Problem Analysis and Recommendations for Using Manual Wheelchair for One-hand Users

Gemus Park; Jung Bo Hwang; Hwa Shik Jung

주제분류

...

저널정보

저자정보

Gemus Park (City Rehabilitation Hospital)
Jung Bo Hwang (Nangju High School)
Hwa Shik Jung (Dongshin University)

이용수
내서재: 0

내서재에 추가
되었습니다. 내서재에서
삭제되었습니다.

초록·키워드

오류제보하기

Objective: This study was conducted for one-hand users including hemiplegic clients currently using general folding manual wheelchairs, so as to analyze their specific problems and recommend solutions regarding usage.

Background: Traditional manual wheelchairs require considerable use and control of both hands for operation, thus adaptations become necessary for individuals with asymmetrical use of hands.

Method: Thirty hemiplegic clients who were admitted to rehabilitation and convalescent hospitals participated as subjects. The research tools were general folding manual wheelchairs commonly used by people with impaired gait, and the Wheelchair Skills Tests(WST) WST-M/WCU 4.1 version was adopted as the assessment tool. All participants were asked to fill out questionnaires on demographics and wheelchair usage characteristics. Assessment procedures were performed with currently used manual wheelchairs and with/without the use of foot to control to control the wheelchair.

Results: When the participants drove folding manual wheelchairs without the use of foot, even the lowest failure rate among the WST items tested recorded 96.7%. On the contrary, with the use of foot in maneuvering the wheelchairs, failure rates dropped noticeably and success rate among the WST items tested was as high as 86.7%.

Conclusion: These findings imply that the use of one-arm(hand) propellable(drivable) wheelchair can be an active and effective solution in resolving problems for hemiplegic clients using existing manual wheelchairs. As such, the government should provide institution support to further develop and distribute this device or technology, and promote relative research in tandem. For now, the supply of commercially available device to hemiplegic dients is deemed urgent and also a mechanism to provide the devices and relevant services.

Application: This study offers viable solutions for hemiplegic clients who rely on existing manual wheelchairs to increase their mobility and occupational performance.

#Wheelchair #Manual wheelchair #Wheelchair Skills Test(WST) #Hemiplegia #Mobility #One-hand manual wheelchair