Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the durability of wheelchairs
according to American National Standard for Wheechairs/Rehabilitation Engineering
and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) Wheelchair
Standards and wheelchair type as well as year of test.
DESIGN: A retrospective
study design with a sample of 246 wheelchairs that were tested in accordance with
the ANSI/RESNA standards from 1992 to 2008 including four types of wheelchairs:
manual wheelchair (MWC), electrical powered wheelchair (EPW), scooters and
pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW). Unconditional binary logic
regression analysis was chosen to evaluate the relationship between test results
and test year as well as wheelchair type. SETTING: Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Wheelchair durability test result
(fatigue test: pass or fail) RESULTS: There was no significant correlation
between the year when tested and equivalent cycles. A significant relation was
found between test results and wheelchair type (Wald score = 10.845, degree of
freedom = 3, p = 0.013) with scooters having a significantly higher pass ratio
than MWC (OR = 15.629, 95% CI = 2.026-120.579). EPW also had significantly higher
pass ratio than MWC (OR = 1.953, 95% CI = 1.049-3.636). No significant difference
on pass ratio was found between PAPAW and MWC. CONCLUSIONS: No significant
improvements in wheelchair test results during the time frame from 1992 to 2008
were discovered. Wheelchair standard tests should be conducted to assure minimum
quality of the wheelchairs and for improving the design of wheelchairs. Although
the ANSI/RESNA wheelchair durability test procedures have remained consistent, it
does not appear that the introduction of new materials, designs and the
availability of test data have improved wheelchair fatigue life.

Langue : ANGLAIS