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.