Measuring Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion in the Lab: A Critical Analysis of Stationary Ergometers

Klerk, Rick de; Vegter, Riemer J K; Goosey-Tolfrey, Victoria L.; Mason, Barry; Lenton, John P.; Veeger, H.E.J.; Woude, Lucas H V van der

doi:10.1109/rbme.2019.2942763

Cited by 19 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…Various other options for conducting studies on wheelchair propulsion exist, such as, motorized treadmills or wheelchair ergometers with each having their own advantages and disadvantages [8]. The advantage of these lab-based systems, in general, is the better standardization and the ability to collect multiple subsequent push cycles, increasing data reliability [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological and biomechanical comparison of overground, treadmill, and ergometer handrim wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied subjects under standardized conditions

Klerk

Velhorst

Veeger

et al. 2020

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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Background Handrim wheelchair propulsion is often assessed in the laboratory on treadmills (TM) or ergometers (WE), under the assumption that they relate to regular overground (OG) propulsion. However, little is known about the agreement of data obtained from TM, WE, and OG propulsion under standardized conditions. The current study aimed to standardize velocity and power output among these three modalities to consequently compare obtained physiological and biomechanical outcome parameters. Methods Seventeen able-bodied participants performed two submaximal practice sessions before taking part in a measurement session consisting of 3 × 4 min of submaximal wheelchair propulsion in each of the different modalities. Power output and speed for TM and WE propulsion were matched with OG propulsion, making them (mechanically) as equal as possible. Physiological data and propulsion kinetics were recorded with a spirometer and a 3D measurement wheel, respectively. Results Agreement among conditions was moderate to good for most outcome variables. However, heart rate was significantly higher in OG propulsion than in the TM condition. Push time and contact angle were smaller and fraction of effective force was higher on the WE when compared to OG/TM propulsion. Participants used a larger cycle time and more negative work per cycle in the OG condition. A continuous analysis using statistical parametric mapping showed a lower torque profile in the start of the push phase for TM propulsion versus OG/WE propulsion. Total force was higher during the start of the push phase for the OG conditions when compared to TM/WE propulsion. Conclusions Physiological and biomechanical outcomes in general are similar, but possible differences between modalities exist, even after controlling for power output using conventional techniques. Further efforts towards increasing the ecological validity of lab-based equipment is advised and the possible impact of these differences -if at all- in (clinical) practice should be evaluated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological and biomechanical comparison of overground, treadmill, and ergometer handrim wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied subjects under standardized conditions

Klerk

Velhorst

Veeger

et al. 2020

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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“…Different laboratory-based technologies were developed for wheelchair-specific exercise testing 33 , ranging from a multitude of ergometers to differently sized and brands of treadmills. Treadmills are considered to be closest to overground testing in terms of validity 34 and have been used since the 1960s for wheelchair exercise testing 35,36 .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Another alternative for standardized wheelchair exercise testing has been the use of stationary ergometers 33 , from simple off-the shelf ergometer solutions 39 towards highly specialized computer-based and instrumented ergometers…”

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confidence: 99%

Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion

Klerk

Vegter

Leving

et al. 2020

JoVE

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The use of a manual wheelchair is critical to 1% of the world's population. Human powered wheeled mobility research has considerably matured, which has led to improved research techniques becoming available over the last decades. To increase the understanding of wheeled mobility performance, monitoring, training, skill acquisition, and optimization of the wheelchair-user interface in rehabilitation, daily life, and sports, further standardization of measurement setups and analyses is required. A crucial stepping-stone is the accurate measurement and standardization of external power output (measured in Watts), which is pivotal for the interpretation and comparison of experiments aiming to improve rehabilitation practice, activities of daily living, and adaptive sports. The different methodologies and advantages of accurate power output determination during overground, treadmill, and ergometer-based testing are presented and discussed in detail. Overground propulsion provides the most externally valid mode for testing, but standardization can be troublesome. Treadmill propulsion is mechanically similar to overground propulsion, but turning and accelerating is not possible. An ergometer is the most constrained and standardization is relatively easy. The goal is to stimulate good practice and standardization to facilitate the further development of theory and its application among research facilities and applied clinical and sports sciences around the world.

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“…Wheelchair propulsion on a treadmill is mechanically realistic, due to the natural form of wheelchair propulsion with small steering corrections (Van der Woude et al, 2001). The advantage of ergometer testing is the fact that testing conditions are highly reproducible and differences between left and right propulsion can be evaluated, which is essential in wheelchair tennis due to the use of a racket during propulsion (Goosey-Tolfrey et al, 2018;De Groot et al, 2017;De Klerk, Vegter, Goosey-Tolfrey et al, 2020;Van der Woude et al, 2001). A disadvantage of an ergometer is the limited representability of the real game, no air friction is encountered, manoeuvrability cannot be mimicked, while body movement have a different effect on rolling friction and inertia.…”

Section: Wheelchair Propulsion Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

The interaction between wheelchair configuration and wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis: a narrative review

Rietveld

Vegter

Woude

et al. 2021

Sports Biomechanics

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The number of wheelchair tennis players is rising internationally, yet from a scientific perspective little is known about wheelchair tennis performance. Wheelchair tennis is more complex compared to other wheelchair court sports, due to the wheelchair/racket interaction. The purpose of this narrative review was to gain insight into the influence of wheelchair configuration, i.e., the individual set-up of a wheelchair, on wheelchair tennis performance, more specifically on wheelchair mobility performance and propulsion technique. Wheelchair propulsion while holding a racket has had little attention in both the wheelchair mobility performance and wheelchair propulsion technique area. It is shown that the propulsion technique and wheelchair mobility performance are negatively affected by the racket. Based on the current literature, the influence of wheelchair configuration on wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis can mainly be described from a broader wheelchair court sport perspective, due to the lack of specific publications about wheelchair tennis. In the future more research should be conducted on wheeling performance and wheelchair configuration in wheelchair tennis, to attain a more proper scientific foundation for optimising wheelchair tennis performance.

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Measuring Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion in the Lab: A Critical Analysis of Stationary Ergometers

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Cited by 19 publications

References 104 publications

Physiological and biomechanical comparison of overground, treadmill, and ergometer handrim wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied subjects under standardized conditions

Physiological and biomechanical comparison of overground, treadmill, and ergometer handrim wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied subjects under standardized conditions

Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion

The interaction between wheelchair configuration and wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis: a narrative review

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