Remote Monitoring of Wheelchair Sitting Behaviour

Abstract

Information about wheelchair sitting behaviour can be of great significance to the clinician wishing to maximise independence and functionality. It is ironical, however, that clinical evaluation is often undertaken in the clinic, with at best some observation while the patient ‘takes a spin’ down the corridor. It would seem more desirable to assimilate information while the patient is using the chair in the field under normal operational circumstances. Closer consideration of this problem presents some major engineering challenges. Not least is the identification and definition of measurable parameters that are representative of the observations made by the experienced clinician.