Clinical Assessment Toolkit

Wheelchair users who have suffered from heat and/or moisture related symptoms in the last twelve months are encouraged to consult the risk factor scale to assess the severity of their symptoms. The matrix plots the severity of symptoms against the level of risk associated with overheating and over-sweating. In other words, the higher the severity, the more a person could benefit from better heat and moisture management.

We have a selection of literature reviews on some of the most common medical conditions for wheelchair or specific issues that relate to heat and moisture. Some of the conditions covered in our literature reviews include: spinal cord injuries; pressure sores; multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. The purpose of conducting literature reviews was to better understand the main issues associated with each condition for wheelchair users, based on existing research and knowledge.

Many wheelchair users use WheelAir to help manage their temperature, sweat, or microclimate. Wheelchair users with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord Injury, Muscular Dystrophy, Autonomic neuropathy, and Central nervous system disorders can experience challenges related to heat, sweat, and skincare. This conditions index briefly explains temperature regulation and/or sweat in relation to these conditions.