@article{ref1,
title="Effects of Wheel and Hand-Rim Size on Submaximal Propulsion in Wheelchair Athletes",
journal="Medicine and science in sports and exercise",
year="2012",
author="Mason, Bs and van der Woude, Lhv and Tolfrey, K. and Lenton, Jl and Goosey-Tolfrey, Vl",
volume="44",
number="1",
pages="126-134",
abstract="PURPOSE:: To investigate the effects of fixed gear ratio wheel sizes on the physiological and biomechanical responses to sub-maximal wheelchair propulsion. METHODS:: Highly trained wheelchair basketball players (N = 13) propelled an adjustable sports wheelchair in three different wheel sizes (24&quot;, 25&quot;, 26&quot;) on a motor driven treadmill. Each wheel was equipped with force sensing hand-rims (SMART) which collected kinetic and temporal data. Oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and heart rate (HR) responses were measured, with high speed video footage collected to determine 3D upper body joint kinematics. RESULTS:: Mean power output and work per cycle decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). Increasing wheel size also reduced the physiological demand with reductions in V˙O2 for 25&quot; (0.90 ± 0.20 L·min, P = 0.01) and 26&quot; wheels (0.87 ± 0.16 L·min, P = 0.001) compared with 24&quot; wheels (0.98 ± 0.20 L·min). Additionally, reductions in HR were observed for 26&quot; wheels (99 ± 6 beats·min) compared with 25&quot; (103 ± 8 beats·min, P = 0.018) and 24&quot; wheels (105 ± 9 beats·min, P = 0.004). Mean resultant forces also decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). However, no changes in temporal or upper body joint kinematics existed between wheel sizes. CONCLUSIONS:: A greater power requirement owing to a greater rolling resistance in 24&quot; wheels increased the physiological demand and magnitude of force application during sub-maximal wheelchair propulsion.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-9131",
doi="10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822a2df0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822a2df0"
}