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Everyday sitting behavior of full-time wheelchair users
Sharon E Sonenblum1, Stephen H Sprigle1, James S Martin
1Rehabilitation Engineering and Applied Research Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|November 30, 2016
Summary
Full-time wheelchair users perform frequent weight shifts (WSs), but not pressure reliefs. Seating should facilitate movement to improve function and manage buttocks loading.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Human Factors
Background:
- Full-time manual wheelchair users spend prolonged periods seated.
- Understanding in-seat movement is crucial for preventing pressure injuries and optimizing function.
- Current knowledge of typical weight-shifting behaviors is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the in-seat movement and weight-shifting behavior of manual wheelchair users.
- To analyze the frequency and patterns of pressure reliefs and weight shifts.
- To inform seating evaluation and intervention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized thin force sensors placed under wheelchair cushions to measure sitting behavior.
- Collected data over 192 days from 28 manual wheelchair users.
- Analyzed data for time spent seated, transfers, pressure reliefs, and weight shifts.
Main Results:
- Participants averaged 10.6 hours seated daily and transferred 8.4 times.
- Pressure reliefs were infrequent (0.4/hour), while weight shifts (WSs) occurred more often (2.4/hour).
- Weight shifts were not consistently performed, with prolonged periods without any shifts observed.
Conclusions:
- Manual wheelchair users exhibit limited performance of formal pressure reliefs.
- Weight shifts are more frequent but lack routine, potentially impacting tissue loading.
- Seating evaluations should prioritize positioning that enables functional movements like reaching and leaning to aid in safe buttocks loading management.
