Article

The objective of this study was to describe the in-seat movement and
weight-shifting behavior of full-time wheelchair users.
We measured everyday
sitting behavior for 192 d across 28 individuals who used manual wheelchairs as
their primary mobility device.
To obtain the measurements,
we used eight thin
force sensors placed under participants' wheelchair cushions. On a typical day,
participants spent an average of 10.6 +/- 3.0 h in their wheelchair and
transferred out of the wheelchair 8.4 +/- 4.3 times.
Participants only performed
pressure reliefs (90% off-loading of the entire buttocks for at least 15 s) 0.4
+/- 0.5 times per hour they were seated in the chair, but they performed weight
shifts (WSs) (30%-90% off-loading of at least one side of the buttocks for 15 s)
with a frequency of 2.4 +/- 2.2 times per hour. Despite the higher frequency of
WSs, they were not performed in a routine manner.
Half of the days studied
included one segment of upright sitting lasting at least 2 h without a WS. Given
these observations, we conclude that seating evaluations should emphasize
positioning individuals in a way that facilitates reaching, leaning, and
transferring in a safe manner, not only to improve function but also to affect buttocks loading.

Langue : ANGLAIS