THE ART & SCIENCE OF THE FIRST WHEELCHAIR
Absolutely
INSPIRED! Celebrating 2025 Mobility Management Product Award Winners
December 2025 mobilitymgmt.com
editor’s note December 2025 mobilitymgmt.com
CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, WTWH MEDIA
A
nother year has come to an end, and I’m not sure how. Regardless, it’s time to list what I’m looking forward to and hoping for as the seating industry welcomes 2026. • Power standing national coverage analysis (NCA): That request — originally submitted with an NCA request for power seat elevation — passed the five-year mark in September of this year. And while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to cover seat elevation was indeed cause for celebration, that announcement came more than two and a half years ago. Yes, the NCA request came the year the COVID-19 pandemic began. Yes, CMS has been very busy with Medicare competitive bidding and accreditation changes for durable medical equipment providers. But by CMS’s own description, the national coverage determination “generally takes nine to 12 months,” the agency said on its website. • Repair and service evolution: It’s as complex as the equipment being worked on, but its time has come — indeed, policies are changing all over the country right now. Repair has become a popular topic in mainstream media, which has sided with wheelchair riders upset by long lead times. Of course, that’s a very valid concern, though mainstream media rarely gives equal time to the seating industry’s explanations and frustrations over, for example, prior authorization requirements, inadequate reimbursement, and lack of routine maintenance that could fix small problems before they escalate. • Converging technology: This year, Mobility Management featured in-depth coverage of 3D printing technology, as well as coverage of the annual Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) conference that took place in Chicago as part of RehabWeek in May. Our parent company, WTWH Media, owns publications in a number of fields, including engineering, and I was thrilled to very recently learn how many of their editorial topics — including linear motion engineering, automation and product testing — could relate to seating and wheeled mobility. I can’t wait to collaborate with engineering colleagues. Wishing you a very happy new year. m
Matt Logan
EDITORIAL VP, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Tim Mullaney
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Bob Holly
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Laurie Watanabe lwatanabe@wtwhmedia.com
ART VP, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matt Claney mclaney@wtwhmedia.com
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Patrick Lynch
VP OF SALES
Sean Donohue
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Randy Easton
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Colton Stefanich
Mobility Management (ISSN 1558-6731) is published 5 times a year, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December, by WTWH Media, LLC., 1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 1120, Cleveland, OH 44114. © Copyright 2025 by WTWH Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproductions in whole or part prohibited except by written permission. Mail requests to “Permissions Editor,” c/o Mobility Management, 1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 1120, Cleveland, OH 44114. The information in this magazine has not undergone any formal testing by WTWH Media, LLC, and is distributed without any warranty expressed or implied. Implementation or use of any information contained herein is the reader’s sole responsibility. While the information has been reviewed for accuracy, there is no guarantee that the same or similar results may be achieved in all environments. Technical inaccuracies may result from printing errors and/or new developments in the industry. Corporate Headquarters: WTWH Media, LLC 1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 1120 Cleveland, OH 44114 https://www.wtwhmedia.com/ Media Kits: Direct requests to George Yedinak, 312-248-1716 (phone), gyedinak@wtwhmedia.com. Reprints: For more information, please contact Laurie Watanabe, lwatanabe@wtwhmedia.com.
2025
2011 - 2020, 2024-2025
2013 - 2017, 2021
SILVER NATIONAL AWARD
asbpe.org
Laurie Watanabe, Editor in Chief lwatanabe@wtwhmedia.com @CRTeditor
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | mobilitymgmt.com P2
NEW YEAR: ADOBE STOCK/CORRI SEIZINGER
Bring it on!
Scott McCafferty
CEO
ATP Series
Celebrating top seating and wheeled mobility innovations
SHINING STAR: ADOBE STOCK/PRAMOTE
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mong the many remarkable qualities of Complex Rehab Technology professionals, one stands out: a relentless dedication to creating customized solutions for clients. Every year, Mobility Management honors technology that truly transforms — through inventive engineering, creative problem-solving, and cutting-edge materials — all in service of better outcomes for children and adults. Congratulations to our 2025 winners! — Laurie Watanabe, editor in chief
Accessories, Wheelchair
LED Light Kit: Personalized Color Changing Option Permobil With this “shining example of leveraging a networked ecosystem,” riders can use Permobil’s power platform electronics and MyPermobil app to create lighting effects that change colors while brightening nighttime or low-light environments and boosting visibility. Once riders connect their chairs to the app, MyPermobil provides controls
for the LED Light Kit, “including a slider to select any color on the RGB spectrum, the color intensity and the brightness.” Providing this feature free of charge “reflects our commitment to end users and giving every person something more than a device to get them from point A to point B,” Permobil added.
LED LIGHT KIT
Alternative Driving Controls
ASL iON Drive Control System Adaptive Switch Laboratories Inc. Created for clients with such conditions as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, high-level spinal cord injuries, and advanced multiple sclerosis, the iON connects to all ASL digital drive controls to serve as a powerful smart hub and control panel for a range of daily activities. The iON offers auditory voice cues for navigation, voice communication phrases, MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | mobilitymgmt.com
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ATP Series | Stars Bright ASL iON DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM
Electronics, Power Wheelchair
Switch-It CTRL+5 with Voice Activation Sunrise Medical
spent on improving walking quality and endurance. The elliptical pedaling involves a longer forward-and-back-movement that provides an extended stretch to lower limbs. The enhanced motion also promotes better loading through the hips and supports healthy joint development. Altogether, the MyWay Pedal supports a child’s exploration, interaction and participation in daily life.
Positioning, Head
Matrx SNUG Headrest Pad Bluetooth pairing to eight devices, multiple active drive controls managed by users, and a wireless attendant control. Driving experiences can be customized for different environments: A wheelchair rider driving via latched sip-and-puff outside can change to non-latched head array driving indoors.
Backs, Dynamic Positioning Hardware for E2398
Dynamic Rocker Back Interface (DRBi) Seating Dynamics The Dynamic Rocker Back interface meets the needs of wheelchair riders who have strong extensor forces; exhibit large, forceful movements; or who seek movement. Without such an intervention, clients can sustain injuries, break their equipment, move out of position in their seating, experience agitation, have difficulty staying alert, have decreased seating tolerance, and experience pain. The Dynamic Rocker Back translates client forces into back movement and then returns the client upright without losing position. The results can include reducing active extension, maintaining posture, and providing sensory input.
This voice-activated power seating control — standard on all CTRL+5 modules and an industry first — allows riders to adjust seating positions completely hands-free via simple voice commands. Voice activation enables wheelchair riders to tilt, recline, elevate their legs and access preprogrammed seating functions by saying, “Hello, Sunrise,” followed by the command. Voice control is particularly helpful for riders with limited dexterity or difficulty reaching their controllers, including those using sip-andpuff devices, head arrays or mini joysticks. The result: Wheelchair riders are empowered to meet their clinically recommended positioning goals with greater independence.
Gait Trainers
LECKEY MyWay Pedal Sunrise Medical Add the LECKEY MyWay Pedal to the MyWay+ gait trainer to get elliptical motion in standing to promote dynamic movement and enhanced walking ability. This added functionality strengthens antigravity muscles and supports movement patterns that encourage independence and growth. The MyWay Pedal also interjects fun into time
Motion Concepts/Invacare Corp. The latest additions to the Matrx pad series, SNUG headrest pads feature a 7-inch or 9-inch center panel with lateral plates from 2.5 inches to 5.5 inches deep to fit to the size of the user’s head. Hinges allow the lateral support plates to be angled to provide precise conformity to the head shape, and symmetric or asymmetric plate depths allow support or clearance as needed on each side of the head. The hinge is easily accessible for adjustments without requiring the cover to be removed. The SNUG includes Motion Concepts’ popular HUG StaminaFibre pillow soft pad for comfort and conformity. Lightweight EVA foam backing provides extra protection and comfort, and the backing and HUG pad are machine washable.
Power-Assist Systems, Front-Mounted
Empulse F35 Power Assist Sunrise Medical This pull power-assist device is engineered to make daily mobility lighter, easier and more convenient. The Empulse F35 weighs just 19.8 lbs. (with a 16.5-lb. transport weight) and has a slim, foldable handle the size of a golf umbrella to make lifting, MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | mobilitymgmt.com
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Free Form Seating Complex Seating. Simplified.
Fit a custom molded back in one appointment Single tool adjustment Completely ventilated custom seating HCPCS Coded E2617 and E2609 Demos available Beat the heat with StimuLITE ® for fully ventilated custom seating!
www.symmetric-designs.com
Back Kits available with a full range of sizes, shapes, padding/covers and mounting options.
ATP Series | Stars Bright EMPULSE F35 POWER ASSIST
QUICKIE QS5 X MANUAL FOLDING CHAIR
for a cruise-control-like experience using handrims. The centralized power and weight provide a natural, intuitive drive. Cruise control and intelligent hill control ensure smooth, safe operations.
Standing Frames/Standers
Vertiflex MOBILE Synetik Group Inc.
handling and storage effortless. The F35 travels up to 9.3 miles on a single charge of its efficient 4Ah battery and intelligent battery management. Three speed modes and three acceleration profiles provide smooth indoor maneuvering, outdoor cruising or tackling of steeper terrain. The one-motion docking system enables quick attachment/ detachment, while travelers benefit from the airline-friendly, International Air Transport Association (IATA)-compliant battery that can remain installed during flights with only a simple fuse removal.
Power-Assist Systems, In-Hub
Empulse M90 Power Assist Wheels Sunrise Medical The Empulse M90 wheel add-on provides discreet power-assist functions with style and performance. A fully integrated design eliminates visible wires or external components to keep the wheelchair compact while improving balance and ride quality through hub-centered weight. Removable batteries are housed discreetly to maintain a sleek look. The complete set weighs 27 lbs., with each wheel + battery weighing 12.9 lbs. Riders can choose All-Way Toggle drive mode for power chair-style control or Speed Controller with handrim steering
Designed as a pediatric stander that adapts seamlessly to diverse body shapes and evolving clinical needs, the Vertiflex MOBILE combines mobility, versatility and user-centric design in one device. Its modular structure and wide range of accessories provide full customization for user comfort and therapeutic efficiency. The manually propelled Vertiflex MOBILE offers true multi-position capability — supporting prone and supine positioning — without leg abduction. It’s available in two sizes and can be fitted with one of three different wheel sizes to match therapeutic goals and user preference. Each stander is delivered fully assembled and customized to reduce setup time for clinicians and caregivers.
Wheelchairs, Manual, Ultralightweight
QUICKIE QS5 X Manual Folding Chair Sunrise Medical With a design that redefines ease of use, transportability and performance, the aluminum QS5 X lightweight folding wheelchair weighs 16 lbs. (fixed front) or 16.5 lbs. (swing-away frame). Weight reduction and advanced engineering come together to create a chair that’s easier to lift and handle. The QS5
X’s FreeFold design delivers more than 40% energy savings during folding compared to traditional systems. The optional Fold-n-Lock feature keeps the chair securely closed with a simple click, and the frame stands upright when folded. The specially heat-treated 7000 series aluminum, ovalized tubing and forged parts provide strength, rigidity and responsiveness. Rider-centric features include patented caster links for precise straight-line tracking and integrated LED lights.
Wheelchairs, Power, Group 2, Single Power
J4E Quantum Rehab Not every power wheelchair rider qualifies for Group 3 functions — but so many of them could benefit from tilt and seat elevation. The Group 2 J4E power chair brings those functions to clients who can now access tilt and power adjustable seat height — and can drive at 1.25 mph while elevated. Additional features include standard 5-mph motors, options such as a power articulating foot platform, and 50 degrees of tilt, all engineered to provide excellent value. The J4E comes standard with the QLNES controller, but can be upgraded to the Q-Logic 3 expandable controller. Seating options include the Q4 50-degree tilt or power articulating foot platform. The J4E has a 300-lb. weight capacity.
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AMYLIOR IS PROUDLY DISTRIBUTING
Offering exceptional postural support and lasting comfort in a sleek, versatile seating system.
Designed for everyday mobility, it provides postural support and flexibility as users grow.
Empowering users to stay mobile, engaged, and independent — for adults and children alike.
Scan to learn more!
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ATP Series | Stars Bright
Wheelchairs, Power, Group 3 Multiple Power (tie)
IBOT PMD WITH POWER TILT & RECLINE
Signature Alltrack M3 Narrow (N2221) Amylior A base width of 21 inches — 2.375 inches slimmer than the standard M3 or P3 — enables the Alltrack M3 Narrow to expertly maneuver in tight spaces without giving up driving performance or clinical capabilities. The mid-wheel-drive configuration has a 20-inch turning radius while retaining stability and a smooth suspension performance indoors and outside. The Alltrack M3 Narrow accommodates seating up to 22x22 inches, with a 13.5-inch seat-to-floor height for safer transfers and environmental accessibility, including in long-term care or urban housing. The N2221, with its 300-lb. weight capacity, can accommodate pediatric clients and smaller adults while providing next-generation seating advancements. The Signature Tailored Positioning Solutions system provides adjustability to address pressure distribution, optimize postural support and enable functional reach.
Wheelchairs, Power, Group 3 Multiple Power (tie)
ibot PMD with Power Tilt & Recline Mobius Mobility In 2025, the well-known ibot added power positioning features, including tilt and recline, to give wheelchair riders the ability to elevate their legs, tilt forward, and transfer while at an elevated seat height. The additions expand the field of power chair
riders who could potentially benefit from using the ibot, long famous for its balance mode that brings its rider to eye level. Its best-known ability — stair climbing — also continues to provide additional accessibility and “emotional value” for its users. Mobius Mobility noted the ibot’s abilities to provide greater independence while also encouraging potential riders who have been slower to adapt to and adopt assistive technology.
Wheelchairs, Power, Uncoded by PDAC
MAGIC MOBILITY XT4 All-Terrain Power Wheelchair Sunrise Medical
Wheelchairs, Power, Travel, Standard
Jazzy Ultra Light Pride Mobility This lightweight, foldable power wheelchair follows after the Jazzy Carbon, but improves upon it with an all-carbon fiber frame and a total weight of 33 lbs. without the battery — compared to the nearly 40-lb. weight of the Jazzy Carbon. For active power chair riders and travelers, the Jazzy Ultra Light provides durability and portability. It folds flat and locks into position in seconds and is easy to pick up and store in a car trunk. As an FDA Class II medical device, the Jazzy Ultra Light adheres to the most rigorous testing standards while offering lightweight, convenient mobility for both rider and caregiver.
This new generation of 4x4 power chair is designed for riders who want to go well beyond the usual paved paths. With four 700W high-torque motors, servo-powered steering, and patented all-wheel suspension, the XT4 delivers confidence, control and comfort across sand, snow, mud, gravel and uneven ground. With 2800W of combined motor power, a Group 31 battery, and a real-world-tested 19-mile range, power chair riders can travel longer distances without compromise. The independent suspension keeps all four wheels in contact with the ground — even at higher speeds — to provide unmatched stability and rider comfort. The XT4 is available in eight color options, including Sunset Red, Horizon Blue, Camouflage Woods, Camouflage Desert, and shroud covers featuring the American or Canadian flag. m
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | mobilitymgmt.com P10
Permobil Store
Smarter. Faster. Built for You. Discover your new go-to Permobil Store resource
Access the Permobil Store today at store.permobil.com •
Real-time 3D wheelchair builder with intelligent compatibility checks.
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Permobil Power, SmartDrive, TiLite X & Z just a few clicks away.
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ATP Series
The Wheelchair Functional Impact Tool supports new riders and their seating teams BLANK CANVAS: ADOBE STOCK/MCKEE
By Laurie Watanabe
C
onfiguring a client’s first wheelchair is like facing a blank canvas: full of promise, but sometimes too full of possibilities. With that in mind, the Wheelchair Functional Impact Tool (WC-FIT) bridges gaps that can occur from a lack of experience on the client’s side, as well as potentially a lack of wheelchair assessment experience on the clinician’s part.
Multi-faceted decisions
The WC-FIT was created by Mandy McDonald, MS, OTL, ATP, and Tori Fallgren, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP, two longtime members of the wheelchair seating and mobility clinic at Shepherd Center in Atlanta; Stephen Sprigle, Ph.D., PT, professor of the School of Industrial Design & School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta; and additional Shepherd Center occupational and physical therapists. “Prescribing a first wheelchair is a complex process involving multi-faceted decisions by the client and their treatment team,”
McDonald and Sprigle said, in introducing the WC-FIT. “The client has limited or no experiential basis upon which to judge the various technologies and configurations of equipment available, or the ways these factors can impact their function for the better and for the worse. Moreover, clients with sudden loss of mobility often struggle anticipating the various activities and environments that will comprise their everyday lives when they return home.” WC-FIT’s creators also knew that not all professionals who perform wheelchair evaluations do this kind of work daily. “Therapists and ATPs [assistive technology professionals] use their clinical expertise to educate clients and make recommendations about equipment options available, but these discussions can vary widely according to the experience and opinions of the treatment team and their familiarity with ever-changing Complex Rehab Technology,” McDonald and Sprigle noted. “These issues can result in a failed prescription that may necessitate a MOBILITY MANAGEMENT | mobilitymgmt.com
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ATP Series | The First Fit reevaluation or result in a poor outcome for the client.” The WC-FIT has the following goals: • Provide a systematic, structured way for clients and their treatment team to explore the impact of mobility devices for people with new-onset mobility impairments. • Help the treatment team identify gaps in client understanding of the pros/cons of mobility devices. • Improve clinician understanding of the clients’ life outside the hospital, and of the client’s needs and preferences. • Empower the client/caregiver to make informed decisions about what mobility device to pursue and strengthen client ownership of the decision. Those four goals feed into goal #5: Minimize the frequency of client dissatisfaction with prescribed equipment.
Nine categories to consider
“Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, the WC-FIT considers the mobility device as an environmental factor and helps the client and treatment team explore the impact of that device on body functions and structures, activities and participation for the individual,” McDonald and Sprigle said. “The impact of multiple devices can be considered and compared in a structured way.” The WC-FIT self-report tool “is filled out by clients and caregivers outside of therapy time, then shared with the primary treatment team.” The tool has nine categories: pain, energy, stress on your joints, posture, independence, moving around using the device, moving around using transportation, feeling good, and getting the device paid for. For each category, the WC-FIT provides prompts. For example, for the pain category, the prompt is “Pain can have a big impact on people who use wheelchairs. Research shows that wheelchair users with pain report they are less likely to be active; feel good about themselves; be employed; be independent. Think about where you often have pain. Can you use each device without pain?” For the “feeling good” category, the prompt is “Research shows that people who feel good
about themselves tend to do more than people who don’t feel good about themselves. Think about how you feel about yourself when you are using the device. Do you feel good about yourself when you use each device?” Clients answer those two questions as yes, mostly, sort of, not really, or no. The tool uses everyday language, such as “The mobility device you can use can change how easy or hard it is to get out into your community. There are a lot of factors to consider, including how difficult it might be to get you and your device into and out of the vehicle, who you will have available to help you, wear and tear on your joints, and whether you want to drive a vehicle.”
Patients are the experts
In her nearly 25 years at Shepherd Center, McDonald told Mobility Management that she’s worked in inpatient and outpatient roles, in a day program, and in seating clinic.
young woman preparing to attend college. “Her treatment team recommended, ‘You want to go through insurance for your power chair, because that’s going to help you get around your campus easier. And we found this beautiful manual chair that just happens to fit you that’s being donated. It’s fabulous: It’s the best of all worlds.’” Several years later, when the client returned to clinic, “Her chair was falling apart,” McDonald said. “She only ever used the manual chair, and she had no funding to get it repaired, because it was donated. We have to think through the funding and what this is going to look like down the road. We just have to be really mindful of what we’re recommending and be mindful that we make it their decision and not our decision.” The WC-FIT tool is currently available on the Shepherd Center website; a webinar for health care professionals will debut on Feb.
We are all doing the very best we can for the patients. But the patients are the experts on themselves . — Mandy McDonald “There is a little bit of a disconnect sometimes between what the therapists don’t know they don’t know,” she said. And while she believes “We are all doing the very best we can for the patients, she added, “But the patients are the experts on themselves.” McDonald recalled a client who had needed a sip-and-puff driving control for decades. “What we see consistently is if it’s not what the client wants, it’s not going to work for them, even if it’s really best for their posture or best for this or that,” she said, describing successful equipment provision as “such a holistic thing. And we are so much more successful when we come from a place of what they value and what they want. “And then we try to work in what we want and what we value. That’s my own personal experience.”
17, 2026, and then be made available on demand. Scan the QR code on this page for access to both. McDonald said that when she’s used the WC-FIT, many times the seating team has obtained two devices, one funded through insurance and the other self paid. “It kind of opens everybody’s eyes,” she said, “to the fact that there might not be one magical answer that meets all the needs of the individual.” m
Scan the QR code to access the WC-FIT tool.
Planning ahead
As a case example of the need to consider all WC-FIT categories, McDonald recalled a
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