Clinical Corner

This month, Clinical Corner will re-visit the topic of batteries in power wheelchairs.  This topic was first addressed in a 2012 blog post, De-mystifying Power Wheelchairs: Batteries and Motors.  (Click here to read the 2012 article.)  This month, Clinical Corner will review and update the information first presented in 2012 regarding batteries.  Batteries are an important consideration in power wheelchairs as they provide the power required to operate the system. 

If you follow Clinical Corner, you will notice that the article in October often is a little different than usual.  October marks another anniversary with Sunrise Medical for me.  It is 9 years now!  October also marks Occupational Therapy month nationally.  What better way to celebrate both than with a focus on clinical resources available on the Sunrise Medical website.  In addition, this article will look back at Clinical Corner with a catalogue of Clinical Corner articles for ease of reference.  You may want to Bookmark this page!

September often is thought of as a time for new beginnings.  School begins for school-aged children.  Depending upon where you live in the country, the leaves may be starting to change colour signalling the beginning of autumn.  Registration is open for our next Cyber Series of webinars for therapists, therapist assistants, funders and vendors in Canada!  The first webinar in our annual series is on “The Assessment Process” as the assessment is the beginning for all seating and mobility.  A thorough assessment provides a solid foundation for what follows in seating and mobility prescription.  This month, Clinical Corner will discuss considerations prior to the assessment – what should be on-hand to ensure optimal results from the physical assessment.

The focus of Clinical Corner for the past 2 months has been on outcomes and outcome measures.  The June 2019 article, Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Seating and Mobility: Current Practice, distinguished between outcomes and outcome measures and highlighted some of the results of a survey with therapists practicing in seating and mobility in Canada regarding their use of outcomes and outcome measures.  The July 2019 article, From Outcomes to Outcome Measures: Next Steps, reviewed the relevance of outcome measures and the key considerations when selecting outcome measures. Clinical Corner will continue the theme on outcome measures this month with a focus on specific outcome measures that can be used in seating and mobility.

Last month, Clinical Corner distinguished between outcomes and outcome measures and highlighted some of the results of a survey with therapists practicing in seating and mobility in Canada regarding the use of outcomes and outcome measures.  See Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Seating and Mobility: Current Practice to refer to that article.  This month, Clinical Corner will continue its focus on outcome measures with a look at key considerations when selecting outcome measures.

There is a subtle difference between outcomes and outcome measures in seating and mobility. Whereas outcomes may include subjective descriptions, outcome measures can be objective, quantifiable means of validating interventions. The results of an on-line survey suggest that many therapists involved in seating and mobility in Canada consider outcomes when working with clients. Some outcomes, such as pressure mapping, sitting tolerance and using SMART goals, allow for some aspect of measurement to occur. A future Clinical Corner article will provide additional details on outcome measures that help to provide objective quantification of outcomes such as those mentioned in this month’s article.

What are the similarities and differences between assessing an individual for a power mobility device versus a manual wheelchair? What is important to consider for a power wheelchair versus a manual wheelchair? Does it matter if an individual cannot drive effectively the first time they use a power wheelchair? These questions, and more, will be answered this month in Clinical Corner.

This month, Clinical Corner has reviewed the updated terminology used for pressure injuries and the staging of pressure injuries. In addition, the position statements of the NPUAP related to pressure injuries have been reviewed. More information on Pressure Injuries can be found on the NPUAP website.

Rigid frame wheelchairs offer some choice in the type of frame – from open frame to closed frame and from fully welded to models with fold-down back canes. Some models of rigid wheelchairs provide adjustability in the rear axle while others are fully fixed. Rigid frame wheelchairs promote efficiency of propulsion due to their light-weight design and minimization of moving parts, which allows for more efficient propulsion. A thorough assessment is required in order to match the needs of clients with the products that are available on the market for optimal fit, function and performance.

There is never going to be one model of wheelchair that is right for every client. Manufacturers recognize this and often provide several models of wheelchairs within a category to meet the various needs and demands of clients. This allows for optimizing both fit and function for a client through the selection of an appropriate model of wheelchair. How we choose between models of wheelchairs goes back to the assessment and then matching the goals of seating and mobility with the choices that are available.

Just as there are many factors that contribute to the risk for falls, there are many interventions to address the risks. A multi-disciplinary, multi-factorial approach is important to take for older adults who are identified at high risk for falls.

Many factors contribute to the risk of falls. Such factors include biological, behavioural, socio-economic and environmental. Next month, Clinical Corner will address strategies to reduce the risk of falls for older adults.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you may recall that in October I tend to write an anniversary article to celebrate another year with Sunrise Medical Canada. This month marks my 8^th year with Sunrise Medical! Since October also is Occupational Therapy month across Canada, I thought I would write a little on my experiences that led me to occupational therapy. I would also like to celebrate Occupational Therapy month by sharing a recorded webinar and by seeking input for a future webinar. More on that later in this article!

Are we all speaking the same language in seating and mobility? Have you heard a wheelchair cushion being called a “pillow” by someone who does not work in this field? Do you call a “wheel lock” a “brake” on a wheelchair or an arm support an “armrest”? Is a pelvic positioning belt the same as a pelvic belt for transportation of occupied wheelchairs? (The answer to this last question is no!) The language of seating and mobility is evolving and, in fact, becoming standardized. This month, Clinical Corner will address standardized terms in seating and mobility. We will look at why standardization in terms is important and review a sampling of common terms.

Creativity in knowledge translation helps to produce different resources that are available when and where the client needs them. Having information shared in multiple formats helps to reinforce learning, which bridges the knowledge to action gap, which is what knowledge translation is all about!