Effect of wheelchair design on wheeled mobility and propulsion efficiency in less-resourced settings.

Christopher J Stanfill,Jody L Jensen

doi:10.4102/ajod.v6i0.342

Abstract

BackgroundWheelchair research includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, primarily focuses on functionality and skill performance and is often limited to short testing periods. This is the first study to use the combination of a performance test (i.e. wheelchair propulsion test) and a multiple-day mobility assessment to evaluate wheelchair designs in rural areas of a developing country.ObjectivesTest the feasibility of using wheel-mounted accelerometers to document bouts of wheeled mobility data in rural settings and use these data to compare how patients respond to different wheelchair designs.MethodsA quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design was used to test the differences between locally manufactured wheelchairs (push rim and tricycle) and an imported intervention product (dual-lever propulsion wheelchair). A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to interpret propulsion and wheeled mobility data.ResultsThere were no statistical differences in bouts of mobility between the locally manufactured and intervention product, which was explained by high amounts of variability within the data. With regard to the propulsion test, push rim users were significantly more efficient when using the intervention product compared with tricycle users.ConclusionUse of wheel-mounted accelerometers as a means to test user mobility proved to be a feasible methodology in rural settings. Variability in wheeled mobility data could be decreased with longer acclimatisation periods. The data suggest that push rim users experience an easier transition to a dual-lever propulsion system.

Highlights

Problem statementThe number of different wheelchair designs being distributed around the world is growing at an accelerating pace, whereas information about the performance of these designs under different settings of user and terrain is lacking
Data are separated by personal wheelchair (PC) type and organised, in descending order, by total bouts accumulated during PC use
A secondary analysis was conducted on propulsion efficiency to uncover how an individual’s PC influenced his or her transition to the LFC

Summary

Introduction

Problem statementThe number of different wheelchair designs being distributed around the world is growing at an accelerating pace, whereas information about the performance of these designs under different settings of user and terrain is lacking. Changes in user movement behaviour can be detected in great detail using these validated methods for measuring wheeled mobility Outcomes from these data can yield information about the possibility of alternative designs promoting easier wheelchair travel in rural settings. Attaching them to a wheelchair, allows us to determine how patients use their wheelchair and how their use may change when transitioning to an alternative wheelchair design Wheelchair research includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, primarily focuses on functionality and skill performance and is often limited to short testing periods. This is the first study to use the combination of a performance test (i.e. wheelchair propulsion test) and a multiple-day mobility assessment to evaluate wheelchair designs in rural areas of a developing country

Objectives

Results

Conclusion