CMC Manual & Power Wheelchair Selection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with progressive MS experiences increasing fatigue. She currently uses a manual chair but struggles by mid-afternoon. What is the most appropriate recommendation?
- Lighter-weight ultra-lightweight manual chair
- Power-assist add-on wheels for the manual chair (Correct answer)
- Standard power wheelchair
- Scooter for outdoor use only
Correct answer: Power-assist add-on wheels for the manual chair
Power-assist wheels preserve the client's independence and manual control while reducing propulsion effort, addressing fatigue without a full transition to power.
Question 2: When measuring seat depth for a wheelchair, what landmark is used as the posterior reference point?
- Greater trochanter
- Posterior aspect of the buttocks against the back support (Correct answer)
- Popliteal fossa
- Sacrum
Correct answer: Posterior aspect of the buttocks against the back support
Seat depth is measured from the posterior buttocks (against the back support) to the popliteal fossa, then subtracting 1–2 inches for clearance.
Question 3: Which manual wheelchair frame design offers the greatest structural rigidity and is preferred for active wheelchair sports?
- Folding cross-brace frame
- Rigid (non-folding) frame (Correct answer)
- Hemi-height frame
- Reclining back frame
Correct answer: Rigid (non-folding) frame
Rigid frames transfer propulsion energy more efficiently and weigh less because they eliminate the cross-brace mechanism, making them standard for sports and active users.
Question 4: A power wheelchair user with ALS needs environmental control integration. Which power wheelchair feature enables this?
- Attendant control override
- Expanded controls / integrated control module (Correct answer)
- Powered seat elevator
- Bluetooth proximity locking
Correct answer: Expanded controls / integrated control module
Expanded controls or integrated control modules allow the power wheelchair's electronics to operate smart home devices, communication aids, and other assistive technology from a single interface.
Question 5: What is the primary clinical reason for prescribing a power tilt-in-space system rather than a simple recline on a power wheelchair?
- Tilt reduces shear forces during position changes (Correct answer)
- Recline requires more seating hardware
- Tilt allows greater hip angle change
- Recline is incompatible with headrests
Correct answer: Tilt reduces shear forces during position changes
Tilt-in-space moves the entire seating system as a unit, maintaining hip/knee/ankle angles and minimizing shear on the skin, unlike recline which opens hip angle and creates shear.
Question 6: A child using a manual wheelchair will grow significantly over the next two years. Which feature best accommodates this growth?
- Swing-away footrests
- Adjustable-width and adjustable-depth seat hardware (Correct answer)
- Anti-tip wheels
- Extended push handles
Correct answer: Adjustable-width and adjustable-depth seat hardware
Pediatric chairs with adjustable seat width and depth allow the seating dimensions to be expanded as the child grows, delaying the need for a new frame.
Question 7: Which environmental factor most adversely affects power wheelchair battery performance and range?
- Smooth indoor flooring
- Cold ambient temperatures (Correct answer)
- Low-traffic corridors
- Flat terrain without inclines
Correct answer: Cold ambient temperatures
Cold temperatures reduce chemical reaction rates inside lithium-ion or gel-cell batteries, significantly decreasing available capacity and driving range.
CMC Manual & Power Wheelchair Selection 3
A client with progressive MS experiences increasing fatigue.
She currently uses a manual chair but struggles by mid-afternoon.
What is the most appropriate recommendation?