Mobility Patterns in Power Wheelchair Users and the Implications for Measuring Mobility

Little literature is available concerning the mobility patterns of wheelchair users. Some generalized values of power wheelchair (PWC) use are available in terms of average distances and speeds over all subjects and days (Cooper 2002). However, the data lack the context of environment and do not identify how the movement is dispersed over time. Greater insight into PWC use and mobility patterns at home and outside will allow us to better understand the consequences of unmet mobility needs in both environments. While a study of this sort should be performed on manual wheelchair users and ambulatory persons with mobility impairments (such as those who use crutches or walkers), the burden of instrumentation makes it difficult and thus a study was first completed on PWC users.