Length: 1 Hour
Neurologic disabilities such as CP, ALS (motor neurone disease), MS, and SCI figure more prominently in discussions about the impact and importance of complex rehabilitation technology than CVA, yet more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a CVA annually. Moreover, stroke reduces mobility in more than half of those over age 65. Medicare qualification requirements and reimbursement cuts have negatively influenced the caliber of wheeled mobility devices CVA survivors receive. Many obtain an upright, manual wheelchair that qualifies for Medicare rental reimbursement. It is well documented that manual tilt-in-space wheelchairs provide seat angle adjustments that can facilitate pressure relief, postural control, and activity specific positioning, but these chairs are often not prescribed due to limitations related to independent propulsion, weight, and transport.
This presentation will explore the research supporting the use of tilt. Topics will include: how changes in seat angle affect posture and pressure distribution, seat height and angle characteristics that impact self-propulsion, the relationship between independent mobility and incidence of pressure ulcers, and how changes in seat angle can influence activities of daily living. The clinical justification to support the use of manual tilt in space wheelchairs will be discussed, and participants will be educated on options to achieve the clinical benefits of manual tilt while enabling self-propulsion and transport.