This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gebrosky B, Pearlman J, Cooper RA, Cooper R, Kelleher A. Evaluation of lightweight.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gebrosky B, Pearlman J, Cooper RA, Cooper R, Kelleher A. Evaluation of lightweight wheelchairs using ANSI/RESNA testing standards. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(10):1373–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.08.0155

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.08.0155JSP

Evaluation of lightweight wheelchairs using ANSI/RESNA testing

standards

Benjamin Gebrosky, BS; Jonathan Pearlman, PhD; Rory A. Cooper, PhD; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT, ATP;

Annmarie Kelleher, MS, OTR/L, ATP



• Aim– Evaluate folding lightweight wheelchair models using

American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) standards.

• Relevance– While design and manufacturing advances plus consistent

ANSI/RESNA standards should have led to higher quality, better durability, and cost-benefit, wheelchair failures have been increasingly reported over last 15 yr.



Method• Tested 3 lightweight wheelchairs:– (a) Sunrise Medical Breezy 600.– (b) Invacare 9000XT.– (c) Invacare Patriot Plus.

• Performed 6 ANSI/RESNA Tests:– Static stability.– Effectiveness of brakes.– Dimensions, mass, and maneuvering space.– Measurement of seating and wheel dimensions.– Static, impact, and fatigue strengths.– Information disclosure, documentation, labeling.



Results• We hypothesized that quality of lightweight

wheelchairs had declined. – 7 of 9 wheelchairs tested failed multidrum test

durability requirements.– Average of 194,502 equivalent cycles was

completed.• Similar to previous test results.• Far below 400,000 minimum ANSI/RESNA requirement. • Significantly worse than test results for aluminum

ultralight folding wheelchairs.



Conclusion• Results uncovered some disturbing issues with

lightweight wheelchairs.• Recommendations to improve durability:– Require wheelchairs to be tested by independent

and certified test laboratories.– Implement wheelchair rating system based on

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration 5-star vehicle crash ratings.• Would help clinicians and end users compare durability of

different wheelchairs.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gebrosky B, Pearlman J, Cooper RA, Cooper R, Kelleher A. Evaluation of lightweight.

Documents

cooper ra

pearlman j

consistent ansiresna

j rehabil res

gebrosky b

ansiresna tests

phd rosemarie cooper

slideshow project doi