Effects of wheelchair posture on patient safety

Wheelchairs originally were designed to transport people from one place to another quickly and easily. They have evolved to rank among the most important therapeutic devices used in rehabilitation. Currently, an estimated 2.2 million people who use wheelchairs generally are living longer and moving about more. However, the increased use of wheelchairs has been accompanied by many types of adverse events and repetitive stress injuries. Wheelchair prescription, posture, training, and maintenance are critical components of safety in this population, and may be enhanced through increased awareness and education. Since nurses and nursing staff are most often involved directly with wheelchair users (particularly in long-term-care settings), providing specialized programs for adaptive wheelchair fitting allows for a proactive approach to seating problems.