Stroke Pattern and Handrim Biomechanics for Level and Uphill Wheelchair Propulsion at Self-Selected Speeds

Abstract

Richter WM, Rodriguez R, Woods KR, Axelson PW. Stroke pattern and handrim biomechanics for level and uphill wheelchair propulsion at self-selected speeds. Objectives To investigate the natural stroke patterns of wheelchair users pushing on a level surface, to determine if users adapt their stroke patterns for pushing uphill, and to assess whether there are biomechanic advantages to one or more of the stroke patterns. Design Case series. Setting Biomechanics laboratory. Participants Twenty-six manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury. Intervention Subjects pushed their own wheelchairs at self-selected speeds on a research treadmill set to level, 3°, and 6° grades. Stroke patterns were measured using a motion capture system. Handrim biomechanics were measured using an instrumented wheel. Main Outcome Measures Stroke patterns were classified for both level and uphill propulsion according to 1 of 4 common classifications: arcing, semi-circular, single-looping (SLOP), and double-looping (DLOP). Biomechanic outcomes of speed, peak handrim force, cadence, and push angle were all compared across stroke classifications using an analysis of variance. Results Only 3 of the 4 stroke patterns were observed. None of the subjects used the semi-circular pattern. For level propulsion, the stroke patterns were fairly balanced between arcing (42%), SLOP (31%), and DLOP (27%). Subjects tended to change their stroke pattern for pushing uphill, with 73% of the subjects choosing the arcing pattern by the 6° grade. No statistically significant differences were found in handrim biomechanics or subject characteristics across stroke pattern groups. Conclusions Wheelchair users likely adapt their stroke pattern to accommodate their propulsion environment. Based on the large percentage of subjects who adopted the arcing pattern for pushing uphill, there may be benefits to the arcing pattern for pushing uphill. In light of this and other recent work, it is recommended that clinicians not instruct users to utilize a single stroke pattern in their everyday propulsion environments.