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Mobility of wheelchair users: a proposed performance assessment framework
Francois Routhier1, Claude Vincent, Johanne Desrosiers
1Centre intersiciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Canada. Francois.Routhier@rea.ulaval.ca
Disability and Rehabilitation
|January 30, 2003
Summary
A new conceptual framework offers a comprehensive approach to assessing wheelchair mobility performance. This framework considers user, wheelchair, environment, and activity factors for better clinical evaluation and training.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Current wheelchair mobility assessments lack standardization and fail to capture all influencing factors.
- A comprehensive understanding of wheelchair user performance is crucial for effective clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a conceptual framework for a more all-encompassing assessment of wheelchair mobility performance.
- To identify key factors influencing wheelchair mobility for improved clinical evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to identify factors influencing wheelchair mobility.
- Survey and analysis of existing outcome measures for wheelchair mobility assessment.
- Development of a conceptual framework based on identified factors and assessment gaps.
Main Results:
- Identified key categories influencing wheelchair mobility: user profile, wheelchair, environment, daily activities/social roles, and training.
- Existing assessment tools do not adequately address all identified influencing factors.
- A conceptual framework was developed to guide the creation of a standardized outcome measure.
Conclusions:
- Future wheelchair mobility assessments must integrate all influencing factors for comprehensive evaluation.
- A standardized outcome measure, potentially using a controlled obstacle course, is needed for clinical selection and training.
- The proposed framework facilitates the development of tools to assess and improve wheelchair user performance in daily life.