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The Effectiveness and Use of Seat Tilt, Backrest Recline, and Seat Elevation in Adult Powered Wheelchair Users

Leister, Elizabeth Powell (2006) The Effectiveness and Use of Seat Tilt, Backrest Recline, and Seat Elevation in Adult Powered Wheelchair Users. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This study examined how adults use power wheelchair seat features such as seat tilt, backrest recline, and seat elevation, during typical daily activities. A Seat Feature Data Logger (SFDL) was attached to 11 subject's wheelchairs for 10-14 days to gather data regarding daily usage of the wheelchair and these features. Subjects occupied their wheelchairs for 12.0 ± 3.0 hours per day and transferred in/out of their wheelchairs 5.0 ± 5.3 times per day. An average of 0.7 ± 1.5 hours per day was spent in an upright position. The tilt feature was accessed 18.4 ± 14.4 times per day for 8.5 ± 5.2 hours per day, and recline was accessed 11.5 ± 8.4 times per day for 8.6 ± 4.6 hours per day. Tilt and recline were used in combination for a total of 4.8 ± 4.6 hours per day. Subjects accessed the seat elevation feature 4.3 ± 4.1 times per day on average for 2.8 ± 4.6 hours day. Based on these data it was found that subjects spent significantly more time in a tilted versus an upright position (p<0.025), but that tilt was not used significantly more than recline (p=0.155) or seat elevation (p=0.046). In addition, comparison of SFDL data with pressuremapping data revealed that subjects were more likely to use small and intermediate amplitude tilt and recline angles, and positions known to result in low peak pressure were accessed more frequently and for longer durations than intermediate and high pressure positions. While subjects did not always use large angles of tilt and recline - as many clinicians recommend - these features were used frequently and their use resulted in lower peak pressures.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Leister, Elizabeth Powellepl1@pitt.eduEPL1
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairDing, Dandad5@pitt.eduDAD5
Committee MemberCooper, Roryrcooper@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Committee MemberCooper, Rosicooperrm@pitt.eduCOOPERRM
Committee MemberFitzgerald, Shirleysgf9@pitt.eduSGF9
Date: 16 November 2006
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 15 September 2006
Approval Date: 16 November 2006
Submission Date: 7 November 2006
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Degree: MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: clinical compliance; data logger; power seat feature; power wheelchair; usage
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-11072006-155054/, etd-11072006-155054
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 20:04
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:51
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9598

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