Citation

Qi L, Wakeling J, Grange S, Ferguson-Pell M. IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng. 2014; 22(3): 559-566.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers))

DOI

10.1109/TNSRE.2013.2266136

PMID

23797282

Abstract

This study investigated changes in the coordination patterns of shoulder muscles and wheelchair kinetics with different propulsion techniques by comparing wheelchair users' self-selected propulsion patterns with a semicircular pattern adopted after instruction. Wheelchair kinetics data were recorded by SmartWheel on an ergometer, while EMG activity of 7 muscles was recorded with surface electrodes on 15 able-bodied inexperienced participants. The performance data in two sessions, first using a self-selected and then the learned semicircular pattern, were compared with a paired t-test. Muscle coordination patterns across 7 muscles were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). The semicircular pattern was characterized by significantly lower push frequency, significantly longer push length, push duration and push distance (p<0.05, all cases) without a significant increase in push force, when compared with the selfselected pattern. In addition, our results show that in the semicircular propulsion technique, synergistic muscles were recruited in distinct phases and displayed a clearer separation between activities in the push phase and recovery phase muscles. An instruction session in semicircular propulsion technique is recommended for the initial use of a wheelchair after an injury.

Language: en