Powered tilt/recline systems: why and how are they used?

Prolonged static sitting can lead to discomfort, pain, pressure sores, spinal curvatures, and loss of functional independence. In order to counteract these harmful effects, adjustable tilt and/or recline systems are often prescribed. Considering the current context of assistive technology service delivery and budget cuts, it is essential to have a better knowledge of the use of these technical aids and user's satisfaction with them. The purpose of this study was to characterize the use of powered tilt and recline systems. A questionnaire was developed for this purpose, and 40 subjects were interviewed at home. They were asked to identify, from a list of 25 objectives, the reasons for which they used their repositioning system and to rank these reasons in order of importance. For each objective, they were also asked to identify the frequency and range of use as well as their satisfaction level with their system. Results revealed that 97.5% of the subjects were using their powered tilt and recline system everyday, and their satisfaction was high. The main objectives for using this type of assistive technology were to increase comfort and to promote rest. Although mainly descriptive, results are of clinical relevance and can be helpful when selecting wheelchairs.