Dataset Information

Manual wheelchair propulsion cost across different components and configurations during straight and turning maneuvers.

ABSTRACT: Aim:Maneuvering manual wheelchairs is defined by changes in momentum. The amount of effort required to maneuver a wheelchair is dependent on many factors, some of which reflect the design and configuration of the wheelchair. Objective:The objective of this study was to measure the work required to propel a manual wheelchair configured with three weight distributions, three drive wheels and four casters. Methods:A novel wheelchair-propelling robot was used as the test platform to measure work while traversing two surfaces using three different maneuvers which were defined to highlight different kinetic energies and energy loss mechanisms. Results:Overall, propulsion cost decreased with an increase in load on the drive wheels. Pneumatic drive wheels exhibited lower propulsion costs compared to a solid tire. Two casters, a 4? dia × 1.5? and a 5? dia × 1?, exhibited better overall performance compared to 5? dia × 1.5? solid and 6? dia × 1? pneumatic casters. Discussion:The results indicate that drive wheel load and types of drive wheels and casters impact propulsion cost and their influences differ across maneuvers and surfaces. The approach is well suited to assess equivalency in components and configurations. Assessment of performance equivalency would empower clinicians and users with important knowledge when selecting components.

SUBMITTER: Sprigle S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7144678 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Manual wheelchair propulsion cost across different components and configurations during straight and turning maneuvers.

Sprigle Stephen S Huang Morris M

Journal of rehabilitation and assistive technologies engineering 20200101

<h4>Aim</h4>Maneuvering manual wheelchairs is defined by changes in momentum. The amount of effort required to maneuver a wheelchair is dependent on many factors, some of which reflect the design and configuration of the wheelchair.<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of this study was to measure the work required to propel a manual wheelchair configured with three weight distributions, three drive wheels and four casters.<h4>Methods</h4>A novel wheelchair-propelling robot was used as the test platfo ...[more]

PMID: 32292593

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Project description:Hypoactive lifestyle contributes to the development of secondary complications and lower quality of life in wheelchair users. There is a need for objective and user-friendly physical activity monitors for wheelchair-dependent individuals in order to increase physical activity through self-monitoring, goal setting, and feedback provision.To determine the validity of Activ8 Activity Monitors to 1) distinguish two classes of activities: independent wheelchair propulsion from other non-propulsive wheelchair-related activities 2) distinguish five wheelchair-related classes of activities differing by the movement intensity level: sitting in a wheelchair (hands may be moving but wheelchair remains stationary), maneuvering, and normal, high speed or assisted wheelchair propulsion.Sixteen able-bodied individuals performed sixteen various standardized 60s-activities of daily living. Each participant was equipped with a set of two Activ8 Professional Activity Monitors, one at the right forearm and one at the right wheel. Task classification by the Active8 Monitors was validated using video recordings. For the overall agreement, sensitivity and positive predictive value, outcomes above 90% are considered excellent, between 70 and 90% good, and below 70% unsatisfactory.Division in two classes resulted in overall agreement of 82.1%, sensitivity of 77.7% and positive predictive value of 78.2%. 84.5% of total duration of all tasks was classified identically by Activ8 and based on the video material. Division in five classes resulted in overall agreement of 56.6%, sensitivity of 52.8% and positive predictive value of 51.9%. 59.8% of total duration of all tasks was classified identically by Activ8 and based on the video material.Activ8 system proved to be suitable for distinguishing between active wheelchair propulsion and other non-propulsive wheelchair-related activities. The ability of the current system and algorithms to distinguish five various wheelchair-related activities is unsatisfactory.

Project description:BackgroundFor both sports and everyday use, finding the optimal manual wheelchair (MWC) configuration can improve a user's propulsion biomechanics. Many studies have already investigated the effect of changes in MWC configuration but comparing their results is challenging due to the differences in experimental methodologies between articles.PurposeThe present systematic review aims at offering an in-depth analysis of the methodologies used to study the impact of MWC configuration on propulsion biomechanics, and ultimately providing the community with recommendations for future research.MethodsThe reviewing process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart on two databases (Scopus and PubMed) in March 2022.ResultsForty-five articles were included, and the results highlighted the multiplicity of methodologies regarding different experimental aspects, including propulsion environment, experimental task, or measurement systems, for example. More importantly, descriptions of MWC configurations and their modifications differed significantly between studies and led to a lack of critical information in many cases.DiscussionStudying the effect of MWC configuration on propulsion requires recommendations that must be clarified: (1) the formalism chosen to describe MWC configuration (absolute or relative) should be consistent with the type of study conducted and should be documented enough to allow for switching to the other formalism; (2) the tested MWC characteristics and initial configuration, allowing the reproduction or comparison in future studies, should be properly reported; (3) the bias induced by the experimental situation on the measured data must be considered when drawing conclusions and therefore experimental conditions such as propulsion speed or the effect of the instrumentation should be reported.ConclusionOverall, future studies will need standardization to be able to follow the listed recommendations, both to describe MWC configuration and mechanical properties in a clear way and to choose the experimental conditions best suited to their objectives.

Project description:Objective: Shoulder pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) is attributed to increased mobility demands on the arms and negatively impacts independence and quality of life. Repetitive superior and posterior shoulder joint forces produced during traditional wheelchair (WC) locomotion can result in subacromial impingement if unopposed, as with muscular fatigue or weakness. ROWHEELS® (RW), geared rear wheels that produce forward WC movement with backward rim pulling, could alter these forces. Design: Cross sectional. Setting: Research laboratory at a rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Ten manual WC users with paraplegia. Outcome measures: Propulsion characteristics and right upper extremity/trunk kinematics and shoulder muscle activity were collected during ergometer propulsion: (1) self-selected free speed reverse propulsion with RW, (2) matched-speed reverse (rSW), and (3) forward propulsion (fSW) with instrumented Smartwheels (SW). Inverse dynamics using right-side SW rim kinetics and kinematics compared shoulder kinetics during rSW and fSW. Results: Free propulsion velocity, cycle distance and cadence were similar during RW, rSW and fSW. Overall shoulder motion was similar except that peak shoulder extension was significantly reduced in both RW and rSW versus fSW. Anteriorly and inferiorly directed SW rim forces were decreased during rSW versus fSW propulsion, but posteriorly and superiorly directed rim forces were significantly greater. Superior and posterior shoulder joint forces and flexor, adductor, and external rotation moments were significantly less during rSW, without a significant difference in net shoulder forces and moments. Traditional propulsive-phase muscle activity was significantly reduced and recovery-phase muscle activity was increased during reverse propulsion. Conclusion: These results suggest that reverse propulsion may redirect shoulder demands and prevent subacromial impingement, thereby preventing injury and preserving independent mobility for individuals with paraplegia.

Project description:To assess the association of age at pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI) and years of manual wheelchair use with shoulder dynamics. Upper extremity kinematics and hand-rim kinetics were obtained during manual wheelchair propulsion. An inverse dynamics model computed three-dimensional acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and glenohumeral joint dynamics. Linear mixed effects models evaluated the association of age at injury onset and years of wheelchair use with shoulder dynamics. Motion laboratory within a children's hospital. Seventeen manual wheelchair users (N=17; 6 female, 11 male; mean age: 17.2 years, mean age at SCI onset: 11.5 years) with pediatric-onset SCI (levels: C4-T11) and International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI grades: A (11), B (3), C (2), and N/A (2). Not applicable. Acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and glenohumeral angles and ranges of motion, and glenohumeral forces and moments. We observed a decrease in maximum acromioclavicular upward rotation (ß [95% confidence interval {CI}]=3.02 [0.15,5.89], P=.039) and an increase in acromioclavicular downward/upward rotation range of motion (ß [95% CI]=0.44 [0.08,0.80], P=.016) with increasing age at SCI onset. We found interactions between age at onset and years of use for maximum glenohumeral abduction (ß [95% CI]=0.16 [0.03,0.29], P=.017), acromioclavicular downward/upward rotation range of motion (ß [95% CI]=-0.05 [-0.09,-0.01], P=.008), minimum acromioclavicular upward rotation (ß [95% CI]=-0.34 [-0.64,-0.04], P=.026). A decrease in glenohumeral internal rotation moment (ß [95% CI]=-0.09 [-0.17,-0.009], P=.029) with increasing years of use was found. Age at injury and the years of wheelchair use are associated with shoulder complex biomechanics during wheelchair propulsion. These results are noteworthy, as both age at SCI onset and years of wheelchair use are considered important factors in the incidence of shoulder pain. These results suggest that investigations of biomechanical changes over the lifespan are critical.

Dataset Information

Manual wheelchair propulsion cost across different components and configurations during straight and turning maneuvers.

Publications

Manual wheelchair propulsion cost across different components and configurations during straight and turning maneuvers.

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