Hybrid Drive Wheel Power Wheelchairs: Feature Matching to Client Needs Make a drive wheel choice for a power wheelchair – front, mid, rear, or hybrid – and you're potentially defining how well this chair will work for a client. It's one of the most important factors to consider, as it will impact the chair's performance over obstacles, on hills, at higher speeds, and on uneven terrain. Of course, it will also affect access at home, during transportation, and all the places that our clients want to go: school, the workplace, and into the community. 2020-08-17 Keep Reading
Choosing the Right Wheelchair Cushion As I gained a little experience and became more familiar with the cushion options, I realized I had started to develop my "favorites" and "go-to cushions." Eventually, I began making recommendations based on patient goals and understanding the unique benefits of each cushion. As a clinician working with individuals with disabilities, you may find yourself in a similar position when you determine that the patient you are treating needs a permanent wheelchair and seating system. 2020-07-24 Keep Reading
Power Wheelchairs and the Internet of Things (IoT), Part 2 A more complex level of environmental control falls inevitably within the scope of domotics, that is, the range of information technology solutions designed for private homes. Domotics aims to create a real "smart home" nervous system, making it more flexible and adaptable to the needs of the home dweller. 2020-06-18 Keep Reading
Power Wheelchairs and the Internet of Things (IoT) The wheeled mobility devices industry has experienced a significant level of technological development over the last few years. This innovation entails not just an increased level of customization of the aid to meet the user's needs, but also a range of solutions enabling the user to interact with ICT devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets) and with household technologies directly through the wheelchair's controls. But how can the Power Wheelchair (PWC) effectively interact with the home environment? What is the potential of this interaction? 2020-05-31 Keep Reading
Skin Microclimate and Wheelchair Seating, Part 2 It can be challenging to incorporate microclimate review into a postural and mobility assessment under inevitable clinic time pressures. Some testing methods used in research studies, like attaching sensors to a client's bottom to monitor skin temperature, are not typically practical. However, inclusion of low-tech methods can provide a good understanding of a client's microclimatic risk. 2020-02-25 Keep Reading
