Exploration of Factors Related to Wheelchair Postural Improvement in Long-Term Care Residents After an Individualized Wheelchair Intervention

This study aimed to, first, investigate the kinematic postural effects of an individualized wheelchair intervention for residents in a long-term care facility and, second, explore factors related to wheelchair postural improvement. Twenty-seven residents participated in this study, with 14 subjects randomly assigned to the intervention group. The tools used to measure static and dynamic posture while seated in a wheelchair were a goniometer and a palpation meter. The individualized wheelchair intervention was performed by a therapist specializing in assistive technology. The results failed to demonstrate a significant effect after individual wheelchair interventions; however, further examination revealed that wheelchair intervention significantly correlated with an improvement in anterior and posterior head tilt while seated in the wheelchair. Other factors such as age, gender, presence of neurological disease, and the transfer score on the Barthel Index were found to be related to wheelchair postural improvement.