Manual Mobility Resources

Power assist devices are designed to support manual wheelchair riders by reducing the effort required to propel, while still maintaining the benefits of a manual wheelchair. The Power Assist Rider Checklist is designed to help you reflect on your daily experiences and identify whether power assist may be a helpful option to discuss with your healthcare provider.

During the clinical evaluation, as the therapist, you will determine the client's functional abilities and goals. By knowing your options, you will be able to make an informed decision about which product will best meet the rider's needs by matching the available features of the frame with the rider's individual goals and abilities.

When choosing a power assist/add-on device for a manual wheelchair, consider that each has distinct capabilities, benefits, and drawbacks. This guide provides an easy-to-understand overview of the considerations and implications for each broad category of systems.

There is strong evidence of increased incidence of upper limb (UL) repetitive strain injuries (RSI) among manual wheelchair users. These injuries occur due to repetitive movements and result in muscle tears, inflammation, nerve impingement, bursitis, and pain. They primarily affect the shoulders, wrists, and elbows and can manifest as rotator cuff impairments, carpal tunnel syndromes, and "tennis elbow," among other symptoms.

Intelligent Rotation in Space (IRIS) technology on the QUICKIE IRIS® was designed for the seat frame to rotate around the user's center of gravity, resulting in a smooth tilting motion and a system that remains balanced within a tilted position. Functionally, this design results in a tilt that is easy to control and allows for the shortest possible wheelbase that is easy to maneuver. Ultimately, prescription and final adjustments to this highly configurable system will impact the ease with which the chair can tilt and is essential to optimizing its performance.