Non-Systems Study Set - Wheelchairs

Question 1

How would you properly measure seat height for a wheelchair

Answer 1

Measure from the pt’s heel to the popliteal fold, then add two inches for clearance of a foot rest

Question 2

What is the average seat height for a wheelchair in inches

Answer 2

19.5 -20.5

Question 3

How would you properly measure seat depth for a wheelchair

Answer 3

measure from the posterior buttock to the popliteal fold, then subtract two inches

Question 4

What is the average seat depth for a weel chair in inches

Answer 4

16 inches

Question 5

How would you properly measure seat width for a wheelchair

Answer 5

Measure the widest part of the patient’s trunk/LE and then add two inches

Question 6

What is the average seat width for a wheelchair in inches

Answer 6

18 inches

Question 7

How would you properly measure back height for a wheelchair

Answer 7

measure from the seat of the chair to the floor of the axilla with pt’s shoulder flexed to ninety then subtract four inches

Question 8

What is the average back height for a wheelchair in inches

Answer 8

16 to 16.5 inches

Question 9

How would you properly measure armrest height for a wheelchair

Answer 9

measure from the seat of the chair to the olecranon process with pt’s elbows flexed to ninety degrees then add one inch

**This will change if a patient is using a cushion

Question 10

What is the average armrest height for a weelchair

Answer 10

9 inches above the chair seat

Question 11

What is the appropriate way to ascend a curb with a forward approach when using a wheelchair

Answer 11

1. tip the wc back to the front wheels are elevated
2. move the wc forward until the rear wheels are in contact with the curb
3. lower the front wheels and ascend the curb with the back wheels

Question 12

What is the appropriate way to ascend a curb with a backward approach when using a wheelchair

Answer 12

1. position the pt facing away from the curb
2. lift and roll the back wheels backward up the curb
3. continue to roll backwards until the front wheels are in contact with the ground

Question 13

What is the appropriate way to descend a curb with a forward approach when using a wheelchair

Answer 13

1. Tip the chair back so the front wheels are elevated
2. slowly lower the chair until the rare wheels are down
3. gently lower the front wheels down

Question 14

What is the appropriate way to descend a curb with a backward approach when using a wheelchair

Answer 14

1. position the patient away from the curb
2. move the wc backwards and slowly lower the rear wheels to the ground
3. slowly roll wc backward until front wheels are down

Question 15

How many inches should be added to the widest aspect of the user’s buttocks when determining the seat width of a wheelchair?

two inches
three inches
four inches
five inches

Answer 15

two inches

Question 16

Which type of wheelchair would possess a seat that is significantly lower than a traditional wheelchair?

“amputee” wheelchair
“hemiplegic” wheelchair
one-hand drive wheelchair
ultralight wheelchair

Answer 16

hemiplegic

Question 17

Back height in a standard wheelchair would typically be measured as:

14 inches
15 inches
16 inches
17 inches

Answer 17

16 inches

Question 18

How many inches above the seat should the top of the armrest be positioned in a standard wheelchair?

5 inches
7 inches
9 inches
11 inches above the

Answer 18

nine inches

Question 19

Which wheelchair frame would be the best choice for a patient who is unable to self-propel or operate a power wheelchair safely?

hemi
Geri chair
tilt-in-space
power wheelchair

Answer 19

geri chair

Question 20

Which wheelchair measurement would be verified using the depicted technique?

seat width
seat depth
seat height
seat pitch

Answer 20

seat depth

Question 21

Which scenario would provide the most appropriate justification for a wheelchair with a reclining frame?

patient is unable to self-propel the wheelchair
patient frequently experiences autonomic dysreflexia
patient is unable to perform weight shifting tasks
patient has excessive lower extremity spasticity

Answer 21

patient is unable to perform weight shifting tasks

Question 22

Which wheelchair component would most likely be utilized with a high cervical spinal cord injury?

toggle brakes
planar back insert
rim projections
sip and puff controls

Answer 22

sip and puff controls

Question 23

If a patient’s thigh measures to 16 inches in length, approximately how deep should the seat of their wheelchair be?

12 inches
13 inches
14 inches
15 inches

Answer 23

14 inches

Question 24

If the back height of a patient’s wheelchair is too high, what complication will most likely occur?

decreased trunk stability
increased difficulty with propelling the wheelchair
skin irritation to the nape of the neck
increased difficulty with pressure relief activities

Answer 24

increased difficulty with propelling the wheelchair

Question 25

An excessively wide manual wheelchair increases the risk of which of the following for a young male patient with paraplegia?

sacral pressure ulcer
cervical strain
phantom limb effect
repetitive strain injuries to bilateral upper extremities

Answer 25

repetitive strain injuries to bilateral upper extremities

Question 26

What wheelchair measurement uses the olecranon process as an anatomical landmark?

armrest height
back height
seat width
seat depth height

Answer 26

armrest height

Question 27

Why is a slight anterior pelvic tilt important when positioning a patient in a wheelchair?

allows for weight bearing on the ischial tuberosities
provides flexion in the low back and extension in the hips
provides a stable base of support for control of the lower extremities
allows for decreased lumbar lordosis

Answer 27

provides a stable base of support for control of the lower extremities

Question 28

A wheelchair designed for a patient with paraplegia should include which of the following?

reclining frame
4 inch front casters
handrims with 12 vertical projections
removable desk top arms

Answer 28

removable desk top arms

Question 29

Which of the following wheelchair features would make it easiest to perform a wheelie?

anteriorly placed axle
posteriorly placed axle
heavy frame
wide wheelchair base

Answer 29

anteriorly placed axle

Question 30

Which of the following conditions would serve as the largest obstacle to using a power wheelchair?

stage 1 pressure ulcer
hypotonicity with poor trunk control
2+ pitting edema in the lower extremity
Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 30

Alzheimer’s disease

Question 31

What is the quickest and most effective method of pressure relief in a wheelchair?

sitting pushup
weight shift
power tilt
wheelchair dismount

Answer 31

sitting push up

Question 32

When descending a ramp in a wheelchair, the patient should:

move their hips to the front of the seat
lean forward in their seat
apply friction to the handrims
propel the wheelchair with only their feet

Answer 32

apply friction to the handrims

Question 33

When falling backward in a wheelchair, the patient should be taught to:

use both hands to grasp their respective armrests
maintain an upright trunk posture
reach backwards with one arm to slow the fall
tuck the chin toward the chest

Answer 33

tuck the chin toward the chest

Question 34

What is the safest way for a patient in a wheelchair to descend a curb?

self-propel the chair off the curb while facing forward
self-propel the chair off the curb while facing backward
have an assistant control the chair off the curb while facing forward
have an assistant control the chair off the curb while facing backward forward

Answer 34

have an assistant control the chair off the curb while facing backward

Question 35

Compared to wheelchair propulsion on a level surface, propulsion while ascending a ramp is characterized by:

longer, slower strokes
shorter, faster strokes
longer, faster strokes
shorter, slower strokes

Answer 35

shorter, faster strokes

Question 36

A patient with a C6 complete spinal cord injury should control their wheelchair descent on a ramp by:

squeezing the rims with their hands
applying a downward pressure on the rims
applying a medially directed pressure to the rims
placing the feet in contact with the ramp

Answer 36

applying a medially directed pressure to the rims

Question 37

How should a therapist be positioned when initially instructing a patient how to perform wheelies in a wheelchair?

3-5 feet from the wheelchair
to one side of the wheelchair
in front of the wheelchair
behind the wheelchair

Answer 37

behind the wheelchair

Question 38

In order to ascend and descend a curb, an individual in a wheelchair must first learn how to:

ascend and descend a ramp
perform a wheelie
independently enter a wheelchair from the ground
perform pressure relief techniques

Answer 38

perform a wheelie

Question 39

When pushing a wheelchair for a patient, which wheels should touch the ground first when descending a curb using a forward approach?

the front wheels
the back wheels
the right front and right back wheels
the left front and left back wheels

Answer 39

the back wheels