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Manual wheelchair-handling skills by caregivers using new and conventional rear anti-tip devices: a randomized
R Lee Kirby1, Rebecca Walker, Cher Smith
1Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. kirby@dal.ca
Unlabelled:
Kirby RL, Walker R, Smith C, Best K, MacLeod DA, Thompson K. Manual wheelchair-handling skills by caregivers using new and conventional rear anti-tip devices: a randomized controlled trial.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that, in comparison with caregivers handling manual wheelchairs equipped with conventional rear anti-tip devices (C-RADs), those using a new design (Arc-RADs) perform relevant wheelchair skills better and as safely.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Rehabilitation center.
Participants:
Caregivers (n=16) and the wheelchair users (n=16) for whom they cared.
Intervention:
Participants were trained in wheelchair-handling skills for an average of 54 minutes each.
Main Outcome Measures:
Total percentage score on a set of 20 rear anti-tip device- and caregiver-relevant skills from the Wheelchair Skills Test, version 3.2, administered a minimum of 3 days after training.
Results:
For the C-RAD and Arc-RAD groups, the mean +/- SD Wheelchair Skills Test scores were 40%+/-0% and 98.8%+/-3.5%, respectively (P<.001). Skills that required the wheelchair to be tipped back extensively (eg, for ascending a 15cm curb) accounted for the differences between the groups. There were no adverse effects in either group.
Conclusions:
The Arc-RAD design allows significantly better caregiver wheelchair-handling skills than the conventional design, without compromising safety.
