Evaluation of a Stair-Climbing Power Wheelchair in 25 People With Tetraplegia
Abstract
Laffont I, Guillon B, Fermanian C, Pouillot S, Even-Schneider A, Boyer F, Ruquet M, Aegerter P, Dizien O, Lofaso F. Evaluation of a stair-climbing power wheelchair in 25 people with tetraplegia.
Objective
To compare the performance of a power wheelchair with stair-climbing capability (TopChair) and a conventional power wheelchair (Storm3).
Design
A single-center, open-label study.
Setting
A physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital.
Participants
Patients (N=25) who required power wheelchairs because of severe impairments affecting the upper and lower limbs.
Interventions
Indoor and outdoor driving trials with both devices. Curb-clearing and stair-climbing with TopChair.
Main Outcome Measures
Trial duration and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) tool; number of failures during driving trials and ability to climb curbs and stairs.
Results
All 25 participants successfully completed the outdoor and indoor trials with both wheelchairs. Although differences in times to trial completion were statistically significant, they were less than 10%. QUEST scores were significantly better with the Storm3 than the TopChair for weight (P=.001), dimension (P=.006), and effectiveness (P=.04). Of the 25 participants, 23 cleared a 20-cm curb without help, and 20 climbed up and down 6 steps. Most participants felt these specific capabilities of the TopChair—for example, curb clearing and stair climbing—were easy to use (22/25 for curb, 21/25 for stairs) and helpful (24/25 and 23/25). A few participants felt insecure (4/25 and 6/25, respectively).
Conclusions
The TopChair is a promising mobility device that enables stair and curb climbing and warrants further study.
aUnité de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France
bCentre d'Innovations Technologiques, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France
cAP-HP, Centre d'essai des fauteuils roulants, Fondation Garches,, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France
dUnité de Recherche Clinique Paris-Ouest, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France
Reprint requests to Isabelle Laffont, MD, PhD, Unité de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, 104 Blvd Raymond Poincaré, Garches, 92380, France
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT