Evaluation of lightweight wheelchairs using ANSI/RESNA testing standards

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Lightweight wheelchairs are common mobility devices known for affordability and adjustability.
• Concerns exist regarding increasing breakdown rates of these wheelchairs in community use.
• Previous studies indicated potential quality issues with lightweight wheelchair models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current quality and durability of folding lightweight wheelchairs.
• To compare current models against established American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) standards.
• To determine if wheelchair quality has improved or declined since prior assessments.

Main Methods:

• Three different folding lightweight wheelchair models were tested.
• The American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) multidrum test was employed.
• Durability was assessed by measuring equivalent cycles completed before failure.

Main Results:

• Seven out of nine tested wheelchairs failed to meet the multidrum test durability requirements.
• Wheelchairs completed an average of 194,502 cycles, significantly below the 400,000 minimum required by ANSI/RESNA.
• Durability performance was notably worse compared to aluminum ultralight folding wheelchairs.

Conclusions:

• Current folding lightweight wheelchairs exhibit significant quality and durability issues.
• There is a need for manufacturers to enhance the quality of these essential mobility devices.
• Stricter regulations, independent testing, and a comparative rating system are proposed to improve wheelchair durability and inform users.