The statistics vary from report to report according to which group of consumers is questioned, but regardless, the answers are sobering. Out of every 10 manual wheelchair users who are asked, three to seven will report having shoulder pain sometime during their lives.*

That’s especially significant because manual wheelchair users depend on their shoulders to accomplish so much, from propulsion to transfers to push-ups for pressure relief. And that’s in addition to everyday reaching, lifting and carrying that can also be magnified by less-than-ideally-accessible environments.

A shoulder injury or shoulder pain that would be a nuisance to a non-wheelchair user can have a debilitating impact on the mobility and independence of consumers who use manual wheelchairs — making shoulder health a critical topic for them and the healthcare professionals who support them.

What Factors Make the Difference?

“I see the three primary contributing factors to shoulder preservation from wheelchair use as transfers, propelling and stopping, and activities of daily living (ADLs),” says Alan Ludovici, senior product design engineer for Ki Mobility.

Ludovici speaks from personal experience. A complex rehab industry veteran who’s been instrumental in the design and creation of many ultralightweight chairs, he’s also a veteran ultralight user himself.

“Toileting, work environment, cleaning, cooking, etc., in your chair configuration affects how you use your upper body, which results in the amount of stress on your shoulders,” he explains.

From the MM Library: Ultralight Usage

More from the Mobility Management editorial archives (go to MobilityMgmt.com, and use the Search function):

Research: Understanding Wheelchair Propulsion
Dr. Stephen Sprigle’s research series (MM January 2015) examines the performance differences between lightweight and ultralightweight manual wheelchairs. Search words: Ultralight Research (for part II).

Justify It: K0005 Manual Chairs
Examining clinical justification for ultralight chairs, as well as the documentation needed to secure reimbursement. Search words: pediatric ultralight chairs).

The Ergonomics of Ultralights
Optimizing setups for self-propelled wheelchairs. Search word: The awards program recognizes innovations in seating, mobility and accessibility.