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Wheelchair assessment measuring guide

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Taking proper and accurate measurements of the client is an essential part of the seating and wheeled mobility equipment provision process.

A Clinician Application Guide to Standardized Wheelchair Seating Measures of the Body and Seating Support Surfaces, Revised Edition (Waugh & Crane 2013), defines 36 linear body measures. However, it would be impractical and unnecessary to use all of these in an assessment. Individual client needs and level of complexity determine which measurements are required.

As with the entire wheelchair provision process, taking measurements is a team effort. The clinician, the client and others in the client’s support team can be involved. The client should be in the desired seated posture on a flat, firm surface with his/her feet on the floor or supported by a firm platform at the appropriate height whilst the measurements are being taken. The measurements should be taken without compressing the body and include the soft tissue. Firm measuring tools such as a metal measuring tape, and calipers increase accuracy.

The Wheelchair Assessment Measuring Guide below highlights 14 of the most commonly used measures.

Download the Wheelchair Assessment Measuring Guide

 

Please refer to the Helpful Links section for access to a downloadable PDF of the Clinical Application Guide to Standardized Wheelchair Seating Measures of the Body and Seating Support Surfaces, which includes a definition and description of all of the linear measurements.

DISCLAIMER: FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY. THIS WEBSITE (AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERENCED HEREIN) DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Sunrise Medical (US) LLC (“Sunrise”) does not provide clinician services. The information contained on this website (and the documents referenced herein), including, but not limited to, the text, graphics, images, and descriptions, are for informational purposes only and should be utilized as a general resource for clinicians and suppliers to then use clinical reasoning skills to determine optimal seating and mobility solutions for individual patients. No material on this website (or any document referenced herein) is intended to be used as (or a substitute for) professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard your professional medical training when providing medical advice or treatment because of something you have read on this website (or any document referenced herein). Clinicians should review this (and any other materials) carefully and confirm information contained herein with other sources. Reliance on this website (and the information contained herein) is solely at your own risk.