Abstract-This study examined the usage of powered seating functions, including tilt-in-space, backrest recline, and seat elevation, among a group of wheelchair users during their typical daily activities. Twelve individuals who used a power wheelchair with seating functions participated in the study. They drove their own wheelchair and used the seating functions as needed in their community environment for about 2 weeks while the seating function usage was recorded with a portable device. We found that subjects occupied their wheelchair for 11.8 +/-3.4 hours a day (all data shown as mean +/-standard deviation). While occupying their wheelchairs, they accessed tilt-in-space, backrest recline, and seat elevation 19 +/-14 times a day for 64.1% +/-36.8%, 12 +/-8 times for 76.0% +/-29.8%, and 4 +/-4 times for 22.5% +/-34.9%, respectively. Subjects chose to stay in tilted and reclined positions in their wheelchair for 39.3% +/-36.5% of their time each day. They spent little time in a fully upright position. Subjects changed their seating positions every 53.6 +/-47.0 minutes. Time spent in positions of different seating pressures varied among subjects. The information collected could enhance clinical practice of wheelchair provision, resulting in better compliance with clinical instructions and appropriate use of seating functions among wheelchair users.

Real life information on wheelchair usage is important for investigating the effectiveness of certain features, evaluate users' performance, and eventually improve the safety and reliability of wheelchairs. The purpose of the study is to develop a wheelchair usage monitoring/logging system that travels with wheelchair users in their daily activity settings and collects data independently. The system consists of a wheel rotation logging module, a GPS logging module, and a seating posture logging module. It obtains data on how far wheelchair users drive, where they have been, and how long they spend in various seating positions. The initial testing results showed that the system can be used as a clinical compliance tool to determine how clients are using their wheelchairs, and if they are effectively using seat features to relieve seating pressure.

This presentation will review briefly the current practice and state of the art in functional electrical stimulation (FES) as applied to stroke, head injured or brain tumour operated patients. A similar application is used in paretic patients following trauma or other aetiology. Over 20 years experience in the application of FES, as practised in Ljubljana, will be highlighted and the devices currently in use will be described. The statistics show the results obtained on 2,500 hemiplegic patients examined for FES application during the last 10 years. The statistics and results of the Slovenian population indicate 0.15-0.20% new cases annually or 1,500 new cases per million inhabitants. Up to 63% of annual cases are candidates for an FES based therapeutic locomotion rehabilitation programme. Experience indicates that 60% of hemiplegic patients received single-channel stimulation to correct equinovarus or foot drop, 30% obtained dual or even three channel stimulation treatment and only 10% of patients were involved in multichannel FES of four to six or even eight channels of stimulation. The benefits and outcome of rehabilitation will be presented and discussed in regard to current trends in the field of FES for hemiplegic and paretic patients. The partly inactive but very important field of FES application to the upper extremity in hemiplegic and paretic patients will be discussed and the relatively modest achievements presented. Future developments will be presented together with advances foreseen by steadily improving technology.