Evaluation of wheelchair back support crashworthiness: combination wheelchair back support surfaces and attachment hardware

Automotive seats are tested for compliance with federal motor vehicle safet y standards (FMVSS) to assure safety during impact. Many wheelchair users r ely upon their wheelchairs to serve as vehicle seats. However, the crashwor thiness of these wheelchairs during impact is often unknown. This study eva luated the crashworthiness of five combinations of wheelchair back support surfaces and attachment hardware using a static test procedure simulating c rash loading conditions. The crashworthiness was tested by applying a simul ated rearward load to each seat-back system. The magnitude of the applied l oad was established through computer simulation and biodynamic calculations , None of the five tested wheelchair back supports withstood the simulated crash loads. All failures were associated with attachment hardware.