Article

Objectives: To evaluate the durability and value of 3 common suspension manual wheelchairs and to compare the results with those of previously tested lightweight and ultra-lightweight folding-frame wheelchairs. Design: Standardized fatigue testing and cost analysis of 3 suspension manual wheelchairs front 3 different manufacturers. Setting: A rehabilitation engineering center. Specimens: Nine Suspension manual wheelchairs. Interventions: Wheelchairs were fitted with a standardized wheelchair test dummy and tested oil a series of fatigue tests, consistent with those developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Main Outcome Measures: Fatigue life (measured as the number of equivalent cycles completed) and value (equivalent cycles divided by cost) were compared among all wheelchairs. Results: Analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P less than or equal to .05) in the number of equivalent cycles among the suspension wheelchairs tested. When compared with previously tested ultra-lightweight and lightweight wheelchairs, the suspension wheelchairs failed to show significant improvements however, significant improvements were found between individual suspension and lightweight wheelchairs. Conclusions: We found little evidence to Suggest that suspension manual wheelchairs provide advantages in terms of durability or value over standard lightweight and ultra-lightweight folding-frame wheelchairs.

Langue : ANGLAIS