A pilot study on community usage of a pushrim-activated, power-assisted wheelchair.

Manual wheelchair propulsion combined with other stresses to the upper extremities may result in secondary injury. Possible solutions would be to devise alternative methods of propulsion, such as a pushrim-activated, power-assist wheelchair (PAPAW). The goals of this study were to examine the usage of the PAPAW in a real world setting and to characterize the driving habits of manual wheelchair users.

Driving characteristics of electric-powered wheelchair users: how far, fast, and often do people drive?

Objectives: To determine the driving characteristics of electric-powered wheelchair users during unrestricted community activities and to compare the activity levels among an active group and a group of regular users.

Design: Multisite engineering evaluation of electric-powered wheelchair driving activity during unrestricted community mobility.

Setting: Data were collected in the communities of Pittsburgh, PA, and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) in San Antonio, TX.