Page 14 - HME Business, Jan/Feb 2019

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have a medical need for power tilt, power recline or the combination of power tilt and recline require the performance characteristics of the Group 3 base, regardless of diagnosis, to safely navigate all settings of actual and anticipated use. The difference between the two groups is as follows:
All Group 2 PWCs must meet the following requirements:
• Minimum Top End Speed – 3 mph
• Minimum Range – 7 miles
• Minimum Obstacle Climb – 40 mm (slightly more than 1 1/2 in.) • Dynamic Stability Incline – 6 degrees
All Group 3 PWCs must meet the following requirements: • Minimum Top End Speed – 4.5 mph
• Minimum Range – 12 miles
• Minimum Obstacle Climb – 60 mm (about 2 3/8 in.)
• Dynamic Stability Incline – 7.5 degrees
• Drive wheel suspension to reduce vibration
Minimum top end speed is important as it is used in bouts: 3 mph is roughly the average walking speed of adults while 4.5 mph is a brisk walk, much like ambulatory individuals use when crossing the street. It is not needed all the time, but when it is needed it is essential to have.
For an individual that will use their chair continuously the distance per charge is extremely important, especially if they are traversing a multitude of terrains, are closer to the top end of the chair’s weight capacity, must cover long distances or a combination of all three, which draws a lot more power from the batteries. For anyone that wears an activity tracker you know that there are days when you barely get 10,000 steps in, but then there are days
when you walk 10-plus miles because of the activities you are engaged in. Wheelchair users need the same capability.
If the individual traverses mostly level terrain, and the environments they encounter consist of minimal transitions a Group 2 base that can navigate a
1 1/2 in. threshold may meet their needs. However, if the environment they will, or are likely to encounter once they are provided with an appropriately configured PWC includes uneven concrete, grass, gravel etc. then a Group 3 chair that can safely navigate a minimum obstacle height of 2 3/8 in, would be necessary for safe navigation.
A ramp that is compliant with the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) has a slope of 4.8 degrees. If the individual has absent or impaired sensa- tion or balance limitations, the ability to safely negotiate a 7.5 degree incline (whether that be a ramp or the landscape of mother earth) is essential for safety. Someone with an impaired sensory-motor feedback system will likely be unable to sense a Group 2 base tipping, which puts them at risk for injury when they encounter a hill or steep ramp.
Lastly, any PWC user in the chair for extended periods of time should have a drive wheel suspension system, as required for code verification as a Group 3 chair, because the constant jarring forces placed on the body can be extremely destructive over time. In addition, drive wheel suspension may be necessary to reduce spasticity or reflex activity, increase postural stability and allow the user to maintain contact with the drive control device.
When recommending “the right wheelchair” for a consumer that will be using it continuously throughout the day, every day in a variety of settings it is important to keep this very important information in mind. n
14 HMEBusiness | January/February 2019 | hme-business.com
Management Solutions | Technology | Products
Julie Piriano, PT, ATP/SMS is the vice president of clinical education, industry affairs and compliance for Pride Mobility Products Corp. (Exeter, Pa.; www. pridemobility.com).