PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELCHAIRS ON ANSI RESNA TESTS/

Objective: This study provides data for clinicians and. wheelchair use rs to compare the durability, stability, and cost effectiveness of thr ee different lightweight wheelchair models: the Everest & Jennings EZ Lite, the Invacare Rolls 2000, and the Quickie Designs Breezy. A secon d objective was to compare the results from this study to those publis hed for ultralight and institutional depot wheelchairs. Design: Random ized standards testing of three wheelchair models from each manufactur er (nine wheelchairs total). Results: There were no significant differ ences (p>.05) in fatigue Life, life-cycle cost: or static stability be tween the three models of lightweight wheelchairs tie, EZ Lire, Rolls 2000, or Breezy). There were, however, significant differences (p<.05) in fatigue life among the lightweight wheelchairs of this study and t he published results fur ultralight rehabilitation wheelchairs and fur depot wheelchairs. The lightweight wheelchairs had an average fatigue life greater than the: depot wheelchairs but less than the rehabilita tion wheelchairs. A depot-type wheelchair was defined as a manual whee lchair designed for hospital or institutional use. A lightweight wheel chair was defined as a manual wheelchair with minimal adjustments desi gned for individual or institutional use. An ultralight rehabilitation wheelchair was defined as a manual wheelchair designed for an individ ual's use as a long-term mobility aid. Conclusion: The three models of Lightweight wheelchairs tested are substantially similar and their fa tigue Lives are significantly (p<.05) lower than rehabilitation wheelc hairs. Ultralight rehabilitation wheelchairs are the most cost effecti ve over the life of the wheelchair. costing 3.4 times less (dollars pe r Life cycle) than depot wheelchairs, and 2.3 times less (dollars per life cycle) than the lightweight wheelchairs tested in this study. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Amer ican Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.