Evaluation of manual wheelchair performance in everyday life

Abstract

Evaluation of wheelchair performance (capacity and skills) is crucial in the investigation of wheeled mobility in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Manual wheelchair use is a complex combination of skills, which together determine overall functioning, daily activities, participation, and quality of life. The evaluation of wheelchair performance requires a systematic biophysical approach that appreciates the importance of the individual elements of the wheelchair-user combination: the wheelchair, the wheelchair-user interface, and the user, as well as the environment. Measurement technologies and outcomes of experimental and observational studies will highlight the importance of a well-balanced individual wheelchair performance. © 2009 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.