Monitoring Power Upright and Tilt-In-Space Wheelchair Use

Abstract

This study examines the use of power upright and power tilt-in-space (TIS) wheelchairs. An occupancy detector, wheel revolution counter, and position sensor comprise the Wheelchair Activity Monitoring Instrument as used in this study. On average, subjects sat in their wheelchairs for 10 hours per day, spent 50 (±24) minutes wheeling with an average daily distance traveled of 0.84 miles. The majority of mobility bouts were less than 30 seconds and shorter than 25 feet. Subjects with TIS used their tilt feature (at least a 15° change in position) 16±10 times and spent between 0 and 108 minutes at a fully tilted (>40°) position daily.occupancy detector, wheel revolution counter, and position sensor comprise the Wheelchair Activity Monitoring Instrument as used in this study. On average, subjects sat in their wheelchairs for 10 hours per day, spent 50 (±24) minutes wheeling with an average daily distance traveled of 0.84 miles. The majority of mobility bouts were less than 30 seconds and shorter than 25 feet. Subjects with TIS used their tilt feature (at least a 15° change in position) 16±10 times and spent between 0 and 108 minutes at a fully tilted (>40°) position daily.