Camber
Pronunciation: KAM-ber
The outward tilt of a manual wheelchair's rear wheels from vertical, measured in degrees, which widens the wheelbase for lateral stability and reduces hand contact with the wheel rim during propulsion.
Full Definition
Camber is expressed as the angle between the plane of the wheel and true vertical; common settings range from 0° to 9°. Increased camber lowers the centre of gravity and reduces the risk of lateral tipping, making it popular in sports wheelchairs and prescribed for users with high-level thoracic or cervical lesions who have poor trunk stability. In rehab technology documents, editors encounter camber values in wheelchair prescription forms and outcome measurement reports. The term is sometimes confused with 'toe-in/toe-out' alignment (a separate axle setting). Editors should ensure camber is expressed numerically in degrees and that the correct wheel position (rear) is specified.
Usage
Usage note: Always express as a numeric degree value in clinical and prescription documents; avoid vague terms like 'wide camber' without quantification.
In Context
- "A 6° camber was prescribed to enhance the athlete's lateral stability during court-sport manoeuvres." — Sports wheelchair prescription
- "The seating report noted that increasing camber from 2° to 4° improved the client's trunk balance during community mobility." — Clinical seating assessment report