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BACKGROUND: Normative data for the equivalent of gait speed via the Wheelchair Propulsion Test (WPT) do not exist for wheelchair users. OBJECTIVE:The purposes of the current study were to: 1) determine the reliability of the WPT, 2) propose and compare normative values for the WPT for young adult males and females utilizing three different propulsion techniques, and 3) compare how different wheelchair types affect performance on the WPT. METHODS: 50 young adults (25 of each sex) performed the WPT using three different propulsion techniques in three different types of wheelchairs. Participants were asked to propel a wheelchair over 10 m at a comfortable speed. Time and number of pushes were recorded for three trials for each propulsion technique in each type of wheelchair. RESULTS: All of the ICC(2,2) values were >0.83 for speed and number of pushes. Normative values for speed, number of pushes, push frequency and effectiveness categorized by propulsion technique, sex and wheelchair type were developed. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary normative values have been established for young adults performing the WPT. This study highlights the need to maintain consistency of the wheelchair type and propulsion technique between trials in order for the WPT to be reliable.

BACKGROUND: The clinimetric properties of the Wheelchair Propulsion Test (WPT) have not been developed thoroughly. OBJECTIVE: To determine inter-rater reliability and reference values for the Wheelchair Propulsion Test (WPT) for active wheelchair users and to compare WPT performance between various types of manual wheelchairs at different paces. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Participants propelled a manual wheelchair 10 m while time and the number of pushes were recorded. Trials were performed in three different manual wheelchairs (a lightweight wheelchair (LW), an ultralightweight wheelchair (ULW), and the participant’s personal, customized wheelchair) at a comfortable pace and a fast pace. RESULTS: The ICC values ranged from 0.861 to 0.999 for both speed and number of pushes. Comfortable wheelchair propulsion speed ranged from 1.51 (0.31) m/s to 1.65 (0.33) m/s depending on the wheelchair utilized. Across both pace conditions, participants were significantly faster when using their personal wheelchair compared to the ULW (P <  0.001) and LW (P <  0.001). Push frequency was significantly greater during the fast pace condition compared to the comfortable pace condition (P <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Reference values for the WPT in active wheelchair users have been identified. Participants who utilize their personal wheelchair demonstrate faster wheelchair propulsion speeds complemented by greater push frequencies.

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Despite the wide acceptance of the International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health (ICF) model, there remains a fundamental gap in the utilization of the ICF to foster clinical decision-making in physical therapy students. This article proposes a shift from initiating the patient examination with assessment of body structures and functions to a model that incorporates adult learning theory and clinical expertise theory to facilitate students' transition to expert clinicians. The authors offer the example of an older patient with a neurological condition to demonstrate the reasoning process that delineates typical aging from the disease process for optimal patient outcomes.