Mary is a 12-year-old student with a C4 spinal cord injury. She has normal cognitive function, vision, and hearing, plus head movement. What type of wheelchair do you expect Mary would be able to use independently?
A)A manual wheelchair with postural supports, a custom seat, and push knobs on the wheels.
B)An electric wheelchair with postural supports, a custom seat, and joystick controls.
C)A manual wheelchair with a custom seat and padded wheelchair rims.
D)An electric wheelchair with postural supports, a custom seat, and a head control.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

You would expect Mary would be able to use an electric wheelchair with postural supports, a custom seat, and a head control. Mary's injury is at C4, which means she is paralyzed from the neck down. So she would not be capable of propelling a manual wheelchair by herself. She also would not be capable of operating a joystick control with her hand, but would be able to operate a head control since she has some head movement.

Mary Is a 12-Year-Old Student with a C4 Spinal Cord