Wheelchair Lab

Question 1

Factors associated with selection of a wheelchair

Answer 1

Pt impairment
Pt age, weight
Pt functional skills
Portability
Durability
Indoor vs outdoor use
Temp vs perm
Mental and physical condition
Cost

Question 2

Standard Adult

Answer 2

Designed for people who weight less than 200 lbs and for limited use on rough surfaces
No designed for vigorous functional activities

Question 3

Heavy duty adult

Answer 3

Constructed for people who weight more than 200 lbs or for those who perform vigorous functional activities

Question 4

Ultralight Wheelchair

Answer 4

Designed to be lightweight, might have a rigid or folding frame
Weighs from 12 to 30 lbs
Benefit = propulsion efficiency
Capacity = 300 lbs

Question 5

Intermediate or junior growing child or youth indoor wheelchair

Answer 5

Designed for people with body smaller but larger than child

Accommodates growth of the user

Question 6

Child or Youth

Answer 6

user up to 6 years old

Question 7

Indoor

Answer 7

Constructed for use indoors with large drive wheels at front of chair and caster wheels at the rear

Question 8

Hemiplegic

Answer 8

Seat is lowered about 2 inches to allow better use of LEs to propel the chair

Question 9

Amputee

Answer 9

Rear wheel axies are positioned approximately 2 inc post to normal position to widen BOS of chair and compensate for loss of weight of LEs

Question 10

One Hand Drive

Answer 10

Two hand rims are fabricated on one drive wheel and two drive wheels are connected by a linkage bar

Question 11

Externally powered

Answer 11

Chair is propelled by a deep cycle battery system

Question 12

Sports

Answer 12

Low profile fixed frame lightweight chair with different features

Question 13

Reclining

Answer 13

Used with people who need to recline

Question 14

Effect of sling or hammock seat

Answer 14

IR of femurs
Posterior pelvic tilt
Forward head position
Pelvis slides forward

Question 15

Things to measure

Answer 15

Seat height
Leg length
Seat depth
Seat width
Back height
Armrest height

Question 16

Seat Height/Leg Length

Answer 16

Measure from users heel to popliteal fold and add two inches to clear footrest
19.5 to 20.5 inches

Question 17

Seat depth

Answer 17

Measure from users posterior buttock, along lateral thigh, to popliteal fold, subtract 2 inches to avoid pressure from front edge of seat
16 in

Question 18

Seat Width

Answer 18

Measure widest aspect of users buttock, hips, or thighs and add 1.5 inches
18 inches

Question 19

Back height

Answer 19

Measure from seat of chair to floor of axilla with users shoulders flexed to 90 degrees and then subtract about 4 in
16 to 16.5 inches

Question 20

Armrest height

Answer 20

Measure from seat to chair to olecranon process with elbow flexed to 90 degrees and then add 1 inch
9 inches above chair seat

Question 21

Seat Depth - Confirmation

Answer 21

Should allow two or three fingers to be placed btw the front edge of the seat and the users popliteal fold

Question 22

Seat width - confirmation

Answer 22

Should allow placement of your hand, held vertically, btw users GT, hip, or thigh and the armrest panels
Should be tested with both hands to ensure that patient is in center of seat

Question 23

Back height - confirmation

Answer 23

Should allow you to place four fingers with your hand held vertically btw top of back and floor of users axilla
Users inferior angles of scapule should be about 1 finger above the back

Question 24

Armrest height - confirmation

Answer 24

Shoulders should be level
Trunk should be erect
A triangle should be formed by post aspect of humerus, top of armrest, and frame of chair back

Question 25

Seat height and leg length confirmation

Answer 25

Should be able to place two or three fingers easily under the thigh with your hand held parallel to the floor
Bottom of footrest should be at least 2 inches from the floor

Question 26

If seat height is too high

Answer 26

insufficient trunk support, difficulty positioning legs under table, difficulty propelling, poor posture

Question 27

If seat height is too low

Answer 27

Difficulty performing standing or lateral swing transfer because COG is lower

Question 28

If leg length is too low

Answer 28

Inc pressure on distal post aspect of thigh, dec func of propelling, unsafe mobile because lack of clearance

Question 29

If leg length is too high

Answer 29

Inc pressure to ischial tuberositys

Question 30

If seat depth is too short

Answer 30

Decreased trunk stability
Inc WB at ischial tuberosities
Poor balance - BOS dec

Question 31

If seat depth is too long

Answer 31

Inc pressure on popliteal area leading to skin discomfort or compromised circulation

Question 32

If seat width is too wide

Answer 32

Difficulty propelling wheel chair UE distance is too far
Difficulty performing standing or lateral swing type
Difficulty moving thru narrow hallways
Postural deviation cuz may lean to one side

Question 33

If seat width is too narrow

Answer 33

Not able to adjust position

Excessive pressure on GT

Question 34

If armrest height is too high

Answer 34

Difficulty performing standing transfer unable to push to stand

Question 35

If armrest height is too low

Answer 35

flexed position pain in abdominals

Question 36

Folding a wheelchair

Answer 36

Footrests have to be raised after heel loops have been moved forward
Pull up on seat rails or on hand loops