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Reliability of Measurements of Static Weight Distribution of Manual Wheelchairs

JD Tomlinson, PT, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Beaver College, 450 S Easton Rd, Glenside, PA 19038-3295 (USA).
J Aussprung, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Capital Rehabilitation Hospital, Tallahassee, FL 32308.
H Beatty, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Health Care Everywhere, based in Alexandria, VA 22302.
S Patterson, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
Ms Aussprung, Ms Beatty, and Ms Patterson were students in the Beaver College Physical Therapy Program when this study was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for their Master of Science degrees.

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of measurements of weight distribution among the wheels of wheelchairs using a commercial balance testing system. Reliable data may be useful in the wheelchair evaluation and adjustment process. Subjects. Three male full-time manual wheelchair users aged 30, 26, and 27 years with cervical spinal cord injuries 7.5, 6.5, and 10 years in duration participated. Methods. Calibration weights, unoccupied wheelchairs, and occupied wheelchairs were repeatedly placed on the force transducers of the balance testing system to obtain measurements of weight distribution. Results. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the measurements were .99 for calibration weights, .96 for unoccupied wheelchairs, and .98 for wheelchairs occupied by the subjects. Conclusion and Discussion. The described use of this instrumentation appears to generate reliable measurements of static weight distribution. With further testing, this system may provide useful information related to manual wheelchair prescription and adjustment.

Key Words: Equipment, wheelchairs • Tests and measurements, functional • Wheelchairs

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This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D Tomlinson Managing Maneuverability and Rear Stability of Adjustable Manual Wheelchairs: An Update Physical Therapy, September 1, 2000; 80(9): 904 - 911. [Full Text] [PDF]