Comparing the performance of ultralight folding manual wheelchairs using standardized tests

Objective: To evaluate ultralight folding manual wheelchairs (UFMWs) in order to produce comparative data on their strength, durability, stability and cost-benefit, and to determine progress of wheelchairs by comparing these results to results of past studies. Design: Engineering testing using American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) standards. Setting: Laboratory testing of UFMW stability, and static, impact and fatigue strength performance with three devices using ANSI/RESNA standardized tests. Participants: The three wheelchair models were the TiLite Aero X (Permobil, Lebanon, TN), Sunrise Medical Quickie 2 (Fresno, CA) and Ki Mobility Catalyst 5 (Stevens Point, WI). Interventions: ANSI/RESNA standardized tests. Main outcome measures: Mass and critical measurements, static stability, static strength, impact strength, fatigue strength and cost analysis. Results: The ultralight folding wheelchairs continued to outperform their lightweight and rigid framed counterparts. According to these data, the quality of ultralight wheelchairs has not declined over the past 10 years. The Ki Catalyst did not pass strength and durability testing, while the TiLite Aero X and Sunrise Medical Quickie 2 surpassed these tests. Conclusions: This result exemplifies the need for ongoing research to identify whether wheelchairs satisfy ANSI/RESNA testing requirements and highlights the importance of creating a resource data set. This is particularly important when numerous other wheelchairs fail to meet minimum ANSI/RESNA requirements.