied participants. Within-participant comparisons revealed better performance on the Wheelchair Skills Test when using the Arc-RAD equipped wheelchair (mean percentage of 95.9% vs 91.9%, p=0.0008), lower perceived exertion (mean visual analog score of 26.1% vs 46.6%, p=0.0003) and higher satisfaction (mean QUEST score of 35.1 vs 28.4, p=0.0002). A manual wheelchair with Arc-RAD allows for improved caregiver handling, less exertion and increased satisfaction. This has implications for wheelchair design and for those requiring a tilt-in-space wheelchair.
rehabilitation, wheelchair, wheelchair skills test, caregivers, exertion, satisfaction
Blair MacDonald, c/o Dr. R. Lee Kirby
Dalhousie University, Room 206
Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre
1341 Summer Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3H 4K4.
Email: Kirby@dal.ca
Disney produced a television show in the mid 1990s called Gargoyles. It's a great show and I'm a big fan. A few years ago Disney started to release the show on DVD. The last release was of season 2, volume 1. That was two years ago. Volume 2 has not been released. Why? Poor sales. So if you should find yourself wanting to support my work, instead I ask you pick up a copy of season 2, volume 1. It's a great show and you might find yourself enjoying it.