How can body weight be measured if it is no longer possible to stand on the scale?

Weakness or spasticity in the legs may make it difficult to stand independently on a personal scale. In this situation, reliable weight measurement is only possible at an outpatient clinic or doctor’s office equipped with a chair scale or a wheelchair scale.

A wheelchair scale is a special scale that makes it possible to weigh people in wheelchairs easily and accurately. It consists of a large, flat platform onto which the patient can roll in their wheelchair. First, the total weight of the wheelchair and the person is measured. The weight of the wheelchair—either from a previous measurement or from the manufacturer’s specifications—is then subtracted to determine the person’s exact body weight.