Pilot study of a strap-based custom wheelchair seating system in personswith spinal cord injury

摘要

Custom wheelchair seats can be used to help preventpressure ulcers in individuals with spinal cord injury. Inthis study, a strapbased system was evaluated in three Veteranswith spinal cord injury. Interface pressure distributions weremeasured after transfers, wheeling, and pressure relief maneuversand after fittings by three different therapists. We foundthat pressure distribution measures were not generally affectedafter transfers and wheeling using the strapbased wheelchairand that pressure relief maneuvers were able to be performed.Additionally, all therapists were able to customize the wheelchairseat to clinically acceptable levels in 4 to 40 min for thethree subjects. Future studies can test the longterm effects ofusing the strapbased wheelchair seat and identify individualsthat would most benefit from a rapidly customizable wheelchairseat.