Module 9 - Manual Wheelchair

For all seating there are the following goals: 

1. To protect the skin integrity of the user
2. To allow optimal mobility of the users 
3. To create or maintain normal anatomical alignment with particular attention to the spine.

A successful manual wheelchair prescription integrates the goals of pressure management and optimal posture, as established in Modules 7 and 8. The wheelchair configuration influences both the seating position of the client and the efficiency of the client's mobility and interaction with the environment.

For clients with SCI the upper limbs are prone to pain and injury, and the prescription of a manual wheelchair takes into account the preservation of upper limb function. The impact of upper limb pain and injury includes:

• functional decline
• increased dependency on personal care
• decrease or cessation of activities of daily living
• management through analgesic medications
• lower quality of life
• potentially reduced community integration.

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Recognise the indications for manual wheelchair assessment
• Understand the key issues for prescribing or customising a manual wheelchair for SCI clients 
• List the process of prescribing the specifications of a manual wheelchair 
• List the key adjustments for the manual wheelchair that influence stability and manoeuvrability
• Understand the role of wheelchair suppliers in the process
• Conduct a manual wheelchair trial utilising set criteria to make informed choices
• Have access to downloads and links to useful resources.