THE USEFULNESS OF POWERED WHEELCHAIRS IN ADVANCED INFLAMMATORY POLYARTHRITIS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients with advanced inflammatory polyarthritis may develop such deformities and muscle weakness that a powered wheelchair becomes necessary. The medical notes of 42 patients who were prescribed a wheelchair through Mary Marlborough Lodge were examined and a postal questionnaire completed to assess the extent of wheelchair usage. A standard model wheelchair, was used by 35% of the patients but 28% required alterations to the controls. Almost 60% of the patients used their powered wheelchairs every day and 50% used them for more than eight hours a day. Mobility was the major reason for prescription and was the most important single function for the patients. A major illness occurred in 21% of patients in addition to their rheumatic disease, and this precipitated the prescription of a powered wheelchair in a number of cases. Delays in prescription and delivery and methods of transfer were also examined.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: