BACKGROUND There is a lack of understanding of the factors that influence independent mobility and participation in meaningful activities. The purpose of this study was to analyse physical factors influencing independent use of manual and power wheelchairs in a total population of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS A cross-sectional study based on the most recent examination of all ch...

Several studies have shown that both children and adults benefit substantially from access to a means of independent mobility. While the needs of many individuals with disabilities can be satisfied with traditional manual or powered wheelchairs, a segment of the disabled community finds it difficult or impossible to use wheelchairs independently. To accommodate this population, researchers have...

Mechanical Engineering Department University of Uyo, Nigeria. Production Engineering Department, University of Benin, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Ashiedu, Festus ________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The epidiomological conditions associated with manual wheelchair propulsion had remained a daunting challenge to the medical professio...

Wheelchairs are the primary mobility device for individuals having difficulty with ambulatory activities [1]. In the U.S. it is estimated that 3.3 million people used a wheelchair in 2010 [2], of which 90% used manual wheelchairs (MWs) [3]. However, MWs often lead to reduced independent function and quality of life [4]. Furthermore, shoulder pain and injuries are commonly associated with MW pro...

Wheelchairs are an essential assistive device for many individuals with injury or disability. Manual wheelchairs provide a relatively low-cost solution to the mobility needs of such individuals. Furthermore, they provide an effective means of improving the user's cardiopulmonary function and upper-limb muscle strength. However, manual wheelchairs have a loss gross mechanical efficiency, and thu...

Comfortable propulsion and support, light weight, and small dimensions are important features that help preserve upper-limb integrity of manual wheelchair users and improve accessibility. The titanium wheelchair is a product developed in response to these goals, but none of the test results of titanium wheelchairs had been disclosed before this study was performed. We hypothesized that these ti...

The objectives of this study were: to identify the factors that are associated with prescription of wheeled mobility devices for older adults, and to determine the effect that living setting has on the types of devices that older adults receive. Retrospective medical chart review at the Center for Assistive Technology on 337 older individuals. These individuals were aged >60 years, and each of ...

Aiming to compare capability across persons with impairments using and not assistive products without in Bangladesh for 16 different functionings, we contrast two sets of self-reported cross-sectional data from eight districts Bangladesh: (i) hearing impairment aids, aids (N = 572); (ii) ambulatory manual wheelchairs, wheelchairs 598). Kruskal–Wallis tests were used levels the three groups each...