Effects of rolling resistances on handrim kinetics during the performance of wheelies among manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury

Abstract

Study design: Repeated cross-sectional study. Objectives: To compare the effects of rolling resistances (RRs) on handrim kinetic intensity at the non-dominant upper limb and on handrim kinetic symmetry during wheelies performed by manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: Pathokinesiology Laboratory. Methods: Sixteen individuals with SCI who were able to perform wheelies participated in this study. During a laboratory assessment, participants randomly performed wheelies on four RRs: natural high-grade composite board, 5-cm thick soft foam, 5-cm thick memory foam, and with the rear wheels blocked by wooden blocks. Four trials were conducted for each of the RRs. Participant's wheelchair was equipped with instrumented wheels to record handrim kinetics, whereas the movements of the wheelchair were recorded with a motion analysis system. Results: The net mean and peak total forces, including its tangential and mediolateral components, were greater during take-off compared with the other phases of the wheelie, independently of RR. During take-off, the greatest net mean and peak total and tangential forces were reached with the wheels blocked. Symmetrical tangential and mediolateral force intensities were applied at the dominant and non-dominant handrims. Conclusion: Wheelies performed on low or moderate density foam generate similar forces at the handrim than on a natural surface and significantly less forces than with the wheels blocked. Hence, when teaching individuals with an SCI to perform a stationary wheelie, the use of low or moderate density foam represents a valuable alternative for minimizing upper limb effort and may also optimize quasi-static postural steadiness.

Relationship between Sprint Capacity and Acceleration of Wrists in Wheelchair Basketball Players: Design and Reliability of a New Protocol

“…Regarding the second aim dealing with bilateral symmetry assessment, we found articles that analyzed it but failed to identify the differences between the dominant and non-dominant sides [ 6 , 12 ]. In our case, two participants did show differences between the sides ( Figure 2 ), as they showed a relationship below 45% [ 23 ]. These findings were not associated with the players’ functional classification; this finding appears to be in line with the conclusions of Wai et al [ 24 ], as no differences were found in the wrist accelerations and seating height during manual wheelchair propulsion within a non-sportive population.…”

“…The calculation was carried out using the following algorithm sym = [AcelTp dominant/(AcelTp dominant + AcelTp non-dominant)] × 100 . To study if the dominant and non-dominant wrist presented similar peak accelerations [ 6 ], bilateral symmetry with values ranging between 45% and 55% indicated adequate symmetry, whereas a value lower than 45% or higher than 55% reflected greater accelerations of the non-dominant or dominant wrist, respectively [ 23 ].…”

Wheelchair Propulsion Biomechanics in Junior Basketball Players: A Method for the Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Specific Training Program

“…Based on previous literature [ 9 , 10 , 30 ] and on the team coach's suggestions, for each session/subject/trial, the following parameters were estimated from the acceleration signals during the steady state phase.…”

“…Bilateral Symmetry. A parameter associated with the symmetry ( sym ) between the dominant arm and nondominant arm in pushing the wheelchair was computed for each push cycle according to [ 30 ] and considering the peak acceleration measured by the IMUs located on the wrists where a p _dom and a p _nondom correspond to the peaks of the acceleration magnitude as measured by the IMUs positioned on the wrist of the dominant and nondominant arms, respectively. This parameter was calculated to investigate whether the dominant and nondominant arm wrists presented similar peak accelerations.…”

“…This parameter was calculated to investigate whether the dominant and nondominant arm wrists presented similar peak accelerations. A value ranging between 45% and 55% indicates good symmetry, whereas a value lower than 45% or higher than 55% reflects greater accelerations for the nondominant or dominant hand rim, respectively [ 30 ]. The average of the sym parameter over the steady state phase was calculated and hereafter considered.…”