Wheelchairs and seating
Verza R, Battaglia MA, Uccelli MM. Manual wheelchair propulsion pattern use by people with multiple sclerosis. Disabil Rehabil: Assistive Technology 2010; 5 (5): 314-317.
Sixty manual wheelchair users with MS from an MS outpatient rehabilitation centre in Northern Italy were assessed on upper limb range of motion and trunk stability to determine if these factors or demographic, disease or wheelchair use history, influenced the choice of wheelchair propulsion pattern. Different propulsion patterns and correlating factors discussed.
Arpaia G, Bavera PM, Caputo D, et al. Risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in bedridden or wheelchair-bound multiple sclerosis patients: A prospective study. Thromb Res 2010; 125(4):315-317.
Assesses the frequency of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with late-stage MS attending a neurology center for rehabilitation. Concludes that the frequency of DVT in late-stage MS may be over 40% and suggests that physicians should consider the systematic application of long-term preventive measures.
Savage,FS. Maximizing comfort and function:positioning intervention. International Journal of MS Care 2005;7(3):93-100.
Review of positioning for people with MS in wheelchairs, describing posture issues, seating angles, orientation in space, wheelchair frame features, and power-wheelchair options. Good overview of points to consider when assessing someone with MS for a wheelchair.
Eberhardt K, Finlayson M. Wheeled mobility for people with MS: environmental and lifestyle considerations. Int J MS Care 2005; 7(3):101-106.
OT consideration of housing adaptations and financial support required to make living with a wheelchair viable for people with MS, eg ramps, doorways, turning circles and so on. Good overview of an otherwise neglected area of the literature for people with MS.
Wheelchair outcome tool briefs. Int J MS Care 2005;7(3):111-114
Brief description of four outcome measures that may be used in assessing and fitting someone with MS with a wheelchair.
Boss TM, Finlayson M. Responses to the acquisition and use of power mobility by individuals who have multiple sclerosis and their families. Am J Occup Ther. 2006 May-Jun;60(3):348-58.
Small qualitative study of 7 people with MS and 4 of their family members about adjusting to using power mobility. Themes emerged around recognising the need for power mobility, the process of deciding and obtaining the power mobility. Use of power mobility produced uneven outcomes, positive, negative and neutral. The study revealed an overall lack of resources and some problems within family environments, which occupational therapists may work to overcome.
Best KL, Kirby RL, Smith C, MacLeod DA. Wheelchair skills training for community-based manual wheelchair users: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005; 86(12): 2316-23.
Evaluated wheelchair skills training in 25 wheelchair users. Found it improved wheelchair use and confidence of users compared with control group.
Crawford SA, Stinson MD, Walsh DM, Porter-Armstrong AP. Impact of sitting time on seat-interface pressure and on pressure mapping with multiple sclerosis patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86(6):1221-5.
Compared wheelchair and non-wheelchair users to assess the length of time needed before recording changes in pressure. Identified changes in pressure continue for up to 8 minutes with wheelchair users.
Marks LJ. Specialised wheelchair seating: national clinical guidelines. London: British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine; 2004.
Dewey A, Rice-Oxley M, Dean T. Qualitative study comparing the experience of tilt-in-space wheelchair use and conventional wheelchair use by clients severely disabled with multiple sclerosis. Br J Occup Ther 2003;67(2):65-74.
People with MS who had tilt-in-space wheelchairs reported greater comfort, improved postural support, enhanced seating stability, pressure relief, and time out of bed, compared with those in conventional wheelchairs. Concludes that benefits outweigh drawbacks of tilt-in-space wheelchairs.