Assistive Technology - Mobility Impairment and Wheelchairs

Mobility Impairment and Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are a prosthetic devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that include a seating system and are designed to be a substitute for the normal mobility that most people enjoy. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices allow people to engage in daily MRADLs (Mobility Related Activity of Daily Living) which include Feeding, Toileting, Dressing Grooming and Bathing. The devices comes in a number of variations where they can be propelled either by hand or by motors where the occupant uses electrical controls to manage motors and seating control actuators through a joystick or other input devices . Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing or input devices for caregivers. Wheelchairs are used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness (physiological or physical), injury, or disability. People with both sitting and walking disability often need to use a wheelchair or walker. Prescription for walkers,wheelchairs, complex rehab chairs, and other equipment follow Medicare's MRADL algorithm.