2021 Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Approximately three million Americans use wheelchairs to increase active participation in life, but these devices are helpful only in specific circumstances. While increasing mobility for the user, wheelchair use risks injury to the user and their caregivers. Frequency of wheelchair transfers by the over 50 population increase the risk of injury, falls, and even death. Environmental barriers may limit wheelchair use to the primary living area, limiting access to the outside world and social participation. Although power wheelchairs may reduce the physical strength and stamina required to propel the device, the inability to transport the power wheelchair to different locations with ease also limits their use. Wheelchair users report feeling a loss of independence and volition which limits their enjoyment of life activities. Occupational therapists (OTs) are frequently part of the mobility team and positively contribute to improve a client's ability to complete daily activities. Interventions provided by the OT aim to increase independence and support social participation which have been found to support overall health and well-being. Power wheelchair use can enable a client to enjoy a greater quality of life by decreasing the physical burden of locomotion . The transition from a manual to a power wheelchair has shown to have a greater psychosocial impact. Through custom adaptation and real-time training with power wheelchairs, OTs ensure that their clients' participation and socialization are maximized. The use of all-terrain power wheelchairs enables clients to experience life beyond the boundaries imposed by the physical environment. Combining OT expertise with custom all terrain power wheelchairs allows for greater active participation in preferred life activities while ensuring a safe fit and effective learning of safe wheelchair use. A prospective study among people with mobility restrictions identified eight aspects of mobility that became easier to perform for approximately half of the participants using a power wheelchair including: visiting restaurants/cafes/pubs, shopping groceries, other shopping, posting letters, visiting the bank pharmacy, going for a walk/ride, and visiting with family/friends. The current lack of funding for all terrain wheelchairs makes their use unattainable for many people, leading to dissatisfaction in life and social isolation. Further study of all terrain wheelchairs establishes a need for alternative funding to increase access for more wheelchair users.