Advances in Manual Wheelchair Technology

DiGiovine, Carmen P.
Koontz, Alicia M.
Boninger, Michael L.

Carmen P. DiGiovine, PhD, RET,is Clinical Assistant Professor, Assistive Technology Unit, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Alicia M. Koontz, PhD, RET,is Research Health Scientist, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Michael L. Boninger, MD,is Medical Director, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh HealthCare System; Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Professor, Departments of Bioengineering and Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh; and Executive Director, Center for Assistive Technology of University Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 11(4):p 1-14, Spring 2006.

The manual wheelchair has undergone much advancement over the past two decades. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the most significant advances in manual wheelchairs. These technological advances are now available in the clinical setting and should be recognized, discussed, and adopted by doctors, clinicians, engineers, funding sources, and, most important, consumers when the most appropriate manual wheelchair is being selected.