Evaluation of selected electric-powered wheelchairs using the ANSI/RESNA standards.

OBJECTIVES To compare the performance characteristics of different electric-powered wheelchairs (EPWs) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) wheelchair standards. DESIGN Five types of EPWs were selected. Three wheelchairs of each type were tested according to the ANSI/RESNA wheelchair standards. SETTING Rehabilitation engineering center. SPECIMENS Fifteen wheelchairs. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Static tipping angle; dynamic tipping score; braking distance; energy consumption; static, impact, and fatigue strength; and climatic conditioning. RESULTS There were significant differences (P<.05) among the 5 types of EPWs for static stability when facing both uphill and downhill in the most-stable and least-stable configurations. There were significant differences (P<.05) among the EPWs on most of the dynamic stability tests. There were also significant differences (P<.05) among EPWs for all the effectiveness of brakes conditions, as well as between 2 wheelchairs for the energy consumption testing. There were several failures among the wheelchairs during the static, impact, and fatigue strength testing and during the climatic testing. CONCLUSIONS The results show that EPWs can vary greatly with respect to static and dynamic stability, braking distance, range, strength testing, and climatic conditioning. All these factors have a substantial effect on safety and performance.