A best space for assisted wheelchair users

Introduction Occupational therapists lack manual-handling sensitive tools to assist individual adaptation specifications for assisted wheelchair users, for example, corridor-room turns for extra-long wheelchairs. Method Engineering-based methods identified an experimental set-up. This provided a useful representation of possible manoeuvres in five tasks and proposed a turn difficulty order. Experienced wheelchair assistants (n = 22) selected their maximum comfortable wheelchair weight for each turn. Results Some participants (3/22) were insensitive to turning-space but all other participants (19/22) chose their lowest maximum comfortable weight for the tightest turning-space and 17/19 chose their highest weights for space permitting a slow turn. Mean percentage weight increased by 30% from tight to slow turning-space. Results are statistically significant and clinically important. Experimental set-up was similar to assisting in confined spaces; participants were experienced in working in spacious environments and had recent manual-handling training so results are supported by good manual-handling practice. Assistant-size impact on easiest (highest weight) turning-space is small. Results are applicable to all floor coverings and wheelchair sizes but not to self-propelling wheelchair users. Results are incorporated into a tool, demonstrated by case study. Conclusion Tool-use specifies a best adaptation.

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