Multi-speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Over one million Americans rely on their upper extremities for manual wheelchair propulsion. Shoulder overuse injuries are prevalent among manual wheelchair users and these injuries often result in shoulder pain. Severe shoulder pain can lead some wheelchair users to transition from manual to powered mobility, complicating transportation, and reducing independence in activities of daily living. This project will expand the understanding of a new wheelchair design that allows better positioning of the hand rims and allows for different gearing. The investigators will study steady-state propulsion efficiency with different gear ratios and develop a new system with multiple gear ratios. The advanced gearing will allow for a low gear when initiating movement, going uphill, or when moving over carpet, and then a higher gear option for movements on hard flat level terrain. This system has the potential to dramatically improve shoulder ergonomics and reduce pain in many future manual wheelchair users.
Description
The Minneapolis Adaptive Design \& Engineering (MADE) Program has recently developed ergonomic wheelchairs that use a chain drive system to place the hand rims in an ergonomic position while keeping the rear drive wheels posterior for a stable base of support. The investigators' ergonomic wheelchair's forward hand rim positioning allows for a more efficient push along a longer arc length of the hand rims, without sacrificing wheelchair stability or shoulder ergonomics. The ergonomic wheelchair's chain drive allows for individualized gear ratios to suit each wheelchair user's needs; however, t…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria: * Uses manual wheelchair daily * Mass less than 125 kg * Age 18 or older * Decisional competency to provide consent and cognitive ability to participate fully in study procedures * Body size appropriate to fit the wheelchairs (16" and 18" seat widths) Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria: * Sitting surface pressure injuries * Flap procedure to address pressure injury less than one year earlier * Unable to obtain clinically acceptable seating system for study wheelchairs * Not able to propel a manual wheelchair * Upper extremity or spine issues whi…
Interventions
- DeviceSingle Speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
Ergonomic wheelchair. The ergonomic wheelchair was developed by the MADE program and has anterior placed hand rims that are connected with a bicycle chain. In Aim 1, Participants will use the ergonomic wheelchair to test 3 different gear ratios. 1. 2:3 2. 1:1 3. 3:2
- DeviceMulti-Speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
The multi-speed ergonomic wheelchair will be developed by the MADE program and will use a two-hand rim design so the participant can change gears by changing hand rims.
Location
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MNMinneapolis, Minnesota