LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS OF DEPOT VERSUS REHABILITATION MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS

The proper selection of a wheelchair requires making several critical decisions, not the least of which is what type of wheelchair is approp riate. The International Organization for Standards (ISO) continues to develop and refine wheelchair standards. Standards allow the objectiv e comparison of products from various sources, permitting consumers or clinicians to assess wheelchairs with which they are not familiar by comparing test results. This study consisted of three components: 1) t he comparison of fatigue test results with a planar ANSI/RESNA test du mmy to a HERL contoured test dummy; 2) the comparison of fatigue test results for common depot versus common rehabilitation manual wheelchai rs; and 3) the comparison of fatigue test results for manual rehabilit ation wheelchairs with solid 8-inch casters versus those with pneumati c 8-inch casters. Rehabilitation wheelchairs lasted on average 13.2 ti mes longer than the depot wheelchairs. Both types, tested with the sta ndard ISO-ANSI/RESNA dummy, lasted on average 2.1 times longer than th ose wheelchairs tested using the contoured dummy. The three rehabilita tion wheelchairs equipped with 8-inch pneumatic casters lasted on aver age 3.2 times longer than the 6 rehabilitation wheelchairs equipped wi th solid 8-inch casters. The depot wheelchairs cost about 3.4 times as much to operate per cycle or per meter than the rehabilitation wheelc hairs. The rehabilitation wheelchairs tended to experience component f ailures, while the depot wheelchairs tended to experience frame failur es. Our testing indicates that the tests in the ISO-ANSI/RESNA standar ds can relate design features to fatigue test results and durability. Rehabilitation wheelchairs tend to use higher quality materials and be tter manufacturing practices, and they provide greater mobility for wh eelchair users. Purchasers and prescribers of wheelchairs should consi der the life-cycle cost and not just the purchase price for wheelchair s.