Details the prescription considerations for individuals with physical disabilities. Compares conventional and lightweight wheelchairs, and factors in functional assessment. Examines the technical aspects of seat cushion selection, factors that affect the ergonometrics of wheelchair operation, and the influence of powered mobility. Also covers wheelchair standards and current directions in wheelchair research. Appendix covers "Types of Wheelchairs". Over 100 photos, charts and drawings. Index.

This is the definitive text for everyone concerned with wheelchair selection, including physical and occupational therapists, physiatrists, and other health care providers involved with helping patients to achieve optimal seating. Chapters discuss wheelchair measurement, engineering fundamentals, biomechanics, electronics, and standards. Various types of wheelchairs are considered, including manual, powered, specialized, and sports chairs the selection of seat cushions and specialized seating systems are considered in depth, and assessment and intervention are reviewed. The audience for this book includes undergraduate and graduate students studying occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation science, and rehabilitation engineering. It also is a suitable reference for professionals in engineering and the health professions. It assumes that the reader has a working knowledge of human anatomy, human physiology, and physics. Some exposure to clinical practice also is beneficial. Each chapter opens with a set of goals that orient the reader to the material covered. For example, the goals of the chapter Wheelchair Engineering Fundamentals are: To understand mechanical and material properties To understand the relationship between technology and its environment To know how to problem-solve and integrate technical and functional information To understand the roles, constraints, and perspectives of designers and fabricators Extensive illustrations guide the reader through all concepts of wheelchair design and prescription. "

The Wheelchair Evaluation: A Clinician’s Guide, Second Edition is an updated, practical, and concise reference on the wheelchair prescription process. It’s perfect for students and clinicians in the health fields who work with physically disabled individuals in need of a wheelchair. This book is a portable, hands-on manual that implements a real-world approach to patient evaluation, choice of wheelchair components, documentation, and funding.

The guidelines focus on manual wheelchairs and the needs of long-term wheelchair users. The recommendations are targeted at those involved in wheelchair services, ranging from design and planning, to providing or supplying wheelchairs and their maintenance.