Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 10 , Pages 1680-1684 , October 2009

Manual Wheelchair-Handling Skills by Caregivers Using New and Conventional Rear Anti-Tip Devices: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Presented in part to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, September 27–30, 2007, Boston, MA.

  • R. Lee Kirby, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to R. Lee Kirby, MD, FRCPC, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dept of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • ,
  • Rebecca Walker, MScPT

      Affiliations

    • School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • ,
  • Cher Smith, BSc (OT)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Occupational Therapy, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • ,
  • Krista Best, MSc

      Affiliations

    • School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • ,
  • Donald A. MacLeod, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Locomotor Function Laboratory, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • ,
  • Kara Thompson, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

References 

  1. Kirby RL, Thoren F, Ashton B, Ackroyd-Stolarz SA. Effect of the position of rear antitippers on safety and maneuverability. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1994;75:525–534
  2. Kirby RL. Anti-tip devices for wheeled conveyances including wheelchairs and methods related thereto. US patent 6,530,598. 2003 Mar 11;
  3. Kirby RL, Lugar J, Breckenridge C. New wheelie aid for wheelchairs: controlled trial of safety and efficacy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;82:380–390
  4. Best KL, Kirby RL, Smith C, MacLeod DA. Comparison between performance with a pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair and a manual wheelchair on the Wheelchair Skills Test. Disabil Rehabil. 2006;28:213–220
  5. Kirby RL, Corkum CG, Smith C, Rushton P, MacLeod DA, Webber A. Comparing performance of manual wheelchair skills using new and conventional rear anti-tip devices: randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89:480–485
  6. Kirby RL, MacDonald B, Smith C, MacLeod DA, Webber A. Comparison between a tilt-in-space wheelchair and a manual wheelchair equipped with a new rear anti-tip device from the perspective of the caregiver. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89:1811–1815
  7. MacDonald B, Kirby RL, Smith C, MacLeod DA, Webber A. Sitting pressure in the tilted position: manual tilt-in-space wheelchair vs manual wheelchair with a new rear antitip device. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;88:61–65
  8. Boudreau A, Kirby RL, Gillis J, et al. New rear-anti-tip device for wheelchairs: controlled comparison with conventional methods from the perspective of the need for spotter interventions during wheelie training. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of RESNA, 2007 Jun 15–19; Phoenix. Rosslyn (VA): RESNA; 2007.
  9. Kirby RL, Mifflen NJ, Thibault DL, et al. The wheelchair-handling skills of caregivers and the effect of training. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:2011–2019
  10. Taylor DH, Hoenig H. The effect of equipment usage and residual task difficulty on use of personal assistance, days in bed, and nursing home placement. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52:72–79
  11. Walker R, Kirby RL, Smith C, Best KL, MacLeod DA, Westwood D. Wheelchair-handling skills of caregivers: a pilot study comparison between conventional rear anti-tip devices and a new design. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of RESNA; 2006 Jun 22–26; Atlanta. Rosslyn (VA): RESNA; 2006.
  12. Kirby RL, Dupuis DJ, MacPhee AH, et al. The Wheelchair Skills Test (version 2.4): measurement properties. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:794–804
  13. Dalhousie University. The Wheelchair Skills Program manual (version 3.2). http://www.wheelchairskillsprogram.ca/eng/manualsold.htmAccessed Jan 15, 2009
  14. MacPhee AH, Kirby RL, Coolen AL, Smith C, MacLeod DA, Dupuis DJ. Wheelchair skills training program: a randomized clinical trial on wheelchair users undergoing initial rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:41–50
  15. Best KL, Kirby RL, Smith C, MacLeod DA. Wheelchair skills training for community-based manual wheelchair users: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:2316–2323
  16. Coolen AL, Kirby RL, Landry J, et al. Wheelchair skills training program for clinicians: a randomized controlled trial with occupational therapy students. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:1160–1167
  17. Begg C, Cho M, Eastwood S, et al. Improving the quality of reporting of randomised controlled trials: the CONSORT statement. JAMA. 1996;276:637–639

 This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant no. 2004021TG-126560-DAI-CHAA-13681).

 Clinical trials registration number: CDHA013; clinical trials ID: NCT00377533.

 Kirby holds a U.S. patent on the device that is the focus of this study. There are plans to commercialize the device. We certify that no other party having a direct interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on us or on any organization with which we are associated.

 Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00378-5

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.04.013

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 10 , Pages 1680-1684 , October 2009

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