Occupational Therapists Provide Wheelchair Assessments for better quality of life 

A properly fitted wheelchair, carefully chosen to meet you for your short and long-term needs can significantly increase your function and improve your quality of life. A comprehensive wheelchair and seating assessment, conducted by an Occupational Therapist (OT), is essential to getting the right fit and the right wheelchair for you. 

What is a Wheelchair Assessment? 

A wheelchair assessment is a thorough evaluation to determine the most suitable wheelchair and seating system for your specific current, and potential future needs. Performed by a trained and qualified occupational therapist, this assessment ensures that the wheelchair selection will provide the necessary support, comfort, and functionality you need, and that the chair can move safely and comfortably within and between environments. 

Why is a Wheelchair Assessment Important? 

A wheelchair assessment addresses your unique needs. It measures your upper and lower extremity strength, ability to propel/drive the chair, postural endurance, sitting balance, physical and environmental barriers, cognition, and your unique activities and goals. 

Without this assessment, you may end up with a wheelchair that is uncomfortable, difficult to maneuver, or inadequate for your daily activities, leading to decreased independence and potential health risks. A well-fitted wheelchair enhances mobility, promotes independence, and supports overall health. 

Who Needs a Wheelchair Assessment?

Anyone who needs a wheelchair, whether for temporarily or long-term use, benefits from a wheelchair assessment.  If it is your first chair or you are looking for a replacement chair because of your changing needs, a wheelchair assessment can help you be more comfortable and more functional.   

A wheelchair assessment by a regulated professional is also necessary for anyone requiring documentation to acquire funding for a wheelchair. OTs can prepare funding justification letters for extended health benefits and insurance companies that often require an OT assessment prior to funding a wheelchair.  

What Happens During an OT Wheelchair Assessment? 

1. Interview: The process begins with an in-depth conversation about your daily routines, health history, and specific needs and goals. 

2. Environmental Considerations: The assessment considers the environments where you will use the wheelchair, such as the home, workplace, or community settings, and whether it will be needed outside or inside, on transit or while driving. 

3. Physical Examination: The OT completes a screen of your physical, functional abilities and identifies any safety concerns. 

4. Measurements: The OT takes precise measurements to ensure the wheelchair will fit and support your body. 

5. Trial and Fitting: You may trial various wheelchair options to find the best fit, and adjustments are made as necessary. 

6. Training and Education: Once the ideal wheelchair system is selected, the OT may provide you and/or your caregivers with education and training on its use, maintenance, and safety. 

What OTs Assess in a Wheelchair Assessment 

OTs consider a variety of factors during the assessment, including: 

• Medical Profile: Awareness of a specific diagnosis or prognosis relevant to the wheelchair need, and whether the condition is temporary, stable or progressive in nature. 

• Posture and Seating: Ensuring proper alignment to prevent discomfort and long-term health issues, as well as to facilitate functional goals. 

• Mobility Needs: Determining the ability to move, self-propel and drive or level of assistance required for effective mobility. 

• Daily Activities: Understanding how you will use the wheelchair in your everyday life. 

• Environment: Understanding various settings your wheelchair will be used in. 

• Safety Concerns: Ensuring the wheelchair is safe for your specific circumstances. 

Collaboration 

Furthermore, OTs often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, doctors, physiatrists and rehabilitation specialists, to ensure a comprehensive and thorough understanding of your medical situation. They also collaborate with medical equipment vendors, in order to recommend the most suitable wheelchair system, considering the most up-to-date equipment available. Finally, they collaborate with you and your family members, if you are in agreement. This collaborative approach ensures that all aspects of your health and lifestyle are considered, and the best solution is identified. 
 

Examples of Recommended Equipment  

1. Standard Manual Wheelchair: A manual wheelchair may be considered for the most active users with the ability to self-propel and sit for longer periods of time. They can also be designed to be attendant-propelled, in which case the sizing needs of the individual most likely to be pushing it will also be considered. Features like specialized seating and power add-on can also be considered, to offer greater support and independence. 

2. Tilt-in-Space Wheelchair: This type of equipment may be considered for individuals who have more complex postural needs or require greater pressure redistribution, as these wheelchairs enable changes of seating angle and pressure redistribution while maintaining support and reducing shearing effects on the skin. This type of wheelchair may also help improve the line of vision and increase the sitting tolerance. 

3. Power Wheelchair: A motorized wheelchair may be recommended for individuals with limited body strength, postural and/or mobility endurance. The OT will consider the user’s functional/mobility goals, ability to control the wheelchair while navigating environments and the need for additional component features, such as power tilt or recline functions. 

4. Custom Seating: For individuals with more specific positioning/seating needs or complex medical history, a custom seating assessment addresses areas of the wheelchair user’s needs which may fall outside of the typical user profile, such as a backrest which requires custom molding and hip guides to maintain posture or a customized headrest shape and position to accommodate a fixed neck angle.  Customization requires the OT to work closely with a medical equipment vendor skilled in wheelchair customizations to ensure that the final seating system is tailored to the user’s unique requirements and long-term needs. 

As equipment becomes more complex, the lengthier and more detailed the assessment becomes.  Longer assessments for complex needs are more costly than short assessments for simple needs. 

Summary 

A wheelchair assessment may require multiple visits to ensure the best fit and functionality. Every individual person’s situation is unique, and there is no “one size fits all” approach to selecting a wheelchair system.  
The skills of an Occupational Therapist and a personalized, comprehensive assessment help ensure that the investment in a wheelchair meets your specific needs.  Finding the right chair that fits will lead to your comfortable participation in the things you want to do and help get you to places you want to go.  

Our Team  

Our OT Works! team of OTs have experience in wheelchair assessments. We provide personalized, comprehensive evaluations that result in meaningful outcomes for our clients. 

Contact Us Today 

If you or someone you know need a wheelchair assessment, contact us today. 

Email: referrals@ot-works.com  
Vancouver: 604.696.1066  
Victoria: 250.999.8896