Evaluation of wheelchair performance (capacity and skills) is crucial in the investigation of wheeled mobility in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Manual wheelchair use is a complex combination of skills, which together determine overall functioning, daily activities, participation, and quality of life. The evaluation of wheelchair performance requires a systematic biophysical approach that appreciates the importance of the individual elements of the wheelchair-user combination: the wheelchair, the wheelchair-user interface, and the user, as well as the environment. Measurement technologies and outcomes of experimental and observational studies will highlight the importance of a well-balanced individual wheelchair performance.

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doi.org/10.1310/sci1502-1, hdl.handle.net/1765/32727
Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

van der Woude, L., de Groot, S., van Drongelen, S., Janssen, T., Haisma, J., Valent, L., & Veeger, D. (2009). Evaluation of manual wheelchair performance in everyday life. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation (Vol. 15, pp. 1–15). doi:10.1310/sci1502-1