Wheelchair and Seating Evaluation

Our therapists work with people age 13 and older who suffer from physical impairments and may benefit from assistive equipment. You may benefit from a wheelchair evaluation if you have ongoing or new mobility issues that can create movement problems such as:

• Orthopaedic injuries or amputations
• Neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cancer
• Spinal cord injuries and/or pressure injuries and wounds

We can also evaluate your current wheelchair to check for improvements to your seating or positioning. Insurance guidelines require that the primary use of the wheelchair is for moving about your home- insurance will not cover a wheelchair for leisure or recreational activities.

To receive mobility devices that may be covered by insurance, you'll need medical and therapy documentation that addresses your limited physical ability and needs. For example, to qualify for a power (electric) wheelchair, you’d need to demonstrate an inability to use a cane, walker, or manual wheelchair in your home. Additional requirements for qualification include the following.

• You must have a health condition that requires others’ help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, bathroom use, and getting in/out of bed.
• You must be able to safely transfer into and out of the wheelchair, and safely operate it.
• You or your family members must be able to fully understand the safe use of a mobility device.        

Portable or foldable power wheelchairs are not covered by any insurance policy.

We perform a comprehensive evaluation in our clinic to match equipment with your needs to help you reach your highest level of independence. During your appointment, we conduct a series of tests to better understand your strength, balance, ability to reach items safely, coordination, stability while walking, and any chronic pain that can affect movement.

We also evaluate your seating needs to determine the most appropriate cushions or wheelchair modifications to minimize the risk of developing pressure injuries and to allow existing wounds to heal.