Wheelchair Power Mobility Assessment: Power Seating

Course overview

Power wheelchairs do more than drive. Power seating allows the driver to change position for pressure relief, pressure redistribution, transfers, and other functional activities. Power tilt changes orientation in space without changing the seated angles. Power recline opens the seat to back angle and is often used in combination with elevating leg rests and sometimes with power tilt. Seat elevate raises the entire seating system vertically without changing the seated angles. Finally, power stand brings the client partially or completely to a standing position within the power wheelchair. This course will present specific power wheelchair power seating options and clinical indicators for each. Clinicians need to be familiar with power wheelchair features, including power seating options, in order to participate in the evaluation process.