State Spinal Cord Injury Service

Spinal Seating Modules

Module 5:
Evaluation of client seating and wheeled mobility equipment

This module aims to describe the evaluation process for seating and wheeled mobility components.

Client equipment should be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of current equipment and to explore the suitability of proposed equipment.

A systematic record of the current seating and wheeled mobility systems enables the clinician to:

Compare the client’s existing seating and wheelchair with their recently assessed seating and mobility requirements (see Module 2, Module 3 and Module 4)
Identify features or specifications related to the client's needs
Identify support and maintenance issues with the existing system
Assess effectiveness of the existing system for the client, (what works/ what does not work)
Identify possible trauma or pressure risks, e.g. sharp edges, protruding parts, poor padding
Recognise the prioritisation of seating goals and urgency for intervention
Identify needs for the adjustment of current equipment or the prescription of new equipment
Identify changes in seating configuration that may have occurred over time, intentionally and unintentionally, as compared to a previous record, and
Communicate clearly and precisely dimensions and configurations between therapists and supporting individuals.

An evaluation of potential future equipment should facilitate:

Documentation and confirmation of specifications to the supplier for quotation and prescription phases, and
Improve accuracy and time efficiency in configuring the new system based on a detailed record of the trial system.

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

List the tools required for evaluating the seating and wheeled mobility system
Record relevant measurements of the system
Inspect and describe components of the system, and
Systematically summarise your findings to identify issues with the current system.