Article

A wheelchair can enhance the quality of life of an individual with
limited mobility, poor trunk control and stability, by enabling activity and
participation and so occupational engagement. High specification wheelchairs
which can tilt-in-space enable the position of users to be altered to suit
activity and context.
Despite tilt-in-space wheelchairs being expensive little is
known about their therapeutic value. METHODS: A critical literature review of the
evidence was undertaken to evaluate whether the use of tilt-in-space increases
occupational engagement.
A wide ranging search strategy identified 170 articles
which were screened using inclusion criteria. The eligible literature (n = 6) was
analysed thematically using open coding. RESULTS: The majority of the
participants used tilt-in-space but the data was too heterogeneous to combine.
Measures of occupational engagement were not used so the therapeutic value could
not be assessed. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of high quality evidence about the
therapeutic benefits of tilt-in-space wheelchairs. Given the expense associated
with providing these wheelchairs, and the increase in their provision, research
is needed to justify provision of high specification wheelchairs to meet the
occupational needs of users within the limited resources of health and social
care. Implications for Rehabilitation Tilt-in-space wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are
an important and essential assistive device for promoting independence and
function. Suggests there are benefits for tilt-in-space wheelchairs. Identifies
the need for additional large scale research.

Langue : ANGLAIS