Wheelchair Propulsion Biomechanics (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2004
The wheel camber of a wheelchair is a significant parameter that must be taken into account in the search for optimal regulation of a wheelchair. This study examined the effects of different rear-wheel camber (9°, 12° and 15°)today used mainly in the handibasket championship-on the various kinetic and kinematic parameters of the propulsion cycle. Eight males, all players in the French handibasket championship, were asked to participate in this study. They performed three 8 s maximal sprints as measured by a wheelchair ergometer, 9°, 12°, and 15° of rear-wheel camber. The results of our study show that residual torque increases in proportion to the increase in wheel camber. This could explain other study results, which show a decrease in mean velocity and an increase in both power output and time of the propelling phase, in relation to the wheel camber. These results should provide the information necessary for optimal wheelchair regulation.
Force application during handcycling and handrim wheelchair propulsion: an initial comparison
Journal of applied biomechanics, 2013
The aim of the study was to evaluate the external applied forces, the effectiveness of force application and the net shoulder moments of handcycling in comparison with handrim wheelchair propulsion at different inclines. Ten able-bodied men performed standardized exercises on a treadmill at inclines of 1%, 2.5% and 4% with an instrumented handbike and wheelchair that measured three-dimensional propulsion forces. The results showed that during handcycling significantly lower mean forces were applied at inclines of 2.5% (P < .001) and 4% (P < .001) and significantly lower peak forces were applied at all inclines (1%: P = .014, 2.5% and 4%: P < .001). At the 2.5% incline, where power output was the same for both devices, total forces (mean over trial) of 22.8 N and 27.5 N and peak forces of 40.1 N and 106.9 N were measured for handbike and wheelchair propulsion. The force effectiveness did not differ between the devices (P = .757); however, the effectiveness did increase with ...
Submaximal physical strain and peak performance in handcycling versus handrim wheelchair propulsion
Spinal Cord, 2004
Study design: Experimental study in subjects with paraplegia and nondisabled subjects. Objective: To compare submaximal physical strain and peak performance in handcycling and handrim wheelchair propulsion in wheelchair-dependent and nondisabled control subjects Setting: Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Methods: Nine male subjects with paraplegia and 10 nondisabled male subjects performed two exercise tests on a motor-driven treadmill using a handrim wheelchair and attach-unit handcycle system. The exercise protocol consisted of two 4-min submaximal exercise bouts at 25 and 35 W, followed by 1-min exercise bouts with increasing power output until exhaustion. Results: Analysis of variance for repeated measures showed a significantly lower oxygen uptake (VO 2), ventilation (Ve), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion and a higher gross efficiency for handcycling at 35 W in both subject groups, while no significant differences were found at 25 W. Peak power output and peak VO 2 , Ve and HR were significantly higher during handcycling in both groups. The differences between handcycling and wheelchair propulsion were the same in subjects with paraplegia and the nondisabled subjects. Conclusions: Handcycling induces significantly less strain at a moderate submaximal level of 35 W, and shows noticeably higher maximal exercise responses than wheelchair propulsion, which is consistent in subjects with paraplegia and nondisabled controls. These results demonstrate that handcycling is beneficial for mobility in daily life of wheelchair users.
Hand rim configuration: effects on physical strain and technique in unimpaired subjects?
Medical Engineering & Physics, 2003
Objective: Hand rim wheelchair propulsion is inefficient and physically straining. To evaluate the possibly advantageous role in this respect of three different prototype hand rim configurations (a rubber foam-coated cylindrical (II) hand rim and two profiled rubber foam-coated hand rims (wide and narrow: III, IV)), a group of 10 unimpaired subjects conducted four submaximal discontinuous wheelchair exercise tests on a computer-controlled wheelchair ergometer, thus allowing a comparison with a standard hand rim (chromium-plated round hand rim (I)).
2022
Wheelchair users (WCUs) face high rates of upper body overuse injuries, especially in the shoulder. As exercise is recommended to reduce the high rates of cardiovascular disease among WCUs, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the mechanisms behind shoulder soft-tissue injury in WCUs to help prevent future injuries. Understanding the kinetics and kinematics during upper-limb propulsion in wheelchair users is the first step toward evaluating soft-tissue injury risk during both everyday and athletic propulsion modes. This paper examines continuous kinetic and kinematic data available in the literature for four common propulsion modes. Two everyday modes (everyday wheelchair use and attach-unit handcycling) are examined, as well as two athletic modes (wheelchair racing and recumbent handcycling). These athletic modes are important to characterize, especially considering the higher contact forces, speed, and power outputs often experienced during these athletic propulsion modes that could be putting users at increased risk of injury. Understanding the underlying kinetics and kinematics during various propulsion modes can lend insight into shoulder loading, and therefore injury risk, during these activities and inform future exercise guidelines and programs for WCUs.
Optimum cycle frequencies in hand-rim wheelchair propulsion. Wheelchair propulsion technique
European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology, 1989
To study the effect of different cycle frequencies on cardio-respiratory responses and propulsion technique in hand-rim wheelchair propulsion, experienced wheelchair sportsmen (WS group; n--6) and non-wheelchair users (NW group; n = 6) performed wheelchair exercise tests on a motor-driven treadmill. The WS group wheeled at velocities of 0.55, 0.83, 1.11 and 1.39 m. s-~ and a slope of 2 ~ The NW group wheeled at 0.83, 1.11 and 1.39 m.s -1 and a 1 ~ slope. In each test, a 3-min period at a freely chosen cycle frequency (FCF: 100%) was followed by four 3min blocks of paced cycle frequencies at 60%, 80%, 120% and 140% FCF. Effects of both cycle frequency and velocity on physiological and propulsion technique parameters were studied.
Physical capacity and race performance of handcycle users
Journal of …, 2001
The purpose of this study was to determine physical capacity, gross efficiency (GE), and physical strain (PS) of 16 male handcycle users during a 10K race, and to relate these to race performance. All subjects used a handcycle system attached to their own wheelchair and were classified into a group with (A1/A2; N=10) and without (A3; N=6) upper-limb impairments. The PS was defined as the mean heart rate during the race, expressed relative to the heart rate reserve (%HRR). Race performance was defined as the mean race velocity (V race). Maximal power output (PO max), VO 2peak , and GE (at 28 W) were determined in a graded treadmill exercise test. PO max (55±25 versus 129±26 W), VO 2peak (1.11±0.4 versus 2.12±0.4 L.min Ϫ1) and V race (13.6±3 versus 19.9±3 km.hr Ϫ1) were different between A1/A2 and A3 (p<0.001), whereas PS (80±9 versus 88±9 %HRR; p=0.12) and GE (10.9±1.4 versus 9.7±0.9%; p=0.09) were not. PO max , VO 2peak , and PS were associated (p<0.05) with V race (R=0.91, 0.90, and 0.66). Regression analysis showed that after VO 2peak , GE added another 9 percent to the explanation of the variance of V race (R2=0.89). In conclusion, attainable handcycling PO max is markedly high and strongly related to race performance. The high PS during the race suggests that handcycling is well suited for aerobic training for most groups of wheelchair users.