Impact of a pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair on the metabolic demands, stroke frequency, and range of motion among subjects with tetraplegia
Model System:
SCIReference Type:
JournalAccession No.:
J46784.Journal:
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):
, 85, 11, 1865-1871Publication Website:
Abstract:
Study compared outcomes between pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) and traditional manual wheelchair propulsion among subjects with tetraplegia. Participants propelled both their own manual wheelchairs and a PAPAW through slight, moderate, and high resistances on a wheelchair dynamometer. Primary variables that were compared between the 2 trials were participants' mean oxygen consumption, ventilation, heart rate, mean stroke frequency, and maximum upper-extremity joint range of motion (ROM). Results showed that participants demonstrated a significant decrease in mean oxygen consumption and ventilation throughout all the trials when using the PAPAW. Mean heart rate was significantly lower when using the PAPAW for the high resistance trial. Stroke frequency was significantly lower when using the PAPAW for the slight and moderate resistance conditions. Overall joint ROM was lower when using the PAPAW.
Author(s):
Algood, S. David, Cooper, Rory A., Fitzgerald, Shirley G., Cooper, Rosemarie, Boninger, Michael L.