Comparative evaluation of electric wheelchair manoeuvrability

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Biomechanics
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Electric wheelchairs are crucial for mobility in individuals with severe impairments.
• Assessing maneuverability is key to optimizing wheelchair selection and user independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the maneuverability of three distinct electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs.
• To evaluate user satisfaction with the tested electric wheelchairs.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, prospective, repeated measures design was employed.
• Twelve wheelchair users tested three electric wheelchairs (Invacare Storm 3, Ottobock B500, Meyra Champ) on indoor and outdoor circuits.
• Performance was quantified by penalties for boundary touches or failed obstacles, supplemented by the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The Ottobock B500 demonstrated significantly poorer performance on both indoor and outdoor circuits compared to the Invacare Storm 3 and Meyra Champ.
• User satisfaction, effectiveness, and simplicity of use scores were significantly lower for the Ottobock B500 as indicated by the QUEST questionnaire.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in maneuverability exist among electric wheelchairs within the same category.
• Objective driving tests and subjective user feedback (QUEST) provide complementary data for evaluating electric wheelchair performance.