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Anthropometry of Wheeled Mobility Project: Final Report

3.3.15.1 Forward reach – unobstructed

A large percentage of WhMD users in our study could not reach beyond the most forward point of their WhMDs or foot, and the difference between users of different types of WhMDs was very large (Figure 3‒15). For example, from among the 371 (75%) WhMD users in our study that could perform a reach task, only 78% of the manual chair users, 55% of the power chair users and 48% of the scooter users could reach beyond their mobility device or foot for at least one point between 600 mm (23.6 in.) and 1100 mm (43.3 in.) from the floor. Lower percentages in a forward reach for scooter users partially resulted from having to overcome a greater distance to reach over and/or around the front tiller, particularly at lower heights. Forward reaching capabilities for the three groups declined rapidly for heights above 1200 mm (47.2 in.) and below 600 mm (23.6 in.). Only 32% of our study’s manual wheelchair users, 22% of power chair users and 8% of the scooter users could complete forward reaches beyond the mobility device or foot at heights of 500‒600 mm (19.7‒23.6 in.). The lower limit of the U.S. standard would need to be raised from 380 mm (15 in.) to at least 600 mm (23.6 in.) in order to accommodate over 70%, 50% and 38% of our study’s manual wheelchair users, powered chair users and scooter users, respectively.

Figure 3-15. Forward reach: research findings versus the standard

Figure 3-15. Forward reach: research findings versus the standard.

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