Establishing seating and wheeled mobility research priorities

Abstract

Purpose. The Mobility Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology held its State of the Science Conference to address challenges in studying the health, activity and participation of wheelchair users. The purpose of this project was to collect and report seating and wheeled mobility research priorities.

Methods. Invitations were sent to researchers, clinicians, policy makers, manufacturers, methodologists, wheelchair users and federal funding agency scientists. Invitees submitted their three most important wheeled mobility and seating issues. Submissions were blinded and collated into distinct topic areas with the most oft-mentioned topics comprising seven priority topics within each of the mobility and seating areas. Conference attendees voted on these topic areas, narrowing the priorities into four mobility and four seating/posture topics.

Results. The Wheeled Mobility research priorities included: impact of long term wheelchair use, relating activity & participation to health outcomes, translating research into design, and impact of wheelchair design on function. The Seating/Posture research priorities included determining cushion adequacy, positioning abilities of cushions, long term impact of sitting, and impact of seating & mobility interventions.

Conclusion. Significant areas of study remain to fully associate AT interventions and the health and everyday functioning of wheelchair users.

Keywords:

• Assistive technology
• wheelchairs
• mobility
• seating
• research