Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion
Published on: February 5, 2020
Evaluation of selected electric-powered wheelchairs using the ANSI/RESNA standards
Andrew J Rentschler1, Rory A Cooper, Shirley G Fitzgerald
1Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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.
