Wheelchairs News and Research

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New AI-driven EMG control framework improves robotic assistance for older adults

As people age, declines in muscle strength, coordination, and sensory function often make activities of daily living, such as doing laundry, getting dressed, cooking, carrying objects, and using tools, increasingly difficult.

28 Jul 2026

Phase two clinical trial demonstrates dramatic mobility gains in children with severe fibrous dysplasia

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare skeletal disorder in which normal bone is gradually replaced by weak fibro-osseous tissue, leading to fractures, pain, deformities, and severe mobility impairment. In many patients, diseased bone tissue produces excessive amounts of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), a hormone that causes phosphate loss through the kidneys.

21 May 2026

Nature-based group activities benefit older adults living in care homes

Nature-based group activities can reduce loneliness, improve sleep and cognition, and increase a sense of connection to nature in older adults living in care homes.

7 May 2026

New steerable optical fiber reaches previously inaccessible larynx tumors

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers have developed a flexible optical fiber that can be threaded through a medical endoscope and steered into the larynx to destroy hard-to-reach tumors on the vocal folds, an advance that could expand outpatient laser treatment options for patients whose only other choice might be surgery under general anesthesia.

8 Apr 2026

Novel embedding-driven AI for adaptable brain control

Motor imagery (MI) is the mental process of imagining a specific limb movement, such as raising a hand or walking, without physically performing it. These imagined movements generate distinct patterns of brain activity that can be recorded using electroencephalography (EEG).

11 Mar 2026

Washington’s homeless hide in plain sight, growing sicker and costing taxpayers more

Every night, Abdullah Ibrahim retreats from the streets into a wooded stretch along the Potomac River.

18 Dec 2025

Wheelchair? Hearing aids? Yes. ‘Disabled?' No way.

In her house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade said, "there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place."

11 Dec 2025

Study reveals challenges in accessing wheelchairs through Medicare-listed suppliers

Published today in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a University of Minnesota Medical School research team found that access to wheelchairs through Medicare-listed suppliers is inconsistent and often challenging.

12 Nov 2025

California halts medical parole, sends several critically ill patients back to prison

California has halted a court-ordered medical parole program, opting instead to send its most incapacitated prisoners back to state lockups or release them early.

21 Apr 2025

Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity

When Michael Adams was researching health insurance options in 2023, he had one very specific requirement: coverage for prosthetic limbs.

6 Jan 2025

Women face greater barriers to accessing mobility aids despite higher need

Women are more likely than men to experience mobility limitations that could benefit from the use of mobility aids but are much less likely to use them when needed, according to a new study from researchers at UCL and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

14 Dec 2024

Patients couldn’t pay their utility bills. One hospital turned to solar power for help.

Anna Goldman, a primary care physician at Boston Medical Center, got tired of hearing that her patients couldn't afford the electricity needed to run breathing assistance machines, recharge wheelchairs, turn on air conditioning, or keep their refrigerators plugged in.

12 Dec 2024

Many polio survivors face lifelong late effects

Polio survivors facing the little-known late effects of the disease are being overlooked, writes Neena Bhandari.

23 Oct 2024

Mountain town confronts an unexpected public health catastrophe

Before Hurricane Helene, had you stopped by one of the many breweries, art galleries, or award-winning restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, and spoken with anyone who lives in these parts — including me — most would have told you they felt pretty safe from climate disasters.

18 Oct 2024

Urgent need for rehabilitation services highlighted in WHO analysis of Gaza injuries

At least one quarter or 22 500 of those injured in Gaza by 23 July are estimated to have life-changing injuries that require rehabilitation services now and for years to come, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of the types of injuries resulting from the ongoing conflict in Gaza: Estimating Trauma Rehabilitation Needs in Gaza using Injury Data from Emergency Medical Teams.

12 Sep 2024

WHO and IPC collaborate to promote global access to assistive technology during Paris 2024 Paralympics

The World Health Organization (WHO) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are joining forces to highlight the transformative impact of assistive technology on sports during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

28 Aug 2024

Robotic gait training improves mobility in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a rare X-linked neuromuscular disorder that results from an abnormal expansion of gene sequences in the androgen receptor gene.

22 Aug 2024

WHO coordinates large-scale medical evacuation from Gaza to UAE

Today, 85 sick and severely injured patients from Gaza were evacuated to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for specialized care.

31 Jul 2024

Full-time wheelchair or motorized-scooter users experience falls and live with the fear of falling again

Many studies have focused on falls among people who are ambulatory and have conditions like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, but research to address falls among those who rely on wheelchairs or motorized scooters is rare, scientists report in a new study.

30 Jul 2024

How to find a good, well-staffed nursing home

Few people want to go into a nursing home, but doing so can be the right choice if you or a loved one is physically or cognitively disabled or recovering from surgery.

12 Jul 2024