Wheelchair and seating assessments
Why is wheelchair and associated seating assessment so important?:
It is important to ensure that someone is specifically assessed for their individual needs and is using the correct wheelchair and allied seating support. Not only should the wheelchair be the correct dimensions to correspond to the personal and individual dimensions of the wheelchair user, but everyone has their own unique postural presentation that needs to be appropriately and individually supported.
The key benefits of good wheelchair and seating provision include:
- Increased ergonomically efficient function and comfort
- Minimising the development of deformities and skin trauma (pressure sores)
- Enhanced self esteem
- Improved cardio vascular function
- Improved visual, perceptual and cognitive function
- Improved urinary and digestive tract function
- Normalisation of muscle tone and primitive reflexes
- Facilitating improved symmetry and sitting balance
A typical wheelchair and seating assessment includes:
- Collation of relevant background data to include a medical history and details of social and environmental circumstances
- A physical evaluation to establish postural evidence. This may be in a seated position and/or lying position dependent on individual need
- Detailed body measurements
- Establishment of social and clinical goals of provision of eqiupment
- Identification of product features that may resolve the presenting issues
- Identification of products that will fulfil those features
- Product /equipment trials
- Risk assessment(s)
Because posture is never static and reflects our way of living it is important to recognise the need for periodic reviews to ensure that the equipment is still providing the appropriate function and support.
