Assessment of Wheelchair First and Last Seating Pressure and Posture and Wheelchair Satisfaction

HH.3. Scope:

Which is about 12.29% of the population consists of disabled people in Turkey and the highest rate of disability It is known that physical disability (1). Having at least one wheelchair of approximately 75 million worldwide according to 2019 data plays a critical role in improving mobility (2). In fact, the wheelchair is one of the most widely used assistive technology tools to increase personal mobility and is a precondition for those with limited mobility to enjoy their human rights, live in dignity and become more productive members in their community. For many people, a well-designed and well-equipped wheelchair can be the right step for social inclusion (3). More than half of wheelchair users need assistance with using their wheelchairs and daily living activities (4). The literature investigating the factors affecting wheelchair use mainly consists of variables related to the environment and physical characteristics of wheelchair users (4). Correct selection and configuration of wheelchairs can increase mobility, effectiveness and participation (5).

While sitting comfort is associated with softness and support, lack of support, unbalanced pressure distribution, biomechanics and fatigue factors are associated with sitting discomfort. Anatomical factors can cause characteristic tissue loads that appear to be associated with tissue damage, discomfort, or axillary posture or movement modifications. Following excessive or prolonged tissue loading, cell death may lead to the development of superficial or deep compression wounds (6). A superficial pressure sore first affects the skin layers near the epidermal tissue and is typically associated with damaging friction and shear forces with the presence of moisture and heat (7). Deep compression sores typically begin with the deformation of deep muscle and fat tissues beneath the ischial tuberocytes in the sitting position (8). Although the etiology of pressure sores is multifactorial (9), continuous pressure at the user seat interface is considered the most important factor (10,11). Therefore, wheelchair features are very important for posture and pressure sores. In our study, wheelchair features will be examined and these features will be compared with patient satisfaction. In addition, wheelchair characteristics and patient satisfaction in different patient groups (such as spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebrovascular Incident (stroke)) will also be discussed.

Hypotheses Ho: There is no difference between initial sitting pressure and posture in wheelchair users and sitting pressure and posture after 2 and 3 hours.

H1: There is a difference between the initial sitting pressure and posture in wheelchair users and the sitting pressure and posture after 2 and 3 hours.