Wheelchair Assessment

A structured clinical process conducted by trained rehabilitation professionals to determine the most appropriate wheelchair and seating system for an individual. The assessment typically involves multiple stages: a background interview covering medical history, lifestyle, and environment; physical assessment of body strength, motion, and posture; prescription of an appropriate wheelchair based on functional requirements; fitting the wheelchair to the client's body measurements; training the client in safe and effective wheelchair use; and follow-up to monitor adaptation and address issues. In low- and middle-income countries, wheelchair assessment faces significant challenges including limited access to trained professionals, predominantly paper-based workflows, inadequate supply chains, and the prevalence of donated wheelchairs that may not match individual needs.