SMS Mobility and Propulsion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which power wheelchair drive configuration provides the tightest turning radius?
- Front-wheel drive
- Mid-wheel drive (Correct answer)
- Rear-wheel drive
- All-wheel drive
Correct answer: Mid-wheel drive
Mid-wheel drive power wheelchairs have the drive wheels under the user's center of gravity, enabling a very tight turning radius ideal for indoor navigation.
Question 2: A client with ALS who is losing upper extremity strength is being evaluated for power wheelchair access. Which access method should be considered as disease progresses?
- Standard joystick permanently
- Proportional mini joystick initially, with a plan for alternative access (head array, sip-and-puff) as function declines (Correct answer)
- Head array from the start regardless of current function
- Foot control only
Correct answer: Proportional mini joystick initially, with a plan for alternative access (head array, sip-and-puff) as function declines
As ALS progresses, access methods must evolve with the client's changing function, starting with the least restrictive option and planning ahead for alternative access as upper extremity function declines.
Question 3: A sip-and-puff controller for a power wheelchair uses which input modality?
- Finger pressure on a capacitive surface
- Pneumatic pressure and vacuum created by sipping or puffing into a straw (Correct answer)
- Eye gaze tracking
- Head position tracking via gyroscope
Correct answer: Pneumatic pressure and vacuum created by sipping or puffing into a straw
Sip-and-puff controllers use pneumatic input — the user sips (inhales) or puffs (exhales) into a straw-like tube to generate commands for directional control.
Question 4: What is the primary advantage of a power assist add-on for manual wheelchairs compared to a standard power wheelchair?
- Lower cost always
- Preserves manual propulsion skills and independence while reducing upper extremity strain (Correct answer)
- Requires no battery maintenance
- Better suited for outdoor rough terrain than power chairs
Correct answer: Preserves manual propulsion skills and independence while reducing upper extremity strain
Power assist devices add motorized assistance to manual propulsion, reducing shoulder strain while preserving the user's active propulsion and maintaining a smaller, more maneuverable footprint than a full power chair.
Question 5: When assessing a client's ability to drive a power wheelchair, which environment should be tested FIRST?
- Outdoor terrain and curb cuts
- A quiet, open indoor space (Correct answer)
- A crowded shopping mall
- A simulated driving course with tight obstacle spacing
Correct answer: A quiet, open indoor space
Initial power wheelchair driving assessment should begin in a quiet, open indoor space to allow the client to learn basic control before advancing to more complex environments.
Question 6: Which feature allows a power wheelchair to maintain a consistent speed when traveling down a slope?
- Tilt-in-space mechanism
- Anti-rollback or downhill braking control (Correct answer)
- Center-of-gravity adjustment
- Swing-away footrests
Correct answer: Anti-rollback or downhill braking control
Anti-rollback or downhill speed control features regulate the power wheelchair's speed on slopes, preventing uncontrolled acceleration when descending.
SMS Mobility and Propulsion 2
Which power wheelchair drive configuration provides the tightest turning radius?