Tiller Steering on Wheelchairs for Children and Adults with Unequal Arm Function

Abstract

THERE are very few wheelchairs suitable for children such as those with hemiplegia due to cerebral palsy or road traffic accidents who have good function in only one arm, and who find it difficult to put equal power into both wheels and are therefore unable to direct their chairs independently. We have developed an effective and versatile adaptation that has made some children independent in their own wheelchair for the first time in their lives. A tiller slots into a bracket that is fixed into the castor wheel, preferably on the same side as the propelling wheel. The upper end of the tiller extends to an appropriate height over the lap and is pushed and pulled by the weaker arm to steer. With practice, a high degree of manoeuvrability can be obtained. One boy mastered it in a matter of minutes. If the route is fairly direkt, the tiller can be placed under the unaffected arm and both the propelling and steering are then done on the same side, ie using one arm only. If weaker children have to be pushed over longer distances,