A Systematic Methodology to Analyze the Impact of Hand-Rim Wheelchair Propulsion on the Upper Limb

Abstract

Manual wheelchair propulsion results in physical demand of the upper limb extremities that, because of its repetitive nature, can lead to chronic pathologies on spinal cord injury patients. The aim of this study was to design and test a methodology to compare kinematic and kinetic variables of the upper limb joints when propelling different wheelchairs. Moreover, this methodology was used to analyze the differences that may exist between paraplegic and tetraplegic patients when propelling two different wheelchairs. Five adults with paraplegia and five adults with tetraplegia performed several propulsion tests. Participants propelled two different wheelchairs for three minutes at 0.833 m/s (3 km/h) with one minute break between the tests. Kinematic and kinetic variables of the upper limb as well as variables with respect to the propulsion style were recorded. Important differences in the kinetic and kinematic variables of the joints of the upper limb were found when comparing paraplegic and tetraplegic patients. Nevertheless, this difference depends on the wheelchair used. As expected, in all tests, the shoulder shows to be the most impacted joint.

Temporospatial parameters, shoulder kinematics, and acute tendon changes in four different stroke patterns in male wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

“…Three-dimensional motion analysis systems have been used for evaluation of shoulder biomechanics related to propulsion in wheelchair users. 8,20 Although these systems are accepted as the gold standard, they have some disadvantages such as high-cost technology, longer procedure times, need for large space, and trained personnel required for implementation. To reach more objective data from observation tools and decrease costs, new low-cost motion analysis systems, such as Kinovea, have evolved in recent years.…”

“…In this study, the temporospatial components (contact angle, cadence, pushing time, and recovery time) of wheelchair propulsion, defined in previous studies, 9,20 were evaluated as follows: Push time was measured by calculating the time elapsed between the extension angle of the shoulder joint when the handrim was held and the flexion angle of the shoulder joint when handrim was released. Recovery time was calculated by measuring the time elapsed between the shoulder flexion angle when the handrim was released and the shoulder extension angle when handrim was held again.…”

Confiabilidade e objetividade de uma bateria de avaliação da coordenação motora para cadeirantes

“…In this context, the use of wheelchairs stands out as a necessary tool for about 75 million people worldwide, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2019). This device is crucial because it increases the mobility of people with disabilities and is essential as it allows them to move independently (Abdulghani, et al, 2020;Larraga-García, et al, 2019).…”

Validity of the motor coordination evaluation battery for wheelchair users

“…In this context, the use of wheelchair stands out, a necessary tool for approximately 75 million people worldwide, according to estimates of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2019). These tools are important to increase the mobility and the autonomy of people with disabilities, being essential for most wheelchair users, as it is a form of moving around independently (Abdulghani et al, 2020;Larraga-García et al, 2019).…”