Emerging Evidence in Health and Disability: Wheelchair Skills Training for Community-Based Manual Wheelchair Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Best, K. L., Kirby, R. L., Smith, C., & MacLeod, D. (2005). Wheelchair skills training for community-based manual wheelchair users: A randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 86, 2316-23.

The main purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that wheelchair skills training of community-based wheelchair users is efficacious, safe, and practical.

A sample of 20 community-based manual wheelchair users (15 men, 5 women; age range, 21-77), half with musculoskeletal conditions and half with neurological conditions, were randomly placed in two groups: WSPT (Wheelchair Skills Training Program) group and control group. The experiment protocol consisted of 3 to 5 1-hour WSTP (Wheelchair Skills Training Program) for participants in the WSTP group with sessions scheduled at least 5 days apart. The investigators found a significant difference between the WSTP group's improvement in total WST score (P=.005). Such results indicate that wheelchair skills training of community-based manual wheelchair users is efficacious, safe, and practical.

The authors suggest that a greater focus on training would be useful for improving the safety and effectivness of the participation in activities by community-based manual wheelchair users.

Read the entire article at http://www.ncpad.org/406/2219/Wheelchair~skills~training~for~community-based~manual~wheelchair~users~~A~randomized~controlled~trial.