Considering Powered Mobility for Individuals with Stroke

Abstract

Power mobility is an option that provides many disabled individuals with a means of locomotion. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in this country. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of published material that expounds on power mobility as it relates to clients who have had a stroke. We will present the benefits and considerations for choosing power wheelchairs for this client population. A brief review of seating and mobility evaluation and funding considerations is included with an emphasis on specific issues concerning stroke clients. Finally, a call for further research on this topic is presented.

Keywords:

• evaluation
• mobility
• power wheelchairs
• stroke